Times have changed
I am not a Greenie, a tree-hugger, Bible-basher, hippie or animal rights’ activist. I am none of these cliches. In fact, I think I am just a “Joe Bloggs”, a normal bloke living in the country.
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You’d reckon that I would be adept at country things but I am not. It never really hit me before because I’ve been to a few rodeos and was thoroughly entertained by the excitement, danger and spectacle of it all, as everyone else there was.
But I am older now and the times, they are a changin.
So when I saw the photographs of those distressed animals at the recent rodeo at Beechworth (The Border Mail, January 9) I couldn’t help but think is this what we have become? A race of people so obsessed with show biz that we ignore distressed caged animals in pain for our pitiful right to entertainment, at any cost.
Sure, exhibit the animals for their grace, skill, power and glory – ie, the horsemanship.
But do we really need to watch the cattle suffer to get our kicks? I think not.
Peter Pattenden, Leveva
Entitled to our views
I write regarding the comments made by Father Peter MacLeod-Miller in The Border Mail (January 11) regarding the protest against Sussan Ley spending what appears to be taxpayers’ money which should not have been used for her own private use.
He quoted that people who attend protests are ratbags. I seem to remember some time in the past that he attended a protest in Yackandandah that concerned a gay couple. What I am asking is, does that make him a ratbag?
We don’t live in a country where, if you open your mouth you could be shot, beheaded or go missing. I thought the name of our country was and still is Australia.
How many worshippers that belong to Father MacLeod-Miller’s parish were on the opposite side to the church? Most of my family, including myself, belong to St Matthew’s.
It’s OK to think what you like, but saying it and having it printed in a newspaper is a different matter. As for a priest referring to people as ratbags, it is beyond me.
If I had been in town that particular afternoon, I would have been at the protest outside Ms Ley’s office.
So Father MacLeod-Miller, I would ask that you please excuse me and a lot of other upstanding people that don’t like being called names just because they don’t agree with you, or anyone else.
Norma Knoth, Wodonga
A right to free speech
Brian Peters (Letters to the Editor, The Border Mail, January 16) wrote a long letter about “the disgraceful behaviour of our deputy mayor” Amanda Cohn in organising a political demonstration. Further on, he lamented the lack of experience of Amanda and said he would prefer to “see the deputy mayor’s position in the hands of someone who has got more life experience”.
Brian obviously feels strongly about these matters and in a society that values free speech he is quite entitled to state his view.
My question relates to whether Amanda Cohn also has a right to freedom of expression? Once elected to council is she expected to forego any right to comment on matters of national interest? That might be argued if Amanda said one thing before her election and then changed her principles afterwards, but that has not been the case.
As for the lack of life experience, Brian’s opinion does not seem to be supported by those who gave Amanda enough votes to ensure that she was the third person elected behind Kevin Mack and Alice Glachan, both of whom had high profiles as ex-mayors.
Like Brian, I think it is very sad to see what has happened to Sussan Ley, but the issue here revolves around free speech, which by definition must allow points of view that differ from our own.