I’m writing to express my alarm and disappointment that NRL boss Peter V’landys is trying to get Donald Trump to attend the NRL games in Las Vegas (“NRL defends invites to Trump, White after White Ribbon backlash”, February 27). I have lived in the US for 20 years and have seen first-hand how politics has devolved here. V’landys seems unaware that by seeking the money and publicity Trump brings, he is involving the NRL in Trump’s extraordinarily ugly and divisive misinformation war. I refer you to the NRL mission statement on its website – to bring people together and enrich their lives. By engaging an extreme political figure like Trump, the NRL would exposes the game to a potentially disastrous association. Whether they like it or not, this gambit would politicise the game by identifying it with Trump and appearing to endorse him. Also, I’m sure this need to be acknowledged by a powerful foreign political and cultural identity brings out the old Aussie cultural cringe. It’s been embarrassing to see various pundits giddy with excitement about the prospect. Trump’s involvement is unnecessary and, in my view, unAustralian. Be careful whose star you hitch your wagon to. Jeff Keogh, Washington, DC (US)
Clark County Commission chairman Tick Segerblom presents National Rugby League CEO Andrew Abdo and Australian Rugby League Commission Peter V’landys with the keys to Las Vegas.Credit: Getty Images
Well done to the White Ribbon Foundation for highlighting the tone-deaf behaviour of the NRL. Donald Trump and Dana White are not people that should be associated with sporting organisations in Australia, as both these men set an extremely poor example of how to behave. Andrew James-Mason, Ormeau
Gaza video simply grotesque
Trump’s perverse AI vision of the “Gaza Riviera” development makes one wonder what sort warped mind is running a country that was once a beacon of freedom and democracy (“Trump ‘floods the zone’ with bizarre AI video of future Gaza where he is king”, February 27). Now we witness some of the most self-obsessed, self-serving behaviour and the debasement of the great principles America was once founded on. The horrifying thing is that this is only the beginning. Chris Gresham, Upper Lansdowne
Michael Koziol’s article confirms earlier impressions of President Trump as a crass individual who sadly missed out on learning the basics of human decency. The gaudy clip of Trump’s future Gaza – complete with shots of himself, Benjamin Netanyahu and Elon Musk cavorting by a hotel pool belong in a tourist promo for the Miami Trump calls home. That a world leader can silently smirk about erasing from his development dream the benighted Palestinian people of Gaza says it all. Unlike radio jocks who bad-mouth sporting women, we can’t boot him. Why hasn’t Penny Wong expressed her disgust yet? Ken Blackman, Inverloch
I cannot believe that any nation would tolerate anything as inhumane, racist and sacrilegious as Trump’s Gaza video. Wake up, America, before your “saviour” turns into Beelzebub. John Beattie, Eastwood
The Trump Gaza promotional video was excruciating enough with its depiction of luxurious living where hunger, poverty and devastation are the reality. But even worse was the huge, gold statue of Donald Trump himself. Mary Julian, Glebe
Donald Trump’s AI-generated video showing “what’s next” for Gaza stands in stark contrast to the reality.Credit: Donald Trump
Rules are rules
Peter Dutton is smug and unapologetic about his failed and late disclosure of assets and sales on the public register (“The Duttons’ empty trust fund could have cut their tax bill”, February 27). He said it “was paperwork [that] hasn’t been filled in on time, but there’s nothing consequential in that”. However, these are rules that should be adhered to by all our elected politicians and there should be consequences for failure to disclose transactions on time. Dutton’s attitude is straight out of the Morrison government years of unaccountability – “nothing to see here folks, just move on”. Mark Nugent, Lugarno
Sheargold’s own goal
Thanks to Michelle Cazzulino for putting the foul-mouthed rant of Marty Sheargold into its grossly anti-feminist perspective (“Marty’s sexism is sheer gold. Now, where’s the hammer?” February 27). Women have had a long battle to gain respect and recognition in sport. In the male-dominated Olympics, for example, Baron Pierre de Coubertin excluded them from the first modern Games in 1896, using disparaging words like “uninteresting” and “improper”. It took a long time before women were permitted to run more than 200 metres and it was only in 1984 that they were allowed to run the marathon. Sheargold’s vile rant about our beloved Matildas and his ludicrous claim that endometriosis is “made up” has resulted in Triple M getting rid of a misogynist who does not appeal to or speak for any male that I know. Ron Sinclair, Windradyne
“Who’s to say if what might offend one group, should never be seen by the rest?” Cathy Wilcox’s brilliant poetic cartoon conveys the absurdity of denying Khaled Sabsabi a right to freedom of artistic expression because of views that some find objectionable and insulting. However, judging by Michelle Cazzulino’s article and the reactions of my wife and daughter, I may be the only person to think that Sheargold should be afforded the same privilege (“Sheargold pulled off air after sexist tirade”, February 27). Col Burns, Lugarno
We can only applaud Triple M for parting ways with Sheargold after his absolutely terrible remarks about the Matildas and women’s sport in general. He deserves to be barred from any further radio or TV output. His “apology” is worthless. But what about his co-hosts and the other “back room boys” who laughed along with Sheargold? Are they also not to be punished for their part in this? They certainly deserve to be. Laurie Burns, Bligh Park
Amid the cacophony caused by Sheargold’s comments, I’ve not seen or heard any reaction from the passionate defenders of free speech. Alan Eason, Miami (Qld)
It wouldn’t matter at which team, player, actor, musician, politician or person Sheargold’s comments were aimed – they will always be inappropriate, vulgar and abhorrent. Merilyn Mcclung, Forestville
You can tell Sheargold that if he holds the nail, I have a nice hammer and I promise not to hit his finger. Don Leayr Albury
Undue influence
The Israeli “influencer” Max Veifer should face serious interrogation by the NSW Police (“Dreyfus seeks Israel’s help as nurse charged over hate video”, February 27). He has clearly cajoled, provoked and “egged on” the two Australian nurses to come out with the alarming and unacceptable statements they made, and I question his motives in going public with the video. If he was trying to help our Jewish community combat the current wave of antisemitism, he has failed and probably exacerbated the situation. All he has achieved is to ensure the lives of two young Australian nurses are ruined through being naïve and extremely foolish under provocation. Veifer, stay out of our affairs and concentrate on “influencing” matters needing attention in Israel. Ken Butler, Mount Colah
Two NSW medical workers were recorded by Israeli Max Veifer making antisemitic comments.Credit: AFR
In 1968, a group of protesters against the war in Vietnam announced they were going to publicly napalm a dog. Predictably, people were horrified. The protesters had never intended to go ahead with such a cruel act, but they wanted the opportunity to compare public outrage over the possible death of a dog to the commensurate lack of outrage over the use of napalm in Vietnam. This directly parallels the outrage expressed here over statements by nurses that they would kill Jewish patients (which I also condemn), with the commensurate lack of outrage over the killing of more than 40,000 Palestinians. Selective outrage is obviously still alive and well (“Students protest at Sydney school after Muslim staffer told to work from home”, February 27). Lorel Thomas, Blackburn South
Anti-vax peril
Fourteen members of a religious sect who did not believe in medicine were found guilty of killing an eight-year-old girl by their neglect and idiotic views and given long prison sentences (“Fringe religious group sentenced over girl’s ‘slow and painful’ death”, February 27). Meanwhile, on the other side of the Pacific, the US Secretary for Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr is an anti-vaxxer. Please remind me why we continue to be involved with this country? Joe Weller, Mittagong
Break the rule
Joe’s Rule, intended to enable families to escalate health care, is a great idea in principle. In practice, unfortunately, it has the opposite effect (“Minns agrees to ‘Joe’s Rule’ changes in hospitals”, February 27). Certain patients and families will abuse the system and call for constant, unnecessary reviews that will pull all the resources away from patients who actually need them. Public hospitals are effectively barred from taking steps to prevent this, no matter how many times someone has “cried wolf”. There are no systems in place to deal with patients who deliberately abuse the system and the workers. Bart Fielden, Lindfield
Deals to be done
Trump is demanding compensation from Ukraine for aid and military support from the US since Russia’s invasion (“Zelensky set to meet Trump after reaching agreement”, February 26). Will he make a similar demand of Israel for the billions of dollars of military aid provided to them over the past four or five decades, or is he the hypocrite most of us believe him to be? Craig Selman, Willoughby
In light of Trump’s deal with Zelensky, I wonder if he will insist that the same deal be applied to Iraq (after saving them from Saddam Hussein and ISIS), Afghanistan (they didn’t save them from the Taliban but a debt is a debt), South Korea (where US dollars are still keeping the communist hordes at bay) and Vietnam (again no one was saved but if Hanoi wants help in keeping China out of the South China Sea, then a deal can still be made). I await news of these profitable diplomatic developments. Peter Ware, Cheltenham
Donald Trump wants Ukraine’s resources in exchange for aid to Volodymyr Zelensky. Credit: Getty Images
Devil in detail
In the recent referendum, Peter Dutton told us to vote No because there wasn’t enough information available. Now he wants to cut 36,000 public service jobs, but won’t say which ones. Will they be quarantine workers, thereby allowing infectious diseases into the country? Perhaps from the Reserve Bank, which sets our monetary policy? Maybe its cuts to the BOM, making the next bushfire season more dangerous, or the ACCC, something Coles and Woolworths would love. That’s 36,000 extra people potentially on Centrelink benefits, too. But hang on, perhaps he will also be slashing Centrelink jobs. If we don’t know, Mr Dutton, why should we vote for it? Todd Hillsley, Homebush
Sock horror
Your correspondent (Letters, February 27) mentions sightings of young people wearing the excruciating combination of Birkenstock sandals with white tennis socks. The sartorial horror of socks with sandals (traditionally associated with northern European tourists on a Mediterranean holiday) has a new incarnation in another fad of the young: the wince-inducing combination of white socks with slip-on bathroom slippers. Horrors, the end of civilisation is nigh. One never wears socks with sandals; they are intended to let one’s feet breathe. Phil Rodwell, Redfern
I used to work in marketing and advertising, and it was a well-known trope that we in the business were the greatest suckers for a good sales pitch. So, having just bought my first pair of Birkenstocks, I received a follow-up email suggesting I buy even more of their product. My old marketer’s heart leapt with pride when I spied their new offering, though. In true Teutonic genius, they’ve created a new range by adding five centimetres to the thickness of the sole – and $150-$200 to the price. Seems the old adage “there’s one born every minute” still applies. Duncan McRobert, Hawks Nest
Grim up north
As reported by Nick Newling, the northern beaches is the forgotten area for government spending (“Northern beaches commuters dragged into bus hell”, February 27). Northern Beaches Hospital is in turmoil, Wakehurst Parkway is dangerous and desperately needs an upgrade, major Mona Vale Road improvements have stopped mid-way as promised funds were withdrawn and, due to the government housing plan, there is now a “transport-starved community”. Peak-hour bus queues are outrageous. The public/government partnerships with hospitals and transport has been an abject failure. Denis Suttling, Newport Beach
Commuters wait in long lines at Wynyard station for the B Line to the northern beaches.Credit: Wolter Peeters
Libs to blame
Senator Jane Hume should read a little history before accusing Labor of politicising the public service heads of departments (“Treasury boss rejects politicisation claims, denies costing Coalition lunch policy,” February 27). She would find that the incoming Howard government in 1997 abolished the positions of “permanent heads” giving frank and fearless advice to hot-headed ministers, and opted for turning heads of department into political appointments dependent for their livelihood on the favour of the Prime Minister’s Office. This was done despite strenuous efforts by Labor Senator Faulkner to defend their independence. Frank and fearless was defenestrated by her own party. Stein Boddington, St Clair
China panic
I have read and reread Matthew Knott’s florid article about Chinese vessels “prowling the waters” off the Australian east coast (“Defences tested by warship drill saga – and they failed”, February 27). Although there’s strident criticism of the prime minister, I can’t work out how he is responsible for anything except not being sufficiently “bellicose” towards the Chinese, which, given the power discrepancy, would be laughable. Steve Bright, North Avoca
I don’t know why we are surprised by the Chinese naval vessels off our coast. They are just showing off what they have made from the iron ore and coal that we sell them. Bob Roobottom, Taree
I wonder if those Chinese ships in the Tasman Sea were made with steel from Australian iron ore? Alan Johnson, Seaforth
Dear Anthony …
I read with interest your letter to Donald last night while sipping on a fine Hunter riesling. I thought it timely to reach out since we have a few ships and a nuclear sub down your way. We could pop into Garden Island and show you our latest subs, since I hear you are in the market for some of these. I recommend you let the US have its cultural revolution before becoming too reliant on the Donald. Our path forward in the late ’60s was guided by Mao’s little red book. If the US uses the Donald’s little black book “may a thousand flowers bloom”. By the way, good luck in the upcoming elections. Be sure to keep those capitalist roaders under Dutton at bay, seeing as we are only just becoming pals again. Yours, Chairman Xi. Bruce Hall, Avalon
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