Democracy rules
Sir: I share the sentiments of both Rod Liddle (‘Trump displays weakness, not strength’, 8 March) and Douglas Murray (‘How MAGA turned on Ukraine’). I am one of those peculiar political animals who finds himself in agreement with certain elements of the right, including those represented by Donald Trump, on just about everything except Ukraine. Nevertheless, I see his election as an essential antidote to the poisonous ideology of the woke that has all but conquered the rest of the West in terms of the manner in which we live and are governed. Nor is the US immune.
Without wishing to quibble with a courageous and eloquent speaker and columnist, I should add that Douglas Murray’s statement that ‘most of the American public may dislike woke, but they dislike dictators too’ is true, but at the same time slightly erroneous. Wokery is a form of dictatorship. And, alas, I have to confess that that concern, in spite of my passionate advocacy of Ukraine’s sovereign rights, and an extreme discomfort at the United States’ new policy approach, trumps Ukraine. What is the point of upholding democracy there if we do not do so here?
My preference would be to restore and maintain basic freedoms everywhere, but we do not live in an ideal world, and one has to make difficult choices. That does not make me, in the words of Rod Liddle, ‘stupid or amoral’, though I might be if I believed that Trump could do no wrong.
Derrick Gillingham
London SW1
Military blockade
Sir: In 2012, the army contracted Capita to ‘transform its recruitment approach’. As Luke Markham noted (Letters, 8 March), this has done untold damage to military manning, the morale of potential recruits and the security of the country. Ministry of Defence and government complacency share responsibility and blame. They put off my sons from joining up and serving – as well as the offspring of countless friends and colleagues. Capita’s performance would be understandable were it in the pay of the Russians or Chinese.
Edmund Freely
Shepton Mallet, Somerset
Hello possums
Sir: Justin Marozzi has it spot on when it comes to possum fur (‘Notes on…’, 8 March). A decade or so ago I was presented with a pair of possum insoles which were the warmest things I had ever had on my feet. A few years later, on a trip to New Zealand, I searched for another pair, but in vain. This year, I was delighted to spot a pair of possum fur socks at a shooting show, which I swiftly purchased. My feet have been grateful ever since, and I have to say, a pullover or cardigan like Mr Marozzi has might have to be top of my birthday list. The fact that we can claim to be helping rid New Zealand of an invasive pest species is a welcome bonus.
Marion Bowles
Cuckfield, West Sussex
Settling the score
Sir: Richard Bratby asks why Sir Stephen Hough had not memorised his new piano concerto, thus avoiding the embarrassment of his iPad crashing during a performance (Arts, 8 March). Sir Stephen has explained this in his book Rough Ideas: ‘The only time (to date) I use a score is to play my own music. Well, I wouldn’t want people to think I was improvising, would I!’
Richard Osborne
Eton, Berkshire
Train fare
Sir: Having lived and worked in Japan for nearly 25 years, I do not recognise the country described by James Innes-Smith (‘La grande bouffe’, 8 March). While it is true that the Japanese take a dim view of imposing oneself on others (I was once chided by my Japanese wife for laughing too loudly in public), they most certainly do not speak ‘in hushed, respectful tones’ when eating. On the contrary, sitting down to eat is one occasion when they can throw off all restrictions and noisily show their enjoyment of good food and conversation.
And when it comes to eating on trains, I don’t think any nationality can match the Japanese. On journeys of any length, and especially on the bullet train, the first thing most do is unpack their ‘bento’, the lunchbox which they have either prepared themselves or bought at the numerous bento shops in and around railway stations. Some stations are quite famous for the quality of their food and a considerable number of people travel certain routes just so that they can sample the local fare. As on British trains, there are trolleys which go up and down the corridor selling snacks, with the addition of sake to fuel the pleasure the Japanese exhibit when eating. Alas, the food is equally smelly. A different smell, but just as annoying to those of us who crave an odour-free trip.
J.D. Macarthur
Edinburgh
Lost in translation
Sir: Matthew Leese (Letters, 8 March) points out the similarity of Reform’s slogan, ‘Family, Community, Country’, to that of the Social Democratic party. To these French ears it is unfortunately reminiscent of that of Vichy France, ‘Travail, Famille, Patrie’: the one change presumably reflecting Nigel Farage’s assessment that an appeal to ‘work’ would not be a vote winner in modern Britain.
Charles Mercey
Tellisford, Somerset
Name calling
Sir: On the topic of nominative determinism (Letters, 8 March), I was delighted to discover that the deputy chair of the Wine Society is Eleanor de Kanter.
Andrew Barrow
Kingston, Surrey
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