Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
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Better off without US
In the long term, it is a much better outcome for Ukraine not to be in an alliance with an unstable USA.
Signing over the country’s mineral rights would have put the country in hock to a short-tempered usurer. That would have been a high-risk move with potentially catastrophic consequences should Trump make his alliance with Putin official.
Zelensky can get help from genuine friends in Europe and the presidents and prime ministers of Poland, Lithuania, Denmark, France, Moldova, Sweden, Germany, Croatia, Finland, Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, the Netherlands and Luxembourg immediately declared their support for Ukraine after the chaotic meeting with Trump in the Oval Office.
In the same way that the Earth’s north and south poles periodically reverse their locations, political alliances can also shift.
Di Cousens, Upwey
True statesman
The only statesman in the room and the only leader to leave the Oval Office building with honour yesterday was President Zelensky. Trump’s treatment of him and of Ukraine is beyond words.
There are betrayals and betrayals but whether Ukraine survives its brutal invasion by Russia or not, this one will be long remembered by America’s friends as one of the worst.
Claude Miller, Castlemaine
Fawning leaders
Watching Macron and Starmer fawn over Donald Trump this week has been truly cringeworthy. The real tragedy is that with Trump, this obsequious behaviour is actually necessary.
Rod Allan, West Melbourne
The turning point
We’ve seen a turning point in history, before our very eyes. The US president publicly berates the president of Ukraine, a relatively small country invaded by its powerful neighbour Russia, and against the tide of post WWII history, the US is aligned with the aggressor. The world we live in has just taken a dramatic turn. We hold our collective breath.
Matthew Hamilton, Kew
Withdraw from AUKUS
Since POTUS doesn’t know what AUKUS is, he shouldn’t object if we quietly remove the A from this ill-conceived program.
The best time to do this is now, before we hand over any more money to the US.
Angela O’Connor, Glen Iris
China fears
America sent the Great White Fleet, comprising 16 battleships and other warships around the world, visiting Sydney, Melbourne and Albany in 1908, and it was regarded as a friendly demonstration of America’s growing power.
China sends a single cruiser, frigate and supply ship to the enormous expanses of the Tasman Sea, and it’s regarded with alarm. There’s something disproportionate and xenophobic about the reaction to China’s legal dispatch of war ships to international waters.
Wayne Robinson, Kingsley, WA
Hypothetically speaking
A possible scenario: Next year, it’s 10 Chinese warships, then in three years, 50 arrive to conduct live-fire drills off our coast. Where and when does our government draw the line?
Tim Nolan, Brighton
Corflute attack
To the law breakers who destroyed and removed the Monique Ryan corflute from my garden on Friday night: thank you for the opportunity to remind readers of your low tactics as well as bringing Ryan’s name to people’s attention.
Bernadette Lloyd, Toorak
Mouths kept shut
With local community clubs having to agree not to criticise the Suburban Rail Link in order to receive grants, council officers having to sign non-disclosure-agreements to access information about works in their municipality, independent reports by the auditor-general labelled by government as simply being wrong, I’m beginning to wonder if we’re living in Victoria in the 2020s or Queensland in the 1980s.
Peter Venn, East Bentleigh
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Backyards are better
Apartment towers are not the answer to providing more affordable housing. Families need open space, back gardens for a trampoline, basketball ring, cricket pitch, pets and keeping children active and healthy. Space for a washing line, not relying on power costs to use clothes dryers.
Would Jacinta Allan choose to live in a high-rise box?|
Liz Gray, Brighton
Struggle street ignored
The idea that high-rise accommodation near railway stations in Melbourne would benefit housing for struggling families is dodgy. Have a look at Harbour Frankston one of the first to be built. Luxury apartments. Nothing for the strugglers. Good one planners, Frankston Council and the state government. An own goal for helping those struggling to afford housing.
Tony Ross, Frankston
Ringwood, no Box Hill
Ringwood does not want 20 storey tower blocks. It is totally out of character and will destroy our area like it has done to Box Hill.
Ann Willcock, Ringwood
Boarding school assaults
I am appalled, yet not surprised at the horrific current and historical allegations about brutality inflicted by senior students on junior students in The Age (1/3). Nor, am I surprised by the denial and silencing by the school over the years.
I note that such behaviour is criminal including sexual assault, yet there is an absence of discourse about this.
The culture of denial perpetrates and normalises this behaviour. I hope that the independent review leads to systemic and cultural change and that other boarding schools take action also.
Kath McCarthy, Fairfield
Unfunny humour
Your correspondent (Letters, ″All views, please″, 1/3) must be living in an alternate universe where our commercial media has been predominantly Anglo with no diversity. It’s why casual racism, sexism and homophobia have been allowed to flourish under the guise of humour for many years until now. I look forward to seeing Sam Pang’s new late show where Australian comedy will redeem itself with some wit and sophisticated humour.
Mel Smith, Brighton
Lazy stereotypes
Kate Halfpenny missed the point in her column (1/3) on Marty Sheargold’s comments about the Matildas. The worst, and perhaps, the most harmful aspect of Sheargold’s commentary was likening the Matildas and their efforts to year 10 girls. Using this analogy not only fed into a lazy, and hideous stereotype of young women, but attempted to cheapen and slander them and all those who have tried so hard to raise the profile of women’s participation in any type of sport over the years.
To denigrate one group of women whilst slandering and smearing another group of women is surely the most reprehensible aspect of this whole despicable affair.
Regina Rowan, Blackburn South
Kick it to me
Tony Wright has once again hit the sweet spot – his summation that footy offers the promise of a sanctuary, was sage advice for those of us who, like the exceptionally articulate Mr Wright, are overwhelmed by world news, especially the spectre of the orange would-be emperor and his unpredictable chaos (″Seeking sanctuary from a deranged world?″, 28/2). Footy is indeed a wonderful distraction, where one can temporarily immerse one’s attention and blend into the fabric of a tribal ritual. Thank goodness the season is upon us again – a chance to blot out depressing news and just watch the game. (Go Doggies!)
Joyce Butcher, Williamstown
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