Woke might have started out as simply being alert to prejudice and injustice in modern society, but seized on gleefully by the right, it’s now generally understood as a pejorative term (“Wake up, left, reject wokeness”, July 7). We can’t all be purists about capitalism all of the time. Extremists and outright ratbags in their ranks have always plagued the left, but as long as a lively debate continues, mostly the approach has been to roll one’s eyes and carry on. Margaret Johnston, Paddington
Woke in fright.Credit: Simon Letch
I agree with Clive Hamilton, from the suggestion that the extreme left reduces politics to “individualism and identity-making”, to his statement that the extreme right screams of “political correctness gone mad” and “present themselves as the champions of free speech”. Both these extreme cases are blind to larger views of society and the structures needed to keep it functioning well. But what did we do before the emergence of the term “woke”? Was it not possible to discuss such things without this word? Marie Del Monte, Ashfield
It’s time the left pushed back against wokeness. It displays an intolerance against everything the left should stand for. Wokeness is not the first toxic export we have had from the USA, the land of extremes. But it is feeding social media’s amplification megaphone where the more outrage you can spark, the more “likes” you get. Gary Barnes, Mosman
I am not sure what Hamilton is getting at in criticising the Greens and Labor for being “woke”. To quote author Jason Overstreet: “The word woke is becoming more beautiful by the day. Why? Because the absolute worst people on earth use it as a slur against everything that is good. Stay woke”. Hamilton should be slamming the right and those who have weaponised what is “to be aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues, especially issues of racial and social justice”. Nicholas Triggs, Katoomba
I find “woke” unappealing as a word to describe the range of inequalities that plague life for so many. It is, supposedly, about freedom of expression, and it limits. Such freedom surely entails a sense or responsibility about potentially damaging consequences? Despite being a member of the Greens, Hamilton is critical of its populist Utopianism which, he rightly argues, results in “some woeful decisions”. The Greens are a party of the populist Left so it is not just the Right which weaponises the word and thereby interferes with the capacity to disagree without rancour and insult. Ron Sinclair, Bathurst
Clive Hamilton was able to articulate what I have been thinking over the last few years. I certainly feel less guilty now about my drift away from the left in recent times. Richard Tainsh, Potts Point
Too many trees for the city? Western Sydney will take them
Western Sydney would happily take 6000 trees (“A tree is not a tree – and therein lies the shrub”, July 7). The air quality impacts of the motorway construction and operation boom in the inner-city hits hardest in southwestern Sydney every day as the polluted air is blown our way. The M4, M5 and M7 motorway corridors are all relatively bare. New suburbs like Austral and other more established areas in the southwest are all desperate for tree coverage. Air quality and emissions from transport are a citywide issue, not just a local one and particularly concentrated in our region. Give us your 6000 trees! Ned Mannoun, Liverpool City Mayor
Time will tell just how much of a problem is caused by taking too many trees away. But it can’t be a good thing. If it’s a problem to find space for 6000 trees in the North Sydney LGA, why not plant some further afield, for example in the western suburbs where it is scorching in summer? Does it really matter where they are planted? Too many trees are barely enough. Margot Pope, Lewisham
I am fortunate to live in a suburb with many trees, but I have spent the past 40 years trying to placate neighbours who were attracted to our area by the green, but after moving in wanted the trees cut down, citing the inconvenience of small dropped branches and debris. I have heard of instances of prospective home buyers rejecting a property because it had “too many trees”. I willingly spend several thousand dollars per year to keep my trees in optimal condition but feel I am in a minority and that a large number Sydney residents are anti-trees, except from a distance. Heather Johnson, West Pennant Hills
It is hard to be opposed to the planting of more trees. The benefits to our native wildlife are obvious. But as tree cover grows, so the sun to our homes is progressively blocked, as is the sun to our solar panels. In winter, our homes become more in need of heating, which is far more common than our houses in summer needing cooling. There needs to be some regulation around protecting existing solar panel installationsor we will end up with more very cold houses reliant upon fossil fuels for warming. Sue Adams, Dulwich Hill
Rather than planting targets, we need survival targets if we want to maintain, let alone increase, our green canopy. How many of these proposed plantings in North Sydney will be alive and thriving in one year, five years or 20 years? By my definition, a three-metre woody shrub is not a tree, and not a suitable replacement for a removed tree. Rhonda Daniels, Sutherland
Out? My mistake
Your correspondent suggests when a cricketer makes an honest mistake they should not be dismissed (Letters, July 7). As a remarkably average batsman, I often missed the ball, by mistake, and was given out when the ball went on to hit the stumps. I am now really upset that the opposing captains didn’t recall me to the crease because of those mistakes. Bruce Russ, Annandale
Mythical moments.Credit: Matt Golding
If the custom is always to recall the batsman to the crease when an honest mistake is made by a player, then Usman Khawaja should have been recalled after his honest mistake of nicking the ball to slips. Josephine Bode, St Ives
There is a vast difference between an honest mistake and repeated carelessness. Jonny Bairstow had it coming. Alynn Pratt, Grenfell
The phrase “doing a Bradbury” entered the Australian vernacular after his unexpected gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Will we now see “doing a Bairstow” whenever anyone behaves in a manner that reaches the heights of hypocrisy. Go Australia! Nick Westerink, Weetangera
If “basketball may be the future”, I fervently hope for a more exciting option, such as the return of marbles. Wolf Kempa, Lithgow
Have we forgotten already that the Aussies disputed an inadmissible catch in a previous Test? Or would we rather not remember? Dave Horsfall, North Gosford
Shameful and heartless conduct undersells tragedy of robo-debt scandal
Vulnerable people were chased by a cynical government, using illegal methods, for non-existent debts, with catastrophic outcomes (“‘Dishonesty and collusion’: Robo-debt report recommends criminal and civil prosecutions”, smh.com.au, July 7). To call it a “shameful chapter in public administration” is underselling just how bad this is. Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn
A single word description of the federal Coalition: heartless. Michael Preece, Summer Hill
Ex-ministers must be glad they have the right to respond to the royal commission’s findings and access to our national resources should they need to appeal (“Public purse could pay for legal fees”, July 7). The irony will not be lost on the many thousands targeted by robo-debt. Colin Stokes, Camperdown
White Australia
Matt Kean compared the racist and offensive Advance Australia advertisement in the AFR with the Jim Crow era in the US Deep South (“Nine issues apology for publishing ‘racist’ ad”, July 6). I saw something much closer to home. The tone, content and style is reminiscent of cartoons from The Bulletin in support of the White Australia Policy. So much for “Advance Australia”. Tony Judge, Woolgoolga
Wrong solution
We know what may be coming with the forecast El Niño, yet there are only muted calls for change to the settings which allow, even encourage, the mining, export and use of fossil fuels (“Australia better prepared for El Niño this time”, July 7). Just like the nicotine users of decades ago we rail against changing our ways in the face of losing the Reef, our beaches, our wildlife, our pure water, our ability to grow more food than we need and our beautiful landscape. Approving more coal mining, thousands more gas wells and fighting over domestic prices rather than the actual use of fossil fuels is focussing on the wrong part of the problem. Penny Rosier, North Epping
Illustration: Matt Golding Credit:
I would be prepared to agree with your editorial if I knew we now have a large fleet of water-bombing aircraft quickly deployable to appropriate locations for fighting the inevitable bushfires. Have we? And if not, why not? Jennifer Briggs, Kilaben Bay
Wildlife warriors
The Department of Planning and Environment has decided to withdraw a $6 million grant to the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital because it doesn’t “demonstrate value for money from the proposed government investment” (“Wildlife hospital faces closure after government funding withdrawn”, July 7). This hospital has saved more than 4000 native animals in the three years it has been operating. Given how many native animals died in the 2020 bushfires, surely this animal hospital should have priority for funding and support be made available for more hospitals of this kind in the state. It is wrong to judge this project solely on its monetary value. It should also be judged on its importance to the welfare of our native animals and our responsibility to them and to our environment. Nina Poulos, Berry
If a vital resource such as this, which can mean the difference between life and death for thousands of native animals in the Northern Rivers, is not deemed worthy, then what is? Lana Williams, Bangalow
Analysis needed
Talk about “can’t see the forest for the trees”: a consultation paper to the national school reform agreement ministerial reference group claims there’s not enough data available to evaluate how education spending affects student outcomes (“Universities who fail would-be teachers to be stripped of accreditation”, July 7). Just step back and look at the last 50 years of increasing private school funding and decreasing student performance. It is obvious - give money where it’s not needed and the return is minimal. Give money where it is needed and the return is maximal. It’s something all the international comparisons reveal. With the exception of Belgium, no other comparable country in the world lavishes public money on private schools as wastefully as we do. It would come as no surprise if the “key education stakeholders” in the education minister’s group are private school lobbies. Carol Witt, Boronia Park
Korean model
Is the premier talking about cultural commercialisation (“Tourism push promotes arts and culture”, July 7). If so, it’s a big commitment, and he might consider the South Korean model. Since 1993 the government has been funding and prioritising diverse genres of traditional and contemporary arts and culture, and supporting creative people. The result is the economic triumph of Hallyu (the Korean Wave). Hands up anyone watching Korean films or K-dramas? Next step: Destination Korea. Judith Salmon, Haberfield
Government housing
I can understand why the rents have soared, as my body corporate fees have risen 40 per cent this year not to mention the increase in council rates, mortgage repayments and insurance (“Sydney units soar $145 weekly”, July 7). The NSW government needs a public housing system, which sells or rents government-built units and houses to citizens. Brian Sonsie, West Ryde
Teacher intuition
More than one quarter of HSC students at many high fee schools receive special provisions for the HSC, but special provisions are used by far, far fewer students at other schools (“One in 10 students seeks exam lifeline”, July 7). Making access to special provisions in the HSC exams equitable is simple, if we assume students at high fee schools are representative of the whole student population, and let more than one quarter of HSC students at all schools receive special provisions. Teachers and school councillors usually know and could determine in most cases who needs special provisions, without getting specialist medical reports. If many students are using special provisions it also reduces the student’s fear of being singled out and treated differently to the rest of the class. Cathie Livingstone, Gladesville
Truthful Twitter
Tweeting something truthful, accurate, and insightful sounds like a major breach of the ministerial code of conduct and not at all what we’ve come to expect from our government (“Trump Jr a ‘big baby’, says minister”, July 7). Shame! Peter Fyfe, Enmore
Look for hidden Italy
The best way to avoid the overpriced pasta and pizza in Italy is to stay somewhere you can prepare your own meals. Shop at the markets for fresh produce and live la dolce vita (“Arrivederci Italia, you don’t deserve my dollars”, July 7). Lisa Clarke, Watsons Bay
There are also lovely places in Italy away from the main centres, where you can find friendly hosts and great service. It just takes a bit of research (and experience). It is not that different to Australia. Erik Aslaksen, Allambie Heights
Thrill-seeking bills
Thrill-seekers looking for a quick adrenalin rush need do no more than open their power bill for that stomach-lurching sensation – and all from the safety of their own home (“Tom Cruise is welcome to his risky business”, July 6). Alicia Dawson, Balmain
Rail worker’s sickie
I trust the absent railway employee obtained a doctor’s certificate (“Trains delayed into the evening after crucial staff member called in sick”, smh.com.au, July 7). Robert Ballinger, Pymble
Postscript
Has there been anything else to discuss since the dismissal of Jonny Bairstow by Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey at the Ashes, in what correspondents have described the “best underarm since that of Trevor Chappell”? For letter writers, it’s been a resounding no.
Hundreds were critical of the English team’s call that the stumping was not in the “spirit of the game”, describing the British argument as the “last refuge of the loser”. Many wrote that Bairstow was out, fair and square, by the rules of the game and appreciated Bruce Johnson’s clever contribution - ”Britannia rules the waves. Britannia waives the rules”.
Steve Cornelius of Brookvale reminded correspondents who advocated playing within those rules that underarm bowling was still within the rules of cricket in 1981. “Forty-two years on, if one single Kiwi tells you that shabby little episode was also within the spirit of the game, be sure to let me know.”
Of course, there were dissenters. “Same old cricket, always boring – unless there is a manufactured controversy,” wrote one. For another, it was too much: “One of my great pleasures is to read the letters to the editor but one more day of mindless cricket irrelevance and I am going to stop buying the paper for a week. Enough already. The actions of overpaid ball swatters are beyond trivial.”
Meanwhile, Col Shephard of Yamba had a more pragmatic offering: “Given the numerous appearances made by ‘rules’ in these columns this week, please allow me to remind would be letter writers to read the rules and tips for submitting letters to the editor.” Thank you for your contributions and keep writing. Pat Stringa, letters editor
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