Last Post: The herd, the newspaper serial and Trump

Why can’t we call it flock immunity? It gives a much warmer feeling.

Geoffrey Luck, Killara, NSW

For several months our TV channels have found it impossible to mention

the word “vaccine” without the image of a needle penetrating human flesh.

John Downer, South Yarra, Vic

Mike Fogarty (Letters, 18/1) says with regards to Joe Biden’s approaching inauguration, “Out with the old and in with the new”. Surely he means “Out with the old and in with the older”?

Mark Scanlan, Hawthorne, Qld

Gerard Henderson (“Left selective in showing contempt, outrage”, 16-17/1) compares the attack on the US Capitol with the local assault by leftists on Parliament House in 1996. The local affray was not intended to hang our deputy leader, kill the Speaker of our House, deny the latest election results or keep the loser in power.

Rita Spencer, Port Macquarie, NSW

Now that smoke-and-mirrors Joe is in charge of the American political circus I find it hard to believe we have not heard from Hillary Clinton on the ousting of her most bitter foe.

Jim Millett, Kippa Ring, Qld

I am an old man. In my youth we lived in fear of communism. Now we live in fear of China, Islamists, COVID and the Greens’ climate emergency. I have just watched again the Australian classic movie Strictly Ballroom and it reminded me, because I’d forgotten, that a life lived in fear is a life half lived.

Brian Sanaghan, West Preston, Vic

Every morning, because I’m handicapped, my neighbour puts The Australian on the bench next to my front door. When I pick it up, I usually glance quickly over the front page and then go to the pages with the Cartoon, Letters and Commentary ... but lately, three times a week, I have been going first to Oh Matilda. It’s like times long past when nearly all daily papers had a serial or strip story. Nostalgia? Editor, please, carry on with this custom.

Andrew Snoek, Lilydale, Vic

Lesley Beckhouse (Last Post, 16-17/1), don’t forget that forever favourite, “Feb-you-airy”.

David Hill, Russell Island, Qld

An example of elision I’m noticing is “Present of the Unide States”. How much lazier can we get?

Jonathan Gleeson, North Parramatta, NSW

Let’s not forget the curse of the five As — awesome, absolutely, amazing, anyway, actually.

Roger Wilson, Woodend, Vic