Where do we stop on speakers?

I am somewhat bemused by the current hysteria gripping New Zealand concerning the visit of some controversial orators. What on earth do we fear? Fear itself, I suspect. The first point I would make is this. Who are we to decide what is acceptable as free speech? The last time I looked we were a democracy, and valued it. If we decide these people are abhorrent and not to be allowed into New Zealand, where do we stop? Who then is acceptable, and who will decide, and with what criteria? That’s exactly the opposite of what we want. Ban everybody whose views we disagree with. Why not? The person who made a comparison with Hitler is both deluded and ignorant of history. Germany had felt humiliated by World War I, and its consequent disastrous effect on the economy of the Weimar Republic, leading to the collapse of the mark, massive unemployment, and complete demoralisation of the German populace. Is that likely to happen here, and now?

To compare our current “easy” lifestyle with the misery endured in Europe in the 1930s (something that New Zealand has never had to endure) is ludicrous. Get real. They have nothing to gain here. We are too well fed!

Jacqui Anderson, Warkworth.

Extinction on cards

Being a not-very-often consumer of meat product, I realised there is a contradiction in the argument that we humans should make the ethical decision to become vegetarian or vegan. Those who have made the choice to be “ethical” may reflect on the possibility that cows might become extinct if we no longer farm them for a varied diet.

There are other uses, milk for instance, but this might also be substituted one day. Then what of the poor cow. It will not be wanted anymore (at least by humans).

Sheep could go the same way, if we substitute synthetics for wool and something for lamb and mutton. Chickens could be on the “hit list” also. Would it therefore be better for these animals to be driven into total or near extinction, because we choose not to farm them anymore?

Gerald McCully, Forrest Hill.

Alt-right speakers

I am totally ashamed of New Zealand. The reception given to Canadians Molyneux and Southern has revealed that we are a despotic nation, in the thrall of an undemocratic, anti-free speech, politically correct, unprincipled bunch of socialists which I dub the Control/Left.

I believe that beneath all this lie the sheep of New Zealand — a silent majority who aren’t at all happy with their situation but lack the guts to raise their voices and fight against the dire peril they face. It could be I’m wrong. Perhaps they are simply sheep-like, unwittingly allowing themselves to be driven over the cliff by the rabid sheep-dogs in control.

Ronald Berrington, Orewa.

Medicinal cannabis

Doctors wanting more data on the medical benefits of cannabis need only talk to their patients. About 5 per cent of NZ adults report using medicinal cannabis.

Also recommended is the 486 page National Academies of Sciences literature review The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

Dr Graham Gulbransen, Henderson.

Pulling the plug

Jacinda Ardern has implied on the TV news that New Zealanders will be pleased about the Powerstation pulling the plug on Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux’s talk on Friday night.

Which New Zealanders would they be? Sixty-four per cent did not vote for her at the last election, and the venue was sold out.

Every cloud has a silver lining and as Donald Trump found out in the 2016 election, the internet can be relied upon to get the message out. His nemesis Hillary Clinton was allowed to speak in Auckland even though many would disagree with her and her message.

Not so the Canadians. They did not get a “fair go” from us.

Pauline Alexander, Auckland.

Ranfurly Shield

Did you see the Ranfurly Shield Challenge? What a great game of rugby and it was a shame to see Wanganui go down 33-10 to Taranaki. The score didn’t reflect the game as it was very evenly played and the 8-hour plus daily workers were cramping up at the end. I think I enjoyed this game more than the Crusaders-Lions but must congratulate Razor Robinson on a very well polished display of rugby.

Gary Stewart, Foxton Beach.

TV interview

Newshub would thrive with presenters like intellectuals Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux supplanting the tedious, predictable Patrick Gower.

Brian John Evans, Mt Eden.

Column veers right

Heather du Plessis-Allan must think we are all pretty gullible as she praises Winston Peters, in doing so hoping to belittle Jacinda Ardern. One would agree that Peters did a good job but this was not unexpected despite the fear-mongers.

He has the measure of the media and also of his political opponents. Those that try him generally come off second best. Ardern has the real job and faces a large clean-up job especially in the public service.

National in the past have profited from fear tactics and they are at it again.

They were in reality an account book government and from this aspect they did well except social responsibility suffered. A year has not passed since Ardern took control and the framework for social improvement is in place. Our PM has the charisma and ability to bring about a positive outcome socially and in business. Heather would be better to take the patch off her left eye and see the whole vista of life.

Reg Dempster, Albany.

Bit of a mess

Paul Little asks: “If God created man on the sixth day and rested on the seventh, what did he get up to on the eighth?” He started cleaning up the mess he had made on the first six days.

John Mihaljevic, Te Atatu South.

Right to disagree

A person can totally disagree with another opinion without feeling the other opinion has to be silenced.

Confidence in your idea means you don’t have to make the other people wrong for you to be right.

Unfortunately there are many people, many with a religious bent, who don’t have this attitude and immediately scream they are right and refuse any dialogue.

Avi Modlin, Orewa.

Pie supremo uplifting

Tauranga’s very own Patrick Lam, bakery proprietor has just won his 6th supreme pie award and in the process has become a local celebrity, a heritage spawned from the Cambodian “killing fields”, his adolescence confined to a Vietnamese refugee facility.

Patrick’s success despite his early deprivation, a hunger to succeed, to adapt, to command a foreign language but above all else a work ethic, the lot of every baker, up at the “crack of dawn”, a life of labour. No doubt Patrick’s baking skills have ensured his independence and financial security.

Patrick’s traumatic journey in life, his arrival in New Zealand and his eventual achievement prove to be uplifting, a pleasant respite from the endless social issues pervading our news today and the stark contrast as we witness the tragic plight of so many New Zealand citizens.

P.J. Edmondson, Tauranga.

Business confidence

What brand of venal politics is National playing at in promoting the message of doom and gloom as business confidence sinks? Simon Bridges and his cabal are nothing but a bunch of economic saboteurs playing on the mistrust of the Labour-led Coalition by some in the business community still whinging at National’s electoral defeat.

The worry is that this continuing diatribe may result in a real slump. Who needs that? Not the business community at large nor the country as a whole.

Ron Taylor, Mangawhai.

Traffic-light phasing

Is it ineptitude, ignorance, contrariness or neglect of duty? Whatever it is, the people in charge of traffic lights phasing throughout the country, especially in Auckland and particularly the North Shore, are failing to ensure traffic-light phasing causes minimum traffic delays. They seem unmindful of the fact that thousands more vehicles are added to our roads each year which indicates an increasing need to keep traffic moving as well as safe.

There is far too much waiting at red lights when little or no traffic is using the green: this also applies to on-ramp filtering.

Intersection traffic detectors appear insensitive and slow to adjust to ensure waiting is kept to a minimum: this is particularly evident at the Esmonde/Lake Rd intersections and Esmonde on-and-off ramps on the North Shore.

Even late at night totally unnecessary hold-ups prevail and demand is not satisfied. Frustration and impatience ensues which in turn leads to dangerous running yellow or red.

Equipment needs updating and controllers need to update their thinking! Safety first — yes definitely, but expedition must be improved.

Robin McGrath, Forrest Hill.