Murdoch’s responsibility
Sir: Having examined Rupert Murdoch’s dealings with successive governments, Tom Bower (‘Dangerous liaisons’, 28 April) wearily concludes: ‘Blaming the businessman for exploiting politicians’ follies is akin to blaming whales for eating sardines.’ Does the conservative doctrine of personal responsibility extend to media moguls? Or is that, as Leona Helmsley said of paying taxes, just for the little people?
Robin Peters
Nottingham
Unrest in Bahrain
Sir: Taki describes Bahrain as ‘a hellhole’ (High life, 28 April) and characterises the unrest there as being, essentially, the inevitable result of the deprivation of the Shia majority. I grew up in Bahrain in the 1970s and 1980s, when it was very far from a hellhole — on the contrary, it was, for the region, a highly liberal state, where women could drive and work, alcohol and pork were available in the supermarkets and we westerners mixed freely with locals of all classes and types. It is now more developed, and many people hanker after the dhows, pearl divers and empty beaches of old; but their replacement by skyscrapers was probably inevitable.
There has been Sunni-Shia friction for many years and this is not due to material lack. Rather, it is due to the sponsorship of Iran, which has long laid claim to Bahrain for obvious strategic reasons. If the Iranians win the day, then we really will see bloodshed. While the manner of the repression is unpleasant, this is an existential fight to the death, and one in which I think the West should side with the al Khalifas. They are doubtless far from perfect, but they are hardly born dictators. My sister was in the same class as the current heir apparent at school; since he was somewhat tubby, he acquired the nicknamed of ‘Football’. No one was executed as a result.
Dan Collins
Burton Hastings, Warwickshire
Pilot vs program
Sir: I heartily agree with Rory Sutherland (The Wiki Man, 28 April) when he suggests that the substitution of computers for pilot skills are diminishing the sort of instincts that were demonstrated by Captain Sullenberger when he so brilliantly saved his crew and passengers by ditching into the Hudson river. An old definition of a superior pilot is one who exercises his superior judgment in order to avoid the use of his superior skill. That judgment is now limited by our relationship being with computers rather than with the elements.
Tony Webb (retired pilot)
Newbury
Sir: Since 50 per cent of all fatal aircraft accidents are caused by the pilot, I would be much happier with a computer in charge rather than the old codgers Rory Sutherland tells us about. Unlike the banks, the aircraft industry is well regulated and would not be permitted to run programs on hardware that wasn’t fit for purpose.
Tom Roberts
Derby
Crying for effect
Sir: I nearly wept with joy at Mark Mason’s article against men crying (‘Get a grip, chaps’, 28 April). Some of my friends well up at practically anything. At a dinner party recently, one pal started blubbing when telling us his dog had died. Fair enough, you might think, except the creature had perished in 1991. I couldn’t help feeling that he was performing for the benefit of a couple of women sat near him. Sure enough, one of the girls put her hand on his shoulders and said ‘How sweet!’ Yuck!
Richard Ascott
London N1
Standards of accuracy
Sir: For a moment, when I read Charles Moore’s comment about Lady Lyall Grant and her recent epistolary activities, I feared that even that great columnist might have slipped from his usual high standards of accuracy. Etiam Homerus nutat, eh what? Happily I see from Wikipedia that the good lady’s first name is Sheila and her husband’s family name is actually Lyall Grant (in full, Sir Mark Lyall Grant, currently our man at the United Nations). Forgive me, Charles, for a momentary loss of faith.
Stanley Johnson
By email
A more reliable service
Sir: Charles Moore (Notes, 28 April) mentions the abysmal service offered by the diagnostic arm of the NHS. We came to settle in New Zealand 15 years ago, since when we have enjoyed the benefits of a test service, free of charge, where the results are in the hands of the GP within two days.
Ken Wortelhock
New Zealand
Exiled in East Anglia
Sir: Oh Tilly Ware (Travel, 28 April), how well you express that sense of not belonging. My map is OS 157. Is it Suffolkation we are suffering from?
Sarah Drury
Suffolk
No oxymoron
Sir: Dr Peter McDonald (Letters, 28 April) quotes me as saying: ‘Scottish cuisine is an oxymoron’. My actual words were: ‘Scottish cuisine is no longer an oxymoron’. The good doctor, a self-confessed Englishman, may be trying to atone for Dr Johnson. But I have noted his recommendations for haggis, and for fish and chips.
Bruce Anderson
By email
Diving intervention
Sir: Antony Jay in his diary (28 April) relates some amusing misprints. Some years ago I came across a hymn sheet with a line that should have read ‘Divine Instructor, Gracious Lord’ appearing as ‘Diving Instructor, Gracious Lord’.
John Polk
Warwickshire
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