Latest news with #SimonTisdall
The Guardian
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
This VE Day, ‘never again' has never rung so hollow
Simon Tisdall (It's right to remember the dead of 1939-45. But keep the anger about current wars too, 4 May) asks of current global conflicts: why is this carnage tolerated, even normalised? He cites several reasons, but the one I identify with most is the overwhelming nature of it all – a world weariness shared by western governments. It is especially relevant to Gaza, which is in an extremely parlous state, yet the silence on its almost complete annihilation is thunderous. It is of great credit to the Guardian that it continues to publish articles on this. Sheila Hancock (My VE Day was nothing like our image of it today. I hope we can honour what it really meant, 3 May) raises the sadness surrounding the decline of the legacy of that conflict, when 'never again' and the building of a better world was the mantra – something that for a while was achieved for some. As Tisdall writes, people feel powerless to change any of it, but I cannot help but observe that governments calling bad actors to account more publicly might have some effect. Jillian Forster-Walmsley Skipton, North Yorkshire What a humane and sobering piece by Sheila Hancock. VE Day marks the defeat of fascism in Europe by the allied forces of the US, the Soviet Union, Britain, Canada and many others. The irony in Britain in May 2025 is that the victory over that far-right ideology is being commemorated in a hail of flags and poppies by a population that just a week ago voted convincingly for a nationalist party in the local elections. Perhaps the greatest vice of all is forgetfulness. Adrian Hackford Folkestone, Kent Like Sheila Hancock, although she doesn't mention it in her article, I am a Quaker. It was impossible not to be moved by her reflective piece, which reminded me of a conversation I once had with my dear mother. One year, as VE Day approached, I asked her if she remembered the celebrations in 1945. There hadn't been much of that in her house, she said. It was just six months or so since her brother Harry had lost his life with the Eighth Army in Italy. There must have been many other families like the Whitticks who mourned while others partied. Bill McMellon Chichester I am reminded of my mother's remark on the 50th anniversary. Then, as now, the media emphasised the relief and happiness of that day. My mother said bitterly: 'They never admit that the war changed life for the worse for many of us.' Her fiance had not returned from the Normandy landings, and her joy went with him. Anne Maclennan Cuguen, France I welcomed your article on the lack of awareness of the contributions that Black, Commonwealth and Muslim communities made during the world wars (Britons largely unaware of Black and Asian contribution to WW2 effort, research shows, 4 May). As you highlight, the armies, in their ethnic and faith mix, looked very much like the Britain of 2025 and nothing at all like the Britain of 1914 or 1939. Our project, Great Faith: Stories of Sacrifice and Contribution, which we hope to tour around the country, comprises 80 portraits by the renowned artist Arabella Dorman, of Muslim servicemen and women who fought during the world wars, and those who serve today. We hope it will help raise awareness of all those who have contributed to making Britain great. Nizam Uddin Conven er, Great Faith: Stories of Sacrifice and Contribution Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
The Guardian
06-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
A note of thanks to Simon Tisdall
I would like to thank Simon Tisdall for his informative and educational journalism over the many years I have read the Observer. His articles on the new world era, created and perpetuated by the second Donald Trump administration, have been one of the few considered insights into our demise towards an acceptance of immoral behaviour by powerful demagogues. He has articulated an interesting proposition for the UK: a unified Europe which includes Britain, a concept rejected with the Brexit referendum, but rejuvenated by the betrayal of Ukraine, Europe and the UK by the US ('Britain has been paying a high price for Uncle Sam's craziness. It's time to turn to Europe', Comment). For centuries, England barricaded coastal defences because of threats of invasion, but the recent era of supposed protection by allying UK interests with the US has been exposed as a and Raewyn Firmston Auckland, New Zealand I congratulate Simon Tisdall on his explanation on why it's time for the UK to return to Europe. Look back at history, the US dragged us into Korea and then stopped when it got too tough, it threatened to attack us over Suez, it knew about the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and failed to inform the UN. Its calamitous exploits, particularly the abandonment of allies in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, is well documented and recent threats to take over the Panama canal, Greenland and Canada show it is not to be trusted. It is time for the UK to realise that, for Americans, Europe has been the preferred battleground and they will do anything to persuade Russia to join them as an ally against China. GW Munro Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire I was concerned to read Danny Shaw's article regarding the use of pre-recorded cross-examination for complainants in criminal trials ('MoJ accused of 'spinning' video evidence study as rape convictions fall', News). Section 28 is a special measure afforded to survivors in sexual offence cases, in recognition of the trauma of giving evidence – an experience many describe as worse than sexual violence itself. Cheryl Thomas KC claims conviction rates are lower when survivors use section 28, but without it there would be even fewer convictions as many survivors would not give evidence. Justice means more to many than convictions alone. Procedural justice – being treated fairly, with dignity and afforded a chance to voice their experiences – can be equally as important to the process of recovery and section 28 can help intimidated survivors achieve this. We agree that our courts require urgent investment but current rhetoric conflates issues with backlogs and technology with the use of section 28. This is deeply unhelpful, not least for those survivors of sexual violence and abuse who, without section 28, would have no justice. Ciara Bergman CEO, Rape Crisis England and Wales Leeds Justin Welby says he would forgive John Smyth ('Justin Welby says he forgives serial abuser John Smyth', News) if he saw him today. Surely someone has to ask for forgiveness and, by implication, admit their guilt before it can be given. As far as we know, Smyth never asked for forgiveness or admitted his crimes. I don't forgive him and I suspect neither do his Hatley Brighton Referring to McCarthyism, Kenan Malik quotes Ellen Schrecker: 'Only two people were killed; only a few hundred went to jail' ('Just like McCarthy, Trump spreads fear everywhere before picking off his targets', Comment). What is often ignored is the firing of thousands of government employees and many suicides because of actual or perceived homosexuality, well documented by David K Johnson in The Lavender Scare. Individual authoritarian states choose specific groups as scapegoats, but the canary in the coalmine common to them all is sexual Warburton Edinburgh Yoko Ono may continue to be pilloried for breaking up the Beatles ('Yoko Ono is now getting acclaim, but why do rock stars' female partners get so much abuse?', Comment), but let's not forget that she purchased John Lennon's childhood Liverpool home in 2002 and gave it to the National Trust to help preserve his memory. She deserves some public goodwill for doing Beeby Bristol The 'inveigling' of the Irish mythical figure Fionn mac Cumhaill into a set of Royal Mail stamps ('Let Britain's magical, mythical creatures inspire a patriotism untainted by politics', Comment) probably isn't the most egregious of British misappropriations of Irish things. While I can't see it 'stoking ethnic conflict' it probably would have been advisable for Royal Mail to limit this issue to exclude this part of Ireland and Irish Mac Murchaidh (Kieran Murphy) Droim an Tí (Dromintee), Contae Ard Mhacha (County Armagh) Rachel Cooke celebrates Wigmore Hall's decision to divest from Arts Council England's funding by suggesting that it will be free from 'onerous outreach work rather than to excellence in performance' ('Wigmore Hall's principled stand over public funding is music to my ears', Comment). The implication is that arts organisations' work with and for the communities they serve is somehow a burden or a distraction from important artistic endeavour. Wigmore Hall is an organisation for which funding made up a very small proportion of its turnover and it has committed to continuing its outreach work. Many other arts organisations are simply not in a position to support such vital work without public Goddard Director, Cultural Philanthropy Foundation London SW2 Not once, but twice, Ed Balls references 'wasabi in the soy sauce' (Food & Drink, Magazine). That is a major faux pas in a Japanese restaurant – akin to putting tomato ketchup on your spaghetti in an Italian restaurant or pineapple on a Fletcher Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
