Readers' letters - Friday November 11

Revisiting two of my orange Penguins, I realise George Orwell’s fantasies have all too sadly become today’s realities.

Animal Farm describes a revolution that went wrong, followed all too soon by the plausible and ever ready excuses at each perversion of the original doctrines. And in 1984, the population is subjugated and pacified using the Ministry of Peace and the Ministry of Love, home to the Thought Police. America must be increasingly vigilant as President-elect Trump deploys these techniques when his supporters have their expectations dashed.

Brexit presents a similar danger here.

Assisting these diversionary tactics were the scurrilous attacks here in the UK on the law lords. These attacks were utterly shameful as they undermined the integrity and the trust of the people in the impartiality of the law.

During the Brexit campaign, all sides used doublethink and spin to promote their views.

Claiming 52 per cent of the votes cast as a clear majority when 12,948,018 of the population chose not to vote at all is taking mathematics to absurd lengths.

The referendum was always known to be advisory, with Leavers trumpeting throughout about the sovereignty and independence of Parliament. Why, then, the sudden reluctance for Parliament to have any input?

Great Britain needs to be a bastion of thoughtful democracy and impartial law in this ever changing and disparate world.

Dale Smith

via email

media

Step out of the bubble

I find the current trend of Facebook-inspired protests somewhat incomprehensible. Their protests have no leaders, no strategy, and no realistic aims.

Take, for example, the latest protests over the US election result.

Do they really expect the election to be declared null and void (by whom?) and that this same mythical person/organisation will install the robot snake Clinton as President?

They really do need a reality check. What part of voting for something don’t they understand? In the real world, in taking a vote, there are winners and losers.

People don’t just vote for the same thing, unlike on a Facebook clique.

They are brought up in the rarified world of ‘friends’ and ‘likes’, a fear of missing out and are easily outraged.

Perhaps they should engage more with ‘enemies’ and experience ‘dislikes’.

Meanwhile, please leave democracy alone.

If the youth want to make a difference, they should step out of their social media bubble, get out in the real world, join a political party, and try and make some constructive changes to a system they perceive as broken.

R Spreadbury

Address supplied

charity

Go on the run and help us

Diabetes UK is urging people who have secured a place in the London Marathon ballot to run for the charity and help raise much-needed funds.

Money raised by runners will help us reach more of the 4.5 million people affected by the diabetes crisis and fund our vital and ongoing work.

If you would like to run for Diabetes UK, then contact the events fundraising team on 0345 123 2399 or email [email protected].

Lara Dobson

Regional Fundraising Manager

Diabetes UK