Opinions and truth don't mix
Do newspapers bear a responsibility not to print letters that are wildly inaccurate and appear to be little more than the ravings of angry malcontents with too much time on their hands?
Or do you print letters on the basis of comedic value?
I refer to the latest ranting of Mr Allan Tucker (August 29).
Mr T appears to inhabit a world far removed from reality, but is entitled to express his opinions.
He would do well to remember opinions are exactly that; they are not facts. For something to qualify as a fact it should at least have some truth to it.
I agree that, depending on which source you consult, Sweden and Norway frequently top the UK in the quality of life stakes but that Ireland, Finland and Denmark rarely do.
Attributing the wealth and quality of life in such countries, solely to the lack of a nuclear capability and an absence of overseas troop deployments fails to explain why both France and the US, as well as the UK, score so highly in the quality of life stakes while dozens of countries lacking a nuclear deterrent do not.
Finally, perhaps Mr T would like to visit the Swedish, Finnish and Norwegian troops deployed in Bosnia and Kosovo, the Danish troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Irish troops that have served in numerous hazardous peacekeeping operations.
JJ Fitzpatrick, Albrighton
