What is fanaticism?
19th December 2009 Is Edward Skidelsky (January) in danger of fanaticism when he states that “relativism is the seedbed of fanaticism”—while at the same time denouncing those who believe in absolute virtues? I believe in the existence of goodness as a virtue, because I see examples worked out in the day-to-day threads of busy parish life. It seems Skidelsky’s generous liberalism doesn’t extend to those who think they have discovered what is true. The Revd Roger Preece Vicar of Bowdon, Cheshire
A good (German) idea
19th December 2009 Andro Linklater’s essay (January) linking property ownership to economic development neglects to mention Germany: Europe’s most successful economy with a very low rate of home ownership. Perhaps what really impoverishes British families is the cost of property in this country. People are given the illusion that they are making money on their homes, but paying off the mortgage consumes a huge proportion of their income and also their time. Why can Germans work less hard than us, and live better? Because they are paying far less for the roof over their heads. Ben Lewis London W10
Pride in immigration
10th January 2010 James Crabtree (January) claims that Labour should apologise for having “supported unprecedented mass immigration.” But where is the evidence for this support? The reasons for the recent inflow of foreigners are numerous. First, the strong economic growth between 1997 and 2008, which brought, among others, 400,000 French citizens to live in Britain. Second, a slightly more generous approach towards allowing British citizens to marry whom they wanted from the Indian subcontinent (offset by raising the marriage age to 21). Third, a rise in asylum applications from areas of political and economic oppression, like the Balkans. Fourth, the arrival of workers from new EU member states. As a Labour MP I am happy to say sorry for mistakes that my party has made. But I’m puzzled as to what we should have done differently. Denied Brits the right to marry? Withdrawn from all human rights conventions and shipped those claiming asylum back to Zimbabwe, Iran, Iraq or Sudan? Closed frontiers to Europeans? Deliberately weakened the economy to make employers stop hiring? Compelled British workers to do the rotten low-paid jobs foreigners do at all times of the day and night? As the child of parents whose forebears were not born in Britain, I am nervous of endorsing the line that marrying a foreigner, working and paying taxes because a British employer offers a job, or seeking refuge from persecution should be considered something that warrants an apology. Denis MacShane MP London SW1
Reply to Colin MacCabe
22nd December 2009 Colin MacCabe (January) is only half right to claim that all the BFI’s “innovative educational experiments were abandoned” when he left in 1998. In 1999, as an outcome of a research project that he set up, a programme called Reframing Literacy was created. During the past decade this has led to hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren watching high-quality short films from across the globe as part of their fundamental literacy entitlement. The campaign has influenced half of the local authorities in England, and a number in Scotland, to offer a much richer literacy experience for children, and has been incorporated into the national curriculum. This has given the British film industry precisely what MacCabe says it needs: a sustainable infrastructure. The difference is that this infrastructure is educational—and stronger for that. Mark Reid Head of Education, BFI
Skin deep
15th January 2010 Anna Shepard (January) presents a one-sided view of organic beauty products. Substances applied to the skin can be absorbed and metabolised by the human body—as evidenced by the efficacy of hormone and nicotine patches. And while it’s true that evidence is not conclusive on the danger of paraben preservatives in cosmetics, sufficient research suggests that it may be a wise precaution to avoid them. Shepard also fails to mention the issue of skin sensitivity, particularly to artificial fragrances. There is a lot of evidence to suggest that fragrance allergens have contributed to the increased incidence of contact dermatitis in the latter half of the 20th century. Shepard’s faith in the timeliness of “sensible information” from the EU on the safety of cosmetic ingredients is misplaced. Preservatives such as methyldibromo glutaronitrile were in use in conventional cosmetics for decades before the EU decided to ban it. And she fails to elaborate on the environmental benefits of organic products. For all these reasons, the case for organic beauty products is a compelling one. Abi Weeds Organic Trade Board
Not over for the Ashes
19th December 2009 Prospect’s diary (January) was premature in announcing Sky’s loss of the Ashes tests. David Davies’s review did recommend that they be placed on the A-list of events to which terrestrial free-to-air channels have precedence. But this is a matter for ministers to decide; they may not agree with Davies, a Labour appointee. Even if they do, there is likely to be another review, under different ministers, before any change. And even if it does, the likelihood of the BBC matching Sky’s price is low. Of course, the closeness in timing between Rupert Murdoch’s Sun switching its political allegiance, and David Davies announcing the results of his entirely independent review, led many to assume that the Ashes recommendation was part of some Brownite or Mandelsonian retaliation. How deceptive appearances can be—doubly so in this case. David Elstein London SW15
Screening saved my life
3rd January 2010 I am the one woman in a thousand for whom the breast cancer screening that Nigel Hawkes (January) refers to has been a success. It picked up my tumour which was so placed that no one could ever feel it, even after diagnosis. I would therefore only have gone to my GP when I found a lump somewhere else, by which time it would have been too late. Thanks to the treatment I had at King’s College Hospital, I lost only two lymph nodes and 62g of breast tissue and, more importantly, I am here to tell the tale.
I am puzzled by Hawkes’s negative view on having a biopsy. Although this is an invasive procedure, it is no worse than a visit to the dentist. If it shows an absence of cancer, this does not mean it has been unnecessary—it is a crucial part of getting an all clear. Ruth Colvin London SE24
Getting Calvin right
30th December 2009 Andrew Brown’s article on Calvin (January) was wrong on much of its historical and theological detail. Anglicanism and Calvinism are not necessarily opposites, and Calvinism is not spreading in eastern Europe mainly through Baptist networks. Calvinism did not teach that health and wealth were signs of being predestined, and Calvin was not prepared to burn those who denied his doctrines, nor had “almost everyone” in Geneva been excommunicated within a generation of Calvin’s death. Those who want to engage with the facts should read Bruce Gordon’s book Calvin (Yale University Press, 2009), which is outstanding. David A Robertson Dundee
19th December 2009 Is Edward Skidelsky (January) in danger of fanaticism when he states that “relativism is the seedbed of fanaticism”—while at the same time denouncing those who believe in absolute virtues? I believe in the existence of goodness as a virtue, because I see examples worked out in the day-to-day threads of busy parish life. It seems Skidelsky’s generous liberalism doesn’t extend to those who think they have discovered what is true. The Revd Roger Preece Vicar of Bowdon, Cheshire
A good (German) idea
19th December 2009 Andro Linklater’s essay (January) linking property ownership to economic development neglects to mention Germany: Europe’s most successful economy with a very low rate of home ownership. Perhaps what really impoverishes British families is the cost of property in this country. People are given the illusion that they are making money on their homes, but paying off the mortgage consumes a huge proportion of their income and also their time. Why can Germans work less hard than us, and live better? Because they are paying far less for the roof over their heads. Ben Lewis London W10
Pride in immigration
10th January 2010 James Crabtree (January) claims that Labour should apologise for having “supported unprecedented mass immigration.” But where is the evidence for this support? The reasons for the recent inflow of foreigners are numerous. First, the strong economic growth between 1997 and 2008, which brought, among others, 400,000 French citizens to live in Britain. Second, a slightly more generous approach towards allowing British citizens to marry whom they wanted from the Indian subcontinent (offset by raising the marriage age to 21). Third, a rise in asylum applications from areas of political and economic oppression, like the Balkans. Fourth, the arrival of workers from new EU member states. As a Labour MP I am happy to say sorry for mistakes that my party has made. But I’m puzzled as to what we should have done differently. Denied Brits the right to marry? Withdrawn from all human rights conventions and shipped those claiming asylum back to Zimbabwe, Iran, Iraq or Sudan? Closed frontiers to Europeans? Deliberately weakened the economy to make employers stop hiring? Compelled British workers to do the rotten low-paid jobs foreigners do at all times of the day and night? As the child of parents whose forebears were not born in Britain, I am nervous of endorsing the line that marrying a foreigner, working and paying taxes because a British employer offers a job, or seeking refuge from persecution should be considered something that warrants an apology. Denis MacShane MP London SW1
Reply to Colin MacCabe
22nd December 2009 Colin MacCabe (January) is only half right to claim that all the BFI’s “innovative educational experiments were abandoned” when he left in 1998. In 1999, as an outcome of a research project that he set up, a programme called Reframing Literacy was created. During the past decade this has led to hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren watching high-quality short films from across the globe as part of their fundamental literacy entitlement. The campaign has influenced half of the local authorities in England, and a number in Scotland, to offer a much richer literacy experience for children, and has been incorporated into the national curriculum. This has given the British film industry precisely what MacCabe says it needs: a sustainable infrastructure. The difference is that this infrastructure is educational—and stronger for that. Mark Reid Head of Education, BFI
Skin deep
15th January 2010 Anna Shepard (January) presents a one-sided view of organic beauty products. Substances applied to the skin can be absorbed and metabolised by the human body—as evidenced by the efficacy of hormone and nicotine patches. And while it’s true that evidence is not conclusive on the danger of paraben preservatives in cosmetics, sufficient research suggests that it may be a wise precaution to avoid them. Shepard also fails to mention the issue of skin sensitivity, particularly to artificial fragrances. There is a lot of evidence to suggest that fragrance allergens have contributed to the increased incidence of contact dermatitis in the latter half of the 20th century. Shepard’s faith in the timeliness of “sensible information” from the EU on the safety of cosmetic ingredients is misplaced. Preservatives such as methyldibromo glutaronitrile were in use in conventional cosmetics for decades before the EU decided to ban it. And she fails to elaborate on the environmental benefits of organic products. For all these reasons, the case for organic beauty products is a compelling one. Abi Weeds Organic Trade Board
Not over for the Ashes
19th December 2009 Prospect’s diary (January) was premature in announcing Sky’s loss of the Ashes tests. David Davies’s review did recommend that they be placed on the A-list of events to which terrestrial free-to-air channels have precedence. But this is a matter for ministers to decide; they may not agree with Davies, a Labour appointee. Even if they do, there is likely to be another review, under different ministers, before any change. And even if it does, the likelihood of the BBC matching Sky’s price is low. Of course, the closeness in timing between Rupert Murdoch’s Sun switching its political allegiance, and David Davies announcing the results of his entirely independent review, led many to assume that the Ashes recommendation was part of some Brownite or Mandelsonian retaliation. How deceptive appearances can be—doubly so in this case. David Elstein London SW15
Screening saved my life
3rd January 2010 I am the one woman in a thousand for whom the breast cancer screening that Nigel Hawkes (January) refers to has been a success. It picked up my tumour which was so placed that no one could ever feel it, even after diagnosis. I would therefore only have gone to my GP when I found a lump somewhere else, by which time it would have been too late. Thanks to the treatment I had at King’s College Hospital, I lost only two lymph nodes and 62g of breast tissue and, more importantly, I am here to tell the tale.
I am puzzled by Hawkes’s negative view on having a biopsy. Although this is an invasive procedure, it is no worse than a visit to the dentist. If it shows an absence of cancer, this does not mean it has been unnecessary—it is a crucial part of getting an all clear. Ruth Colvin London SE24
Getting Calvin right
30th December 2009 Andrew Brown’s article on Calvin (January) was wrong on much of its historical and theological detail. Anglicanism and Calvinism are not necessarily opposites, and Calvinism is not spreading in eastern Europe mainly through Baptist networks. Calvinism did not teach that health and wealth were signs of being predestined, and Calvin was not prepared to burn those who denied his doctrines, nor had “almost everyone” in Geneva been excommunicated within a generation of Calvin’s death. Those who want to engage with the facts should read Bruce Gordon’s book Calvin (Yale University Press, 2009), which is outstanding. David A Robertson Dundee
