Already a subscriber? Log in
• The truth hurts
Sir: Dennis Sewell (‘The generation game’, 5 November) makes a good case for the bewilderment of the older generation, who see themselves as innocent targets. But he protests too much. The Intergenerational Foundation has simply pointed out the uncomfortable fact that we have a housing crisis that is causing the younger generation to delay marriage and families or seek their fortunes abroad, and that one third of homes are under-occupied. This is hardly ‘beating up the elderly’.
Antony Mason
London
• Dissing the dissenters
Sir: Many of us who are unable to accept the Church of England’s innovations on priestly ministry would agree that the long road to women bishops is filled with bad logic and disruptions. Where we part with Ysenda Maxtone Graham’s spin on women in the episcopate (‘Revving up’, 29 October) is in her proclamation of the myth that the modernising elements have any interest in working together, let alone in forging respect and friendship for those who dissent. Across the Anglican Communion, where this innovation has been introduced, assurances of an honoured place for those unable to embrace this change have been abandoned and a policy of marginalisation and exclusion has been pursued.
Fr Martin Hislop
St Luke’s Vicarage, Kingston upon Thames
• Balancing the books
Sir: My former colleague Peter Jones presents a one-sided view on the development of Newcastle University library (‘Shelf hatred’, 29 October). The library does like to be welcoming and friendly, and is rightly proud of its achievements in this area, but it is also serious about supporting research and learning. That involves exploiting new technologies to the full, and providing a scholarly environment that suits a wide variety of study needs for students and staff alike. Striking a balance between tradition and ‘moving with the times’ is an issue on which the library has consulted widely, and the vast majority of academic staff and students have been overwhelmingly supportive of the current approach.
Professor Eric Cross
Dean of Cultural Affairs
Newcastle University
• And so on
Sir: So Mark Mason doesn’t like people to start sentences with ‘so’ (‘It’s so annoying’, 5 November). So how does this mini-compulsion differ from ‘like’, ‘well’, ‘now’, and all the other such countless phatic attentional aids that have proliferated from time immemorial? So they upset him. So they distract him. So what?
Michael Grosvenor Myer
Cambridge
• Unfortunate acronyms
Sir: Your Barometer (5 November) on the acronym that dare not speak its name reminds me of a story popular in military circles about the creation of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus. Allegedly, when the force was initially deployed its chief logistics officer was given the splendid title of Commander United Nations Transport. Only when his office sign was produced in abbreviated form was it recognised that he was better titled as Commander Transport United Nations.
N.J. Ridout, Lt Col (Ret’d)
Lincolnshire
• Who bores wins
Sir: ‘No, I tell a lie, it must have been the Tuesday’ is far too funny to win any competition for most boring imaginary title for an autobiography. If Matthew Parris’s friend (29 October) wants to run a competition for the most boring newspaper headline, here’s my entry. In Vienna in the winter of 1977, when there’d been discussion of unusually warm weather, in capital letters across the front page of one paper: ‘The weather is completely normal’ (Das wetter ist völlig normal). Beat that.
Christopher Wyld
Foreign Press Association, London WC2
• A thrifty Christmas
No sign of an end to the world’s financial troubles, so do readers have any tips on how to economise this Christmas? Please send helpful hints to letters@spectator.co.uk and we’ll print the best in our Christmas issue.
Also in Society
Also by The Spectator
Latest
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in