Abeautiful essay from Julia Baird (“Trump’s the attention thief. Let’s focus”, February 8), on Trump’s strategy for directing our focus always to him. Of course this is why Peter Dutton is copying Trump – a very dangerous strategy when things go wrong. As individuals, we need a strategy for shifting our own focus. I believe that all reliable information ultimately has its origin in reliable measurement, and as we said in the quality movement, you can’t control what you can’t measure, while what gets measured gets done. So focus on the measurement. Trump (and Musk) will try to destroy our reliable sources of information by destroying the underlying measurements, so they can be replaced with misinformation. But many of the fundamental things will still be available, such as global warming data, demographic data on life expectancy and the educational inequalities that ultimately drive our wealth and income inequalities: and that’s just the sad stuff that we often use to decide where our vote goes. Only by focusing on the measurement can you laugh at the advertising. Get your daily dose of data and ignore what you can’t control in the short term. Noel Thompson, Riverview
Credit: Badiucao
Another deep and meaningful piece by Julia Baird as she sums up what we are facing with the tsunami of mis- and disinformation being lobbed at us with “muzzle velocity” as decoys for our attention while “they” do what is required by them in its cover of dismantling political, justice, social and economic structures. While it’s frustrating, I don’t believe this is a unique time; we face this during times of war and the recent pandemic. During such times, keeping focused on the human, loving our children, focusing on the truth, saving lives, applying salve to the physical and emotional wounds of all — even making bread in a totally damaged bakery and welcoming guests home with food and drink — must continue to happen. We are all star throwers with enough power to make a difference. Manbir Singh Kohli, Pemulwuy
Elon Musk’s net wealth amounts to more than $US424 billion ($676 billion) – nearly six times the $US72 billion budget of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – and yet he wants to abolish the agency and stop this amount from reaching the poorest and most needy children on the planet. The world’s richest man, with the world’s blackest soul, declares war on the poor: his is the evil, Satanic face of capitalism if there ever was one. Ryszard Linkiewicz, Caringbah South
The story of the star thrower making a difference resonated with me. Many years ago, I was involved in a challenging community project and often received comments such as: “Why do you bother? It’s just a drop in the ocean.” When I mentioned this to a wise friend, she said it’s always important to remember that the ocean is made up of drops. A lesson not forgotten. Jennifer Dewar, Double Bay
Julia Baird’s retelling of the starfish story is a timely reminder to us all that we can make a difference to this world. Just remember, the one extra starfish saved shows that one small act of kindness can make the world a better place. Denis Suttling, Newport Beach
Thank you, Julia Baird, for your wise and timely advice on negotiating the “profound chaos” inflicted upon us by Donald Trump. If we can focus on the good things in life, not the stupidity, and on being better individuals, perhaps collectively we can all build a better world. Steve Fortey, Avoca Beach
I need to take Julia Baird’s advice. Instead of reacting to all the pettiness and stupidity that comes out of Trump’s mouth, I, and others, need to focus on what we can control. All of us are mad if we think we can control Trump. David Rush, Lawson
Selective telling
Jamie Hyams (Letters, February 8) offers very selective examples in his claim the IDF did not commit genocide or ethnic cleansing during the tragic events in Gaza. He remains silent re the 47,000 Palestinian deaths and the proposal that 1.5 million displaced inhabitants returning to their devastated homes could be relocated. His claim may be considered by many as hypocritical, denialist and lacking in humanity. Michael Edgar, Balgowlah
Jamie Hyams rightly notes that Israel has not committed genocide — an obvious fact to anyone thinking objectively about the Gaza conflict. This false charge, along with claims of ethnic cleansing and starvation, is levelled at a nation attacked by a terrorist group openly committed to genocide. The constant repetition of such slanders by ignorant activists fuels rising antisemitism. With only about 100,000 Jews in Australia, most antisemites have likely never met one. Their hostility stems from conspiracy theories, misguided envy or a perception of Jewish “otherness”. Throughout history, Jews have faced persecution—from ancient times due to their rejection of idol worship, through medieval blood libels and scapegoating during the Black Death, culminating in the Holocaust, a true genocide perpetrated on racial grounds. Today, antisemitism continues to be driven by conspiracy theories and hostility from left-wing progressives, far-right extremists and parts of a growing Muslim constituency. Its spread is enabled by the indifference of the silent majority. Frequent antisemitic attacks and vandalism, widely reported in media abroad, damage Australia’s reputation as a tolerant, multicultural society. John Kempler, Rose Bay
Jamie Hyams unwittingly puts his finger on the paradoxes inherent in the Israeli care for civilians in Gaza. If a warning is given to civilians to withdraw, Hamas will also withdraw and the attack is pointless. After the attack, civilians should be able to return to their homes, but all they find is rubble. John Christie, Oatley
Paulo Freire’s influential book of the 1970s, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, saw liberation struggles as having two possible outcomes. Either a difficult period of dialogue produces a more just sustainable society or the liberated become the oppressors. He called the positive approach “praxis” (practice, as distinguished from theory). The horrors of the Holocaust revealed in the years after War World II showed that the centuries of antisemitism had produced the worst oppression in history. The victorious nations decided action must be taken and the state of Israel was established. Was this Freire’s praxis? No. The Holocaust was the outcome of centuries of abuse and persecution of Jews in Christian European nations and their offshoots, but these countries were not willing to bear the cost of rectification. Instead, this was loaded on a small, unoffending Arabic-Islamic state. Asking others to pay for your offences is courting disaster. The Israeli leaders probably noted this and quickly decided to use their new powers as ardent oppressors. Terry Farrell, Mosman
Minns’ UFC support a bad look
Peter FitzSimons (The Fitz Files, February 8) is spot-on in querying the state government’s outlay of $16 million to subsidise caged boxing. What next – the lions and the Christians? The money would be better spent on a study of a possible correlation between blood sports such as UFC and domestic violence. Ray Alexander, Moss Vale
I have long been concerned at our tax dollars being handed out by Destination NSW to events that, through sponsorship and entry fees, are self-supporting. What really irks me is that the funds handed out to these private entities by Destination NSW are “commercial in confidence”. Cherylle Stone, Soldiers Point
Chris Minns says people in the suburbs want to watch UFC. There are people in the suburbs who want to watch cockfighting. Oh, but that’s cruel, unlike two humans punching each other to submission. There are also people in the suburbs who want to have a toke on a bit of weed. But no, that’s going to hurt their brain, unlike two humans punching each other to submission. Is he for real? Mark Kilminster, Castle Hill
The barbarity of this sport and its acceptance into the mainstream is horrifying. If you wander through a sports bar during the Australia Sri Lanka Test being played, it is likely that most screens and attention will be on UFC. If this is the advancement of Western civilisation, what is the future? Peter Bourke, Rockdale
UFC is human cockfighting and a manipulable betting vehicle. I am appalled the NSW government will support the violence and gambling of the UFC with our money. This is a misjudgment far more consequential than a car ride to the Hunter Valley. Premier, at least allocate a one-off equal amount to the eradication of domestic violence. Tim Coen, Ashfield
I thought Australia – well, at least Sydney – was a civilised place, concerned for the health and wellbeing of its citizens. So why is our premier, a quiet decent chap, I thought, introducing that most inhumane so-called sport, UFC, into Sydney, backed by millions of our dollars? Boxing is bad enough, but the brutality I glimpsed, from ads that should be banned, reveal that UFC is designed only to appeal to our basest instincts. What next, premier – public executions? Andrew Caro, Greenwich
$16 million to UFC. That would have added 160 young teachers for one year to our understaffed and underfunded public education system. Bloody poor sense of priorities, premier. Peter Cuk, St Ives
Barnaby blunted
Apparently David Littleproud has taken pity on the rest of Australia by constraining Barnaby Joyce to his own electorate (‴Barnaby rule’ hides Joyce in his own seat”, February 9). To say the rest of us will miss his colourful, sometimes dangerous nonsense is an overstatement. My question to Littleproud is: why inflict him on the people of New England? Geoff Nilon, Mascot
Barnaby Joyce: Hidden in the attic until after the election?
It is common that, when travelling in Australia and overseas, many people are asked where they’re from. On more than one occasion, we have answered with our city name and the response has been “Armidale? Isn’t that in New England – Barnaby Joyce’s electorate?” This has then been followed by a quizzical look or an interesting comment. We usually sheepishly answer “yes, but don’t blame us”. Now it looks as though the good folk of the New England will be exposed to more of him. Kate Prosser, Armidale
Who would have thought the Nationals could be farsighted enough to erect a Barnaby-proof fence? Tony Doyle, Fairy Meadow
True blue Bruno
Lex Marinos: knew his way around an accentCredit: Rohan Thomson
Some people have strange concepts of what an accent should be (“Yeah, nah: The best and the worst of true blue ’Strayan accents on screen”, February 8). Some years ago, I heard the late Lex Marinos talk about the first time he went to read the script as the Italian Australian character Bruno in the show Kingswood Country. As he began reading the lines, the show’s writers stopped him and asked why he wasn’t doing it in an Italian accent. Lex explained he was playing a character born in Australia of Italian heritage and so wouldn’t have a foreign accent but an Aussie one. Luckily for him, and for us, that was accepted. Con Vaitsas, Ashbury
Familiar four walls
Is living in the same house for at least 20 years really news (“Holders, keepers love thy neighbourhoods”, February 8)? Well, we must make the front page. We have been living happily in the same home for 40 years — and we are nowhere near a beach. Peter Baker, Blacktown
Yachties assailed
Sydney Habour: There’s room enough for everyoneCredit: Rhett Wyman
David Salter (“Generations divided over sailing’s ‘Formula 1’ event”, February 8) should consider racing west of the bridge while SailGP is excluding him from the eastern harbour. Balmain, Drummoyne and Greenwich are a few of the clubs that have vibrant sailing and no exclusions. Anni Browning, Elizabeth Bay
So it’s a little inconvenient the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club to adjust their schedule for one weekend in the year where the beauty of Sydney Harbour is broadcast to the world. Ray Hood, Illawong
One in hole
Golf courses and cemeteries seem complementary to me on two fronts (“MP’s fury at golf course-to-cemetery plan ’fait accompli‴ , February 8). Couldn’t small plaques/headstones be designed to be placed on the fairway without interrupting the game? Secondly, as most players are elderly, they could add a shovel to their bag of clubs. Tim Schroder, Gordon
Could this be a nice graveyard?Credit: Sydney Morning Herald
Turning the fairways of Carnarvon Golf Club into a burial ground might be a fait accompli. But perhaps “lay down misere” is a more apt description. Ross Duncan, Potts Point
The dead do not need a golf course. Lindsay Foyle, Stanmore
I’ve always suspected golf to be dead boring. Dorothy Gliksman, Cedar Brush Creek
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