Folau’s comment can be interpreted as an act of charity

If Scott Morrison agrees that Israel Folau is to be condemned, then for what? If truth is the problem, shouldn’t the PM simply refute what Folau has said? If the PM can show that homosexuals go to heaven, the gay collective would surely owe him their thanks.

But if this fails, then is Folau condemned for insensitivity? Much of the Bible is insensitive to sinners. Does the PM wish to edit the Bible and replace the 10 Commandments with 10 recommendations?

If Folau wants homosexuals to repent and end up in eternal glory and happiness, are his words not an act of charity?

Richard Stokes, Stanthorpe, Qld

I do not agree with all of Israel Folau’s beliefs, but he is entitled to express them as a free citizen. He was acting as an individual, not on behalf of Rugby Australia or Qantas. He has not sought to be offensive, although some are choosing to take offence.

He seems to be a man of good moral character. He has not committed any crime that would reflect poorly on RA as his employer. He has merely stated his opinion.

What do freedom of belief and religion mean if they do not also mean freedom of speech if one is not free to express one’s beliefs?

This over-reaction may well mark the death of free speech in this country, not to mention the damage it will do to support for rugby.

Alan Baker, Mansfield, Qld

Vegans are witless

A great article from Greg Sheridan on the bizarre irrationality of those drawn to protests not on cool logic but on dubious memes which they’ve absorbed with quasi-religious fervour. (“Economic illiterates clueless of the damage they espouse”, 13/4). The protesting vegans come across as indistinguishable philosophically from anti-vaxxers, homeopaths and so on.

Chef Anthony Bourdain captured the genre: “Vegetarians and their Hezbollah-like splinter faction, the vegans.” But, for my money, these witless people are most accurately described by satirist P. J. O’Rourke: “Idealists who seem willing to do absolutely anything to save the biosphere, except take science courses and learn something about it.”

Brian Haisman, Winmalee, NSW

Winx, greatest of all time

Farewell to the greatest racehorse we will ever see. One aspect of Winx’s career that will escape all but the cognoscenti is her name. In an inspired moment, part-owner Richard Treweeke dubbed the filly out of Vegas Showgirl, Winx. “Well, she’s out of a mare called Vegas Showgirl … and if you’ve ever been to Vegas and go to see a couple of shows you realise there’s some pretty good sorts up there … If you like them you wink … and if she likes you, she winks back.”

How fitting that in an era when old certainties crumble, when gender itself is declared negotiable, and relations between the now nominal sexes are fraught as never before, that this great mare should arrive bearing such a splendidly subversive name.

As part of Phar Lap’s mystique derives from the colour he lent to the grim Depression years, so social historians should be aware of this aspect of the Winx saga.

Terry Birchley, Bundaberg, Qld

Despite all the hype and emotion, the only beneficiaries of the champion racehorse, Winx, have been the connections. Her owners, the trainer and the jockey have made millions out of the mare’s success. They have divvied up the more than $26 million in prize money, and good luck to them.

Average punters have made little or nothing out of her as she has been at prohibitive odds for most of her racing life. She has stifled betting on most of the races she has competed in.

With her retirement, it may now be possible to have a bet in the races she has dominated for so long.

Michael J. Gamble, Belmont, Vic