Do what’s right for the country, cut out politics

Segaert makes a case for understanding the affect of faith however no case for these not selecting to be affected by non secular beliefs. Acceptance is required on each side. 1000’s of years of historical past don’t decide relevancy in an evolutionary world. Preserve faith out of politics and politics out of faith, so the trail ahead is unencumbered. Robert Caraian, Crows Nest

If, as Segaert acknowledges, the expression of sure beliefs by some non secular teams is bigoted and hurtful to others, he can’t fairly anticipate others to be extra understanding and tolerant of those that subscribe to these beliefs. His inner-city Anglican church could welcome all-comers, however that isn’t the case with all different manufacturers of religions, even biblical ones predicated on loving thy neighbour. Ross Duncan, Potts Level

The “one thing of a biblical view” that Segaert presents is a really Christian one, not together with these whose bible is the Torah, and whose non secular custom articulates a radically completely different notion of human perfectibility. Simply this week, we noticed the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the place Jews are required to ask forgiveness from these they’ve wronged earlier than resolving to guide higher lives. They see themselves as being co-workers with God in duty for perfecting the world and should not free to desist from this job, nevertheless unattainable the Messianic Age and beliefs seem like.
It could be good if the dominant non secular establishments confirmed slightly extra humility within the face of the plurality of our various society, and slightly extra respect for the sensitivities of adherents of different religions. Miriam Frommer, Darlinghurst

Christmas Island for IS households

Dialogue of the doubtless rescue of earlier Islamic State Australian households from Syria (“Political chasm opens over repatriations”, October 8) raises the problem of the place they could stay when and if rescued. Maybe the now vacant and really costly Christmas Island detention centre could possibly be utilised. That will be a midway home for the households, to permit for Border Power to query the wives and assess the chance of any issues with radicalisation. As soon as all assessments have been carried out and the households discovered to be able to return to mainland Australia, then allow them to return. Eira Battaglia, Seaforth

Most of those ladies had been tricked into going into Syria after which discovered themselves trapped in undesirable marriages. And what of the youngsters, who’re harmless? Do objectors anticipate them to languish and die in these camps in Syria? All the ladies involved have mentioned they are going to gladly topic themselves to all the safety checks by the Australian authorities and are ready to spend time in jail whether it is deemed applicable. We should always present compassion on this case as the danger to Australia in reuniting these ladies and youngsters with their Australian households has been exaggerated. Leo Sorbello, West Ryde

These households are simply as a lot the victims of Islamic State as those that have suffered from the terrorist actions of the group. Individuals who have sensible expertise on this space have advisable that the repatriations go forward. Permitting these kids to develop up in a secure society, with applicable monitoring, shall be a much better final result than having them sucked into the senseless violence from which they want to escape. The repatriations will permit our authorities, and the Australian individuals, to discharge their obligation below worldwide legislation, whereas offering a sensible answer. Derrick Mason, Boorowa

Probably nobody apart from their households desires ladies and youngsters again from Syria, however guess what, they’re Australian and that makes them our duty, whether or not we prefer it or not. Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn

Hope for heritage

There’s a glimmer of hope for Sydney’s heritage (“Minister topples towering proposal”, October 8) following weeks of disturbing information tales about growth proposals and authorities choices that can lead to additional loss and destruction of historic websites and buildings, together with compromising considered one of our oldest museums.Oh , that Barangaroo may stay because the low rise, inexperienced area I believed was promised. An simply ignored line, “He moved from a metropolis wealthy in historical past – Cleopatra, Caesar, Alexander the Nice – to suburban Melbourne” (“Rock star, Marxist and non secular revolutionary”, October 8), reveals maybe the generally held view that Australia has no historical past to worth. The “troublesome adjustment” spoken of in that article is likely to be that we want but to open our eyes to see, study and recognize our distinctive Australian historical past, Indigenous, constructed and pure. We should always not give in to those that inform us we have to offset the prices of preserving heritage by, for instance, stabbing the foundations of a excessive rise by means of the center of a heritage-listed constructing. Sue Frost, Newport

The lacking hyperlinks

Roads Minister Natalie Ward mentions the Metro, the Rozelle Interchange and slashed journey instances, multi functional breath (Letters, October 8). There’ll be no time financial savings for transit customers with out pedestrian hyperlinks between the Metro and buses by means of the interchange, that are 150 metres aside. Kevin Eadie, Drummoyne

So, first the federal government builds a tollway and operates it for a time frame. Then it sells it to a toll highway operator for a big quantity based mostly on projected earnings. The operator will increase the tolls charged yearly to fulfill its shareholders. Over time, the will increase turn out to be unaffordable for a lot of highway customers, so the federal government successfully returns the revenue it made by rebating many customers a portion of the tolls incurred. Looks as if a great marketing strategy to me. Peter Wilkosz, Byron Bay

5-dam answer

Increase the partitions of the 5 southern dams close to Appin as an alternative of Warragamba dam (Letters, October 8). A big quantity of the water downstream of Warragamba dam comes direct from these tiny dams in overflow and is dumped straight into the Nepean River, which bypasses Warragamba dam.
This measure would vastly ameliorate flooding downstream of Warragamba dam and in Camden. Elevating Warragamba dam isn’t the answer. Phillip Powell, Bringelly

The perfect answer for Warragamba dam is to boost the dam wall. Floods and droughts are a cyclical inevitability for Australia and our infrastructure have to be able to dealing with these extremes. Elevating the dam wall will present a buffer for water shortages throughout drought and also will enhance water capability to mitigate floods during times of heavy rainfall. Riley Brown, Bondi Seashore

Crowning glory

With Britain leaping the queue and securing the following Eurovision, Australia and NSW ought to get in and declare the following large occasion of 2023, the coronation, to point out the world that Charles is not only King of the UK. As it’s to be a scaled-down occasion, provide the Sydney Opera Home or the brand new soccer stadium because the venue, adopted by the world’s greatest sausage sizzle within the Royal Botanic Gardens. John Woodward, Ashfield

Excessive and dry

The phrase “grounded” (“Manly ferries could possibly be grounded for weeks”, October 8) for the three Manly ferries isn’t the precise time period for a berthed or moored vessel. On reflection, although, maybe they need to be “grounded” – on the continental shelf 20kms off the NSW coast. Hugh Darling, Fort Hill

Good factor we acquired them low cost. Alan Hicks, Stanmore

Pot luck

Gee, I really feel sort of responsible now for placing my indoor vegetation out on the balcony in a single day when it was chilly and raining (“Are vegetation conscious? I fear extra about robots”, October 8). Lisa Clarke, Watsons Bay

Light-weight

“Bikeshedding” (“Appropriate to get stressed about sleep”, October 8) is definitely what occurs when individuals have ridden these for-hire bikes after which dumped them below bridges or in canals? Ann Thomas, Balmain

How a lot for money

So long as we’ve tradespeople we’ll by no means have a cashless society (“We’re utilizing much less money however for some, it makes cents”, October 8). Cornelius van der Weyden, Balmain East

The digital view
On-line remark from one of many tales that attracted essentially the most reader suggestions yesterday on smh.com.au
Labor to air choice on stage three tax cuts earlier than the funds
From Smack, Metropolis of the Fallen
″⁣Chalmers ought to go ahead with both dumping or delaying the Stage 3 tax cuts – the instances dictate the coverage as we come out of the financial results of a once-in-a-century world pandemic.″⁣

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