'I don't find the flying of flags funny' - Your letters plus two Pictures from the Past

Flags are only funny for some

I am reading a book called White Fragility. It explores how white people respond to thinking about racism. I have tried to write this as carefully as I could but this book makes clear what reaction I am most likely to get, which is sad as I am talking about something at society level that affects us all.

Flags that have recently been painted onto cows near Bridgnorth are only funny for white people. Non white people like nearly all the carers who looked after my husband in hospital, or the doctor who gave him his new hip, or the woman from Afghanistan I met on the bus revising for her driving theory test, or my teacher friends from Martinique would not find St George flags on cows funny. Brexit frightened off the white Eastern Europeans and we now have a lot more non white people in their place. None of them will be finding it funny either.

These red crosses on white flags or white roundabouts or anything else white, that make white people feel proud to be English are menacing for non white people. The flags used en masse in this way are implements of racism. They make non white people feel unwelcome and vulnerable. This WILL embolden some whites to carry out acts of intimidation in this new environment where they are being falsely led to believe that non white people are the cause of their very real problems.

Far right leaders are encouraging people to blame the economic fallout from their Brexit, from the pandemic, from Putin’s war, on migrants. Prior to Hitler, swastikas were a widely recognised symbol of good luck, fertility, and well-being in many cultures, used by companies and in architecture. Hitler used mass flag waving and swastikas to stir up the population making them feel proud of their country, while he simultaneously demeaned the Jews blaming all the financial problems of runaway inflation on them.

People say history repeats itself. We all have access to historical facts nowadays so we are not ignorant of the past. History is repeating itself - I hope we decide to intervene.

Victoria Barnes, Shropshire

Where are the fathers to help?

The fact that this wretched government is probably the worst within living memory does not necessarily mean that they are automatically to blame for everyone's difficulties and problems.

Predictably, our pre-budget news bulletins feature single mothers – it is always single mothers blaming the government for the fact that their shopping bill has rocketed, that they are in arrears with mortgage and Council Tax payments, that they cannot feed and clothe their kids.I genuinely sympathise with these women and their situation.

It cannot be easy for them. But I ask the question: where are the fathers of these children and why are they not contributing sufficiently to maintain an acceptable standard of living for their offspring?Why should we taxpayers subsidise their profligacy and irresponsibility through the benefits these women receive.?

B.Williams, Wordsley

Tarmac already in a right mess

The recent roadworks on Castle Foregate and Cross Street have given us a fresh new surface of black tarmac. One side-effect is to show up the white pigeon mess much more clearly.

It's hardly been a month since completion, and already the sheer quantity of guano and feathers has to be seen to be believed. The sooner the netting under those bridges is extended to cover all the cavities between the girders, the better.

Simon Hartley, High Ercall

Slowly our roads are improving

Credit where credit is due. I have seen some improvement in our roads in the West Midlands, with cavernous potholes (such as Sainsbury’s, Wolverhampton) finally filled.

The problem we have was put in perspective during a summer visit to Switzerland, where it gets quite icy I’m told. I did not see one pothole in the entire week I was there. 

Maybe a delegation can be sent into Europe to find out how they do it.

Catherine Smith, Penn

Much bluster about weather

There has been much talk of ‘Storm Amy’. But aren’t we just experiencing very normal autumn weather?

C Pickett,  Bridgnorth

Dolly’s thoughts on Archbishop

Aunt Dolly is cock-a-hoop that a woman has become the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

And she feels she will give the Church what it badly needs, a good dose of honesty about its past deeds and female willpower to get things done.

Uncle Norbert and I wholeheartedly agree, as we both can testify to Aunt Dolly's willpower to keep Uncle Norbert and I on a righteous path, but without snuffing out our sense of fun.

Which is why as Aunt Dolly left the room I asked her if this now means that at future C of E Church services there will have to be doilies under the candlesticks.

I managed to duck when the wet dish cloth came my way. The new Archbishop might consider keeping a damp dish cloth handy.

P Steggles, Rushbury