Malcom Knox’s fascinating analysis of our fixation with the mushroom murder case (“Case fixation reveals thirst for truth”, July 8) reflects what former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld called “known unknowns” – gaps in our knowledge. Our concern for the truth in cases as complex as the Erin Patterson murders frequently entails having to cope with contentious opinions, misinformation, disinformation and outright lies. As many investigative journalists realise, it can be agitating, sometimes disturbing, that we might never get to the whole truth – Rumsfeld’s “known knowns”. Nevertheless, our “thirst for the truth” is, as Knox implies, indispensable to civilised life and progress. Ron Sinclair, Windradyne
Erin PattersonCredit: The Age
We can expect to be bombarded with a barrage of books, films, TV series and documentaries on the Patterson mushroom murders case, which attracted worldwide attention. While the jury unanimously found her to be guilty of the abhorrent crime of murdering three family members and attempted murder of another, what makes this case so chillingly fascinating is that, as the law dictates, there is no need for a motive to be evident to determine a guilty verdict. There will, no doubt, be much conjectural speculation, but the fact remains we will always be kept in the dark as to why. Mary Carde, Parrearra (Qld)
No doubt much will be written about Erin Patterson, including jokes about mushrooms and beef Wellington. Let’s hope those proffering speculative explanations for her actions are mindful of two traumatised young people whose sole contact with their mother may only ever be in a room under the eye of correctional officers. They have also lost two loving grandparents and a great-aunt, and will no doubt be subjected to cruel schoolyard and online taunts. They must adjust to living with a parent who will live with his own trauma of losing three members of his close family to a painful and premature death. We don’t want to see a return of the types of jokes proliferating around the time of the trial and subsequent conviction of Lindy Chamberlain. And that was before the potential harm of social media on two innocent children. Irene Nemes, Rose Bay
Trump’s suckers
Cory Alpert is right (“Rural America’s Trump obsession is no longer kitsch”, July 8). Donald Trump’s popular support is based on nothing more than anger at systemic flaws that have let people down. Good people have been totally sucked in by his “I am your retribution” line, although he “never cared much” for them anyway, and they have willingly swapped reason, common sense and basic humanity for his bellicose nonsense, falsehoods, hypocrisy and cant simply because no one else appeared to be listening to them. It’s a pity that the inherently selfish nature of their desire for attention played so well into his craving for public adulation. His time at the helm will come to a merciful end. What lasting damage it does to his own country is anyone’s guess, but let’s hope it stays where he leaves it and that the devastation is indeed short lived. Adrian Connelly, Springwood
In the terrific article by Cory Alpert, he encapsulates the coming tragedy that is Trump’s America. Despite less than 30 per cent of the population supporting his big, beautiful bill, insufficient Republicans stood up to condemn it for what it is – an attempt to further enrich the wealthy at the expense of the average and the poor. Trump is a charlatan who, 100 years ago, would have been travelling around the country spruiking the supposed benefits of Kickapoo Joy Juice. Sadly, today, with a much wider populace, he is wreaking havoc on the very people who voted for him. Peter Nash, Fairlight
Is peace prized?
It’s what good mates do (“Netanyahu nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize”, smh.com.au, July 8). Benny nominates Don for the Nobel Peace Prize. Benny commissioned the killing of thousands of women and children, and Don has created mayhem in world order. What a great recommendation. But as Nobel no doubt considered when creating the Nobel Prize endowment, you can’t control your estate from the grave. D’Arcy Hardy, North Turramurra
Credit: Matt Golding
Oh, please. Trump didn’t know that his bestie, alleged war criminal Netanyahu, was going to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize? Pull the other leg, it tinkles. Surely, the nominator alone should be grounds enough for disqualification? Donna Wiemann, Balmain
Is Trump in cahoots with Putin? It feels like it. Sue Walsh, Woollahra
The Nobel Peace Prize for Trump? Send in the clowns. Don’t bother, they’re here. Gwen James, Stanmore
Meeting trap
The correspondents (Letters, July 8) were fulsome in their praise of Anthony Albanese’s approach to the US, made in Trump’s image. Sussan Ley desperately wants a meeting between PM and Trump, but not for any benefit to the alliance (if it still exists). No, sadly, the Coalition members are so bereft of policy that they lie awake at night dreaming of a “disastrous” meeting with Trump for purely selfish reasons ... they want Albanese to be seen to fail on the world stage. To vote for a party that would be happy to see our leader embarrassed by a meeting, such as what Ukraine and South Africa were subjected to, speaks volumes about why they are carping from the sidelines. Phil Armour, Yass
As many of your letter writers state, Trump appreciates shirt-fronters, not brown-nosers. Strong leaders not compliant ones. If our strong man won’t stand up to Trump, then at least he shouldn’t bow to him. So we don’t impose tariffs. But we do increase the cost of anything from the US. Longer customs checks on imports. Health checks on food. Last place for postal deliveries. There are myriad ways to increase the costs of American goods being sold here without the word tariff attached. And Trump will notice and realise he has to negotiate a deal, which our PM can use to massage Trump’s ego, as Netanyahu and Xi have done very successfully. David Neilson, Araluen (NT)
I must take issue with part of your correspondent’s claim that Trump “admires strength and ridicules sycophants”. I thought he rewarded the latter. Judith Campbell, Drummoyne
Musk for Democrats
Elon Musk’s agenda might not be clear yet (‴Ridiculous’: Trump slams Musk’s plan to launch third political party”, July 8), but, inevitably, if he throws his resources into it for the 2026 midterm elections, it will be an indication of how the GOP diaspora’s support for President Trump’s vision for America actually sits. Many voters to whom the Democratic credo is anathema will get the opportunity to reject that vision and the methods of its implementation. With first-past-the-post electoral procedures prevalent in the 50 disparate jurisdictions, Musk may, by splitting the right-wing vote, deliver the Democrats a significant boost. If that is Musk’s agenda, then he is maintaining the contest to win the world title for ego. Andrew Cohen, Glebe
Elon Musk: Is a Third Way party possible?Credit: AP
Perhaps Musk should have a chat with Clive Palmer about how to waste millions of dollars on fanciful illusions of grandeur? Christina Foo, Wahroonga
Screaming is a tennis turn-off
I can only agree with David Salter’s article on the annoying and unnecessary shrieking by prominent tennis players (“OK, Wimbledon, time to smash this shrieking racket”, July 8). A case in point is the women’s top player, Aryna Sabalenka, whose long shrieks have been recorded exceeding 100 decibels – similar to a jet aircraft taking off. Yet Sabalenka says she doesn’t hear herself when playing, which is very difficult to believe when the audience certainly can. Indeed, Serena Williams said that she only started “grunting” (shrieking) to mimic Monica Seles. Therefore, such activity can only be regarded as an unsporting ploy, which has been allowed to continue for decades. There is a truism that a person’s authority is governed by what we allow them to have. Weak umpiring and ineffectual tennis governing bodies have allowed players to govern the sport, harming the sport and audience enjoyment. It’s time for umpires and tennis governing bodies to take control and apply the rules to eradicate this blight on the game, preventing up-and-coming players from copying this unnecessary and irritating ploy. Mervyn Cross, Mosman
Bellarus tennis star Aryna Sabalenka, currently No 1 in tennis and shrieking.Credit: AP
Salter is right on the mark. If players don’t scream when playing the same shots in practice, then there’s no need for it in matches. It’s cheating, simple as that, and needs to be stopped. Patrick McMahon, Paddington
Salter makes a valid point about grunters and squealers. It does seem peculiar to tennis. It is a learnt behaviour and can be unlearnt. If players are grunting or squealing, I don’t watch. When enough viewers switch off, broadcasters will exert financial pressure on tournament organisers. John Harris, Goulburn
Even though I agree with Salter that on-court grunting and shrieking have reached unacceptable levels, my solution is to watch the tennis with the sound off. If I find the noise distracting, I can’t imagine how bad it is for the players. I’m sure I’m not alone in this practice. Judith Rostron, Killarney Heights
Compassion counts
Dear Sister Susan Connelly (Letters, July 8), heartfelt thanks for expressing so succinctly what many of us have been thinking and feeling, that is, compassion for all innocent victims of this seemingly intractable situation. Kate Coates, Wangi Wangi
May I voice my support for the excellent statement from Sister Susan regarding the Palestinian and Jewish people? She has voiced my own thoughts and those of a number of friends so well that I think it is fair to suggest that for many Australians, while antisemitism is unacceptable, so are the actions of the Netanyahu and Hamas regimes. Sister Susan might have added the suffering, for more than 50 years, of the Palestinian people in the West Bank, a region originally designated by the UN in 1947 as the future Palestine. Brian Kidd, Mt Waverley (Vic)
Tackle tired cliches
I started at my sixth school by age nine in the west of Sydney in the late 1950s, when some stability came into our lives after my father’s World War II-related mental health travails and buying our own home. So what? Your correspondents (Letters, July 8) have mostly lambasted rugby league down to a very dismissive personal level when it was the sport that helped a scared kid assimilate into the “wild west”, it being the only winter sport at my school. I learnt about resilience and teamwork and people dynamics, gained confidence, and had great friends until I moved from the district 20 years later. I just know that having a condescending view of rugby league and its participants doesn’t fit with my life experience. Each to their own. Brian Jones, Leura
Alternate dates
Thank you to your correspondent (Letters, July 8) for informing us of the largely unknown significance of July 9 in the formation of the Federation of Australia. Might this be a better date to celebrate Australia Day rather than January 26? Levane Abdoolcader, Padstow Heights
Australia: where does it start?Credit: Getty Images
Yes, July 9 was the date on which royal assent was given to the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900. However, it was with the Australia Act 1986, in both the UK and here, on March 3, 1986, by the giving of the royal assent by Queen Elizabeth II, that Australia became independent, for no longer could the UK parliament legislate for Australia. It is on this day that Australians should celebrate Australia Day. Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga
Quick to criticise
I notice that many Herald letter writers are attacking Sussan Ley (Letters, July 8) with the same gusto as they do all Liberal leaders. Give her a break, folks. She is in opposition and the next election is years away. Roger Cedergreen, Kirrawee
Force rehabilitation
Some of our beautiful, rundown heritage buildings are being allowed to succumb to the ravages of time (Letters, July 8). They are also subject to not only gross neglect but are being trashed and eventually will either be fodder for arson or some other nefarious treatment. As many of these buildings are privately owned, why isn’t something done to force owners to rehabilitate these architecturally interesting and significant buildings? The Paragon in Katoomba, for example, is owned by a Sydney millionaire so it’s not a matter of lack of money. Why do we not cherish buildings from the past?Dorothy Gliksman, Cedar Brush Creek
Heritage listing can be a poisoned chalice unless it comes with guaranteed government assistance. One church in which I ministered was a classic federation building. Designing and securing permission to add an accessibility ramp was a nightmare. The 18 beautiful stained-glass windows were all in dire need of repair and maintenance, but when quotes were sourced we found it would be at least $1000 each just to have them cleaned. For small, ageing local congregations facing ever-rising costs, these sorts of responsibilities are crushing and will inevitably lead to significant losses to the built environments of art, culture and history. Meredith Williams, Baulkham Hills
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