Credit: Cathy Wilcox
How sad and disappointing that seven Manly players are reportedly choosing to boycott this week’s match rather than wear a jersey promoting inclusion (“Sea Eagles uproar over pride jersey”, July 26). And yet they’re happy to run out every week as a billboard for a gambling company. All because they might get uncomfortable questions from their intolerant religions. Ian Roberts was once a Manly player; these seven are as far from manly as possible. Hopefully they won’t get paid. Please, Manly, donate their pay to an appropriate charity. Allan Roberts, Dulwich Hill
My understanding of Christian faith is that Jesus was accepting of all, and that love, kindness and forgiveness were values to be celebrated. I just can’t comprehend how a couple of coloured stripes on a rugby league jersey for a couple of hours could invoke the wrath of God or of Pasifika players. Lorraine Hickey, Green Point
I read in disbelief the article about some Manly players being upset at having to wear a jersey with rainbows on it. When I looked at the offending piece of clothing, the only thing that offended me was the advertisement for a gambling company. Gambling destroys thousands of lives each year in Australia and breaks up many families, as well as drives people to suicide, so the rainbow is looking pretty good to me. Doug Cliff, Saratoga
Credit: John Shakespeare
I think anyone who values diversity and the empowerment of non-white Australians should support the Manly players who have chosen not to wear the pride jersey this week. Richard Sweatman, Rankin Park
In the greatest act of humility and inclusion, Jesus Christ was sacrificed on a cross to reconcile all peoples unconditionally to God (John 3:16). For Christ’s sake, I call on all footballers professing faith in Jesus to walk in His ways during NRL pride week (and beyond). Darren Eller, Stanmore
Why didn’t the administrators consult the players beforehand over such a divisive issue? Now my beloved Sea Eagles are likely to miss the finals because of the walkout by several key Christian players. I don’t blame the players. You can’t ride roughshod over someone’s religion. Last time I looked, we were still a democracy.Phil Johnson, Dee Why
I remember the greatest barbs my 1960s league teammates could hurl at another human was that they were homosexual. The hate, the hurt and the fear were palpable. Now we are trying to be socially inclusive and NRL clubs are trying to do their part, and they should be applauded. Do what you are contracted to do: wear the jersey and play the game. If you want to object to messaging on team kit, what about the gambling ads? Tim Jurd, Hurlstone Park
Football players need to be consulted before being asked to wear messages on their jersey. What if the message was political? They are not robots without views or feelings. Roger Cedergreen, South Hurstville
Where is the logic in inclusiveness by imposing a rainbow jersey which obviously brings about division?
Pastor de Lasala, Seaforth
Globetrotting Morrison is AWOL from his electorate
It is inexcusable Scott Morrison will not be attending parliament this week but will be at a private overseas function (“Morrison to miss first week of parliament due to Tokyo trip”, July 26). He should resign from parliament sooner rather than later. Graham Russell, Clovelly
Morrison is skipping the opening of parliament to attend a conference in Tokyo with other former conservative world leaders. The last conservative PM in Canada was Stephen Harper, who ended his tenure in 2015. Jacinda Ardern, a progressive, has been NZ’s PM since 2017. So will it be former conservative leader John Key (2008-2016) or short-lived conservative leader Bill English (2016-2017) who attends? What about Boris Johnson? Aside from sparing himself the ignominy of sitting on the backbench, what will Morrison’s attendance achieve and what will this conference achieve? Helen Simpson, Curl Curl
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda ArdernCredit: Getty
There is nothing that Morrison, the backbench member for Cook, could do for the people of his electorate by flying overseas for a speaking engagement while parliament is sitting or lunching at an exclusive all-male club during office hours (“Howard helps Morrison to ponder life after the Lodge”, July 26). Morrison is showing he was not only unfit to remain as prime minister but he lacks the necessary qualities to continue as a local member. Tony Re, Georges Hall
Having just read that Morrison can’t make it to Canberra this week because he has a speaking engagement in Japan, my interest was piqued. What amazing group of people was he to address? Roll on the floor – it is a bunch of has-been former world leaders. Is Donald Trump going to be there? Tony Abbott? Are they going to sit around reminiscing about the “good old days”? Maureen Donlon, Wagga Wagga
True to form, the ex-PM prefers his passport to parliament. The member for Cook’s tour makes it clear that representing his electorate in the first sitting week is not his job. Janet Argall, Dulwich Hill
Our former PM gets to play the VIP and delays his move to the ignominy of the backbench. To defer that loss of face even more, perhaps he should have committed to enough speaking engagements to cover the whole term. Maybe a national tour of men’s sheds and CWA meetings, sharing his expertise on building chicken coops and cooking curries. Joan Brown, Orange
If only the “ex” would exit. Anne Garvan, Chatswood West
Make refugees full citizens
Morrison’s scare tactics about boats were iniquitous and shameful from the start (“A new era filled with a ’great responsibility‴ , July 26). My good friend Hadi, a Hazara of Afghan origin, is one of the “lucky” refugees who arrived by boat before the arbitrary 2013 cut-off date. Released after years in detention, he was eligible for and remains on a temporary protection visa, like thousands of others living – and already working – here. Because of their uncertain status, employers can benefit by using subcontractors who pay them well below award rates. They are not protected by health and safety regulations. The ready supply of workers on these visas means they can easily be replaced. They know that joining a union would mean immediate loss of their job. Australia desperately needs workers, and this refugee cohort has proved that they are capable and willing. It’s a no-brainer. They should be allowed without further delay to join the labour force as full and welcome residents of the Australian community. Gillian Appleton, Paddington
I listened to Anthony Albanese respond to the Welcome to Country during the opening of parliament. Albanese may lack the style of great orators but there was no lack of sincerity. John Bailey, Canterbury
Sitou a success story
Sally SitouCredit: Alex Ellinghausen
Sally Sitou’s speech (“Sitou’s maiden speech reflects ’power of the Australian story‴, July 26) is a welcome multiculturalism outcome. Her parents fled Laos during the Vietnam War and the family has made Australia home. More power to Sitou, new federal MP, and other inspiring migrant Aussies as they strive to win more seats to reflect multicultural Australia in our parliaments. It is a win-win, as diversity in parliaments and politics brings new outlooks and ideas and enhances inclusivity and equity outcomes. Steve Ngeow, Chatswood
Indigenous emergency
We have had several national emergencies in the past few years – fires, floods and COVID – causing pain and suffering. All of this becomes front-page news. Why are we ignoring the national emergency that is our Indigenous incarceration rate (“Locking up children the start of a life sentence”, July 26)? More than 80per cent of 10- to 13-year-olds in custody are Indigenous; why are 10- to 13-year-olds even in custody? Add to this the knowledge that our Indigenous children come from disadvantage and are many times more likely to be locked up for the same offence as non-Indigenous peers. Urgent action is needed to stop the ongoing damage to these kids. Lucy France, Cronulla
James Christian’s heart breaks for the Indigenous kids whose lives are being ruined by detention, some as young as 10. My heart breaks also. Hence the importance of the Uluru Statement from the Heart in providing the framework for addressing Indigenous needs. There are well-tested alternatives to detention. It only takes the resources and the political will to transform the situation. In his statements, the prime minister is showing the required leadership. Andrew Macintosh, Cromer
Tighter belts not new
With interest rates continuing to rise for some time, recent home loan borrowers in particular will have to change their fare (″Modest fare go: Let them eat wagyu″, July 26). Nothing unusual here – borrowers in the past have had to live a frugal lifestyle for a considerable time with home ownership being their priority. Borrowing from any lender places the responsibility on the borrower to be able to meet repayment conditions. For many, their understanding of money management is poor, as can be seen with the emerging problems associated with the evolution of many buy now, pay later enterprises. The defence for many recent mortgagees that ″the RBA promised″ does not enter legal business transactions. Bruce Clydsdale, Bathurst
Mud makes memories
Splendid mudCredit: Matt Jelonek/Getty Imahes
I do feel for Splendour in the Grass festival-goers (Letters, July 26), I really do. But what I also saw were lots of young people having an absolute ball. Who wouldn’t have fun sliding headfirst through mud, or sitting beside a flooded tent with mates comparing who was the dirtiest and wettest? The stories they will be taking home with them. In all my years travelling and experiencing the world, it’s the times when things didn’t quite go right that I have remembered, far more than the times when everything went to plan. So as miserable as it must have been, I bet this year’s Splendour will go down as one, if not the, most memorable of these festival-goers’ lives. In 50 years’ time, when all the other festivals they attend have blurred into one, Splendour 2022 in Byron will stand out as the one where, in the words of one happy festival-goer, “we made lemonade outta mud”. Jane Mundy, Balgowlah
Let’s not be idle
It’s 50 years since our science teacher introduced Boyle’s Law, gas behaviour and atmospheric pollution in the context of internal combustion engines (Letters, July 26). His observations were not lost on those year 9s who “worked on cars” in the garage with their fathers. We knew that a car left idling would pollute a 100 cubic metre garage in one minute. Mr Curry encouraged me to calculate how long that idling car would take to pollute a major part of our breathable atmosphere – the air between sea level and the height of Mount Everest, and then estimate (with a few assumptions) how long it might take the world’s 200million cars if they were left idling. Best not repeat this estimate now that we have a billion vehicles roaming the planet, augmented by deforestation, aircraft, ships, fossil fuel power plants and the industrial pollution of our insatiable consumption. You don’t need to “believe in climate change” to realise that time is running out. Ronald Elliott, Sandringham (Vic)
Ferry happy memories
Thank you (Letters, July 26) for rekindling ferry memories; I think my family was on that same trip.
I remember Dad telling us to not go downstairs as “it was not nice down there”. According to Mum, on a ship off Hong Kong while battling a typhoon, he managed to be one of the few turning up at buffets and wondering where everyone was. Tony Sullivan, Adamstown Heights
Cross referencing
The Bible may not have an index, but you could try a concordance (Letters, July 26), which lists words from the Bible in alphabetical order and where they can be found. Brian Coleman, St Ives Chase
There is such an index. Search for “Bible concordance” and you will find a few online; your local librarian could provide a printed version. Therese Weiss, Maroubra
Rare meat
A parma (Letters, July 26) is a species of wallaby. Given their threatened status, I hope they are not turning up as pub fare. Neil Reckord, Toormina
Sore loser
Robot breaks child’s finger (“Chess robot hurts child during game”, July 26)? So, robots are human after all. Ciaran Donnelly, Lane Cove West
The digital view
Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au
Government to rewrite climate bill to win over Greens
From Boukefalos: ″It’s good to see Labor and the Greens constructively negotiating, as we’ve lost too much time since their last (non) agreement under Gillard. The climate situation has deteriorated significantly since then, as seen with the catastrophic fires and floods. Time is running out.″
- To submit a letter to The Sydney Morning Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. Click here for tips on how to submit letters.