“In 1940, Winston Churchill served Winston Churchill very well as a wartime slogan,” Andrew Ronsley said (“Boris Johnson’s global Britain is exposed as incompetent and unfriendly by Afghanistan“, comment). The myth of Britain’s “alone fighting” in World War II and the subsequent liberation of Europe from “our island fortress” was written by Margaret Thatcher in 1988. It was woven in Rouge’s speech and became one of the fictional stories that promoted Brexit.
“Where is the global UK on the streets of Kabul?” Teresa May was a bit rich. She declared when she triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty in 2017: “I want Britain to become… a great global trading nation, respected all over the world , Strong, united and confident in the country.”
Now that the Atlantic Alliance has broken down, our international influence has been shattered, and we have burned down our bridges. Europe The country is weak, divided, and fearful. Before the nonsense of imperial fantasies sweeps us onto any rock of historical shame, it is time for us to take a serious look at ourselves and our place in the world.
Robert Gildia, Honorary Professor of Modern History
Oxford university
One might be able to forgive the Americans for their botched actions in the Afghan campaign, but the British who fought the Afghans in 1839, 1878 and 1919 should know better (“It’s not enough to blame the British shame on the U.S.“,editorial).
Before the first Anglo-African War in 1839, Lord Oakland, the leader of the British invading army, asked the Sikh ruler of Punjab, Ranjit Singh, to assume responsibility for the invasion of Kabul. The Maharaja refused; he knew very well that they were easy to conquer, but It is difficult to rule; they are a mosaic of competing tribes, which ensures that no strong central authority can maintain power over them for a long time. Regrettably, Western leaders could not foresee what Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Maharaja Ranjit Singh) in 1839 could do in 2001.
Randy Singer Baynes
Mitten Hill, London
Sippi Azarbaijani-Moghaddam provides a reality check to counter Western overly optimistic views of Afghanistan’s progress (“Progress is always intermittent.Before the arrival of the Taliban, many Afghan women felt insecure“, comments). Too many people exaggerate the improvement in the lives of women and girls, perhaps because it is necessary to justify the blood and wealth they have paid in the past 20 years. Three-quarters of the population live in rural areas, only Slightly more than half of Afghan men are literate, while the female literacy rate is less than 30%. Female doctors, lawyers, judges, and journalists are undoubtedly a shining example of what girls can achieve if they are given half the chance, but basic education is for most people. Said it is still a pipe dream.
Western governments are too eager to make arrogantly optimistic statements about their influence in the advancement of women over the past two decades. Most parts of the country are still extremely poor, and most people are struggling to maintain a basic life. Most girls get married at the age of 19, the most common age is 15 or 16, and the fertility rate of five children per woman is the highest outside of Africa.
Jennifer Reese
Cardiff
Rehabilitation of the minority
To answer Will Hutton’s question (“As the economy rebounds, do we skeptics need to say that we are wrong?“, comment), a resounding no! As revealed by his excellent analysis, “recovery” has far greater impact on the minority than on the majority. And the cracks that have appeared in the past year-in the NHS, Social care and other public services have exceeded the tipping point-unless fundamental changes happen soon, they will only get bigger and bigger.
With the support of a fairer tax system, better informed and caring policies are long overdue. Sustainable economic, social and environmental policies applicable to Wales are one of these models, which are advantageous compared to the combination of the British government’s optimistic rhetoric, short-term “repair” and eagerness to restore “business as usual”.
Kay S. Powell
Randolph, Cardiff
Brexit: About emotions
I am an anti-Brexit who paid the price and enthusiasm. I was particularly happy to read William Keegan’s articles, such as “We need a new driver to drive “Global Britain”” (Business).
However, I worry that by emphasizing rational economic arguments, he and many others miss the point. The views of those who support and oppose Brexit are not based on economic reasons, but on emotional reasons. Those who oppose joining the EU do so because they see the EU as a foreign, dysfunctional, and money-wasting dictatorship from which they want freedom and independence. Anti-Brexitists see the EU as a force for good and like the idea of close ties with other European democracies.
This view will not be changed by the economic argument, which is why there is no evidence of “buyer’s regret”. Opinion polls show that although there is evidence that the UK has suffered economic pain since we left the European Union, few people have changed their minds in the past five years.
Arnold Glickman
Pinner, London
Who are the real extremists?
So Priti Patel regarded the extermination rebel activists as “extremists”, a group of “criminals threatening the country’s way of life” (“XR supporters are not “extreme”-Patel Advisor“, news). This view requires critical review. Former shadow Attorney General Shami Chakrabarti rightly pointed out the “sloppy lack of legal definition”, which was a shocking failure by the Secretary of the Interior.
However, regarding the concept of extremism, there is more to unravel. It can be said that climate and ecological impacts are so extreme that they pose an existential threat, and can only be effectively resolved through fundamental, that is, extreme systemic changes. Conversely, these extreme impacts are caused by the continuous burning of fossil fuels and the exploitation of nature and humans. The true extremists are those who profit from such businesses and perpetuate them, as well as those who contribute to changing the world. The economically ineffective people and our way of life.
Teresa Belton
Norwich
Lessons from Stockton
If the Stockton-on-Tees Council’s examples of leadership, vision, and entrepreneurial vitality are worth learning from, the demise of the traditional streets may be exaggerated (“Never mind the shops, focus on parks, theaters…and people“, focus). Marked by the rejuvenation of Globe, the secondary art deco theater, their message is to create a greater sense of community and local identity by shifting the focus from pure consumption to promoting genuine participation and well-being.
This will surely resonate in Habern, a few miles from downtown Birmingham, where we also have an Art Deco-style secondary cinema, but now it has become a sad shadow of the old self, a victim of long-term public and private neglect. The Habern Royal Trust has made recommendations on how to restore the building for multiple purposes such as movie theaters, theaters, music venues, and other events. In fact, a public consultation showed overwhelming support for such a plan, rather than seeing the royal family make way for more residential apartments, which could happen if our council does not heed Stockton’s lessons.
Rob Sutton, Chair
Habern Royal Trust
Birmingham Habern
