Uncivil war ends, now to make America great again

Finally, the world breathes a sigh of relief. Ray Higgs, Ferntree Gully

What a difference a few months can make. In November, Trump booster Joe Hockey claimed election fraud had happened in the USA and said he found it hard to believe that 93 per cent of the votes in Washington DC were for Biden. Now he sings the praises of the new President (“Biden is right man to heal America“, January 21). Hopefully our former Ambassador to the USA did not crick his neck when making such a sudden U-turn. Tristan Parry, Cremorne

Let’s hope Trump’s removal from the presidency will see an end to the political lie in the USA and Australia. Words matter and as was observed centuries ago “Lying is an accursed vice. It is only our words which bind us together and make us human. If we realised the horror and weight of lying we would see that it is more worthy of the stake than other crimes”. Democracy is in grave danger if we continue to reward with power those who choose to subjugate the truth. Michael Turner, Culburra Beach

Trump spouts his final lies and meaningless homilies and then slinks away as one American dies from COVID-19 every 30 seconds (“We’ve only just begun, Trump tells supporters“, January 21). With 400,000 dead from the virus, Trump’s shameful record must be remembered and mourned for generations. Sue Dyer, Downer (ACT)

Farewell Donald and may the bleach be with you. Julie Robinson, Cardiff

Now Mr President, go and “make America great, again”. Neil Feller, Potts Point

Australia Day should celebrate the truth, not a lie

Thank you Shelley Reys for continuing to open up the conversation about celebrating our nationhood with the arrival of the First Fleet (”Forget date, change the conversation”, January 20). The settlement of colonial Australia was built on a lie that reduced and shackled us all to servitude and delusion. Mercifully, the falsehood was heroically overturned on June 3, 1992 with the Mabo decision. Eddie Mabo with the support of his legal team and historians not only made history, but literally rewrote it. The decision was a shining light for all Australians, freeing us from the la la land of terra nullius and grounding our nation’s feet on sweet terra firma. Sadly, the current celebration of Mabo Day does not get the national attention it deserves. A decision that literally and uniquely rewrote the foundations of our shared past deserves greater national attention. Could Mabo Day be elevated as an alternative national holiday? Surely the truth is the greatest currency in which a nation can measure its worth. Let’s not forget this date as the first day of truth for all Australians. Lynette Osborn, Marrickville

Jessica Irvine makes many excellent arguments to changing the Australia Day celebrations and holiday to the last Monday in January (”The economic case for changing the date”, January 21). I have another: the disconnection of the celebrations from a date that is as hurtful to some as it is insignificant to others. We celebrate the Queen’s Birthday and Labor Day on the first Monday of their respective months, don’t we? Nicholas Triggs, Katoomba

As January 26 approaches, a day which can be described as White Australia Day or White Man’s Australia Day, those who fail to understand why Indigenous Australians consider it to be Invasion Day may finally grasp the idea when the Chinese armed forces land here and carry out Invasion II of this continent, largely empty except for endless cow paddocks. Many of us may find out what it’s like to be on the wrong side of a massacre.

I am pleased to hear our Indigenous brothers and sisters will hold dawn services to remember those of their forebears who died fighting to keep their country free of foreign occupation. They fought with spears against guns, and “fell with their faces to the foe”, as do all brave men who love their country. I hope this year to see Indigenous Aussies marching on Anzac Day to commemorate those fallen in the so-called Frontier Wars, though no doubt this might upset the small-minded, selfish types concerned only with their own rights and privileges. Les Hutchinson, Lorn

As an Australian ambassador I was required to host a reception for local people on Australia Day. I was usually asked what we were celebrating. Somehow, the arrival of the first illegal boat people didn’t seem like an appropriate response, let alone the beginnings of British imperialism on our continent. Now retired, I continue to seek a suitable response. Cavan Hogue, Haymarket

Planning mistakes cast a long shadow

Pru Goward rightly points out that COVID-19 will dramatically change cities, particularly with the reduction of the white collar commuting burden (“Cities, the magnets of civilisation, lose their allure“, January 21). She is also right to sketch out a new paradigm for lord mayors and town planners – a revived city of libraries, small bars, parks and sculpture gardens, and streets that are wonderful to be in.

This last admonition will be the most difficult to achieve as excessive height, overshadowing and unpleasant winds, now appear to be the legacy of existing planning controls. At the very least we need to review these controls to “remake our cities as magnets for civilisation, originality, diversity and difference” – as Goward says. John McInerney, Millers Point

Facebook likes profit

Facebook Australia’s managing director complains (“‘There’s no other law like this in Australia’: Facebook hits out at digital media code“, January 21). He seems to forget, not realise, or willfully ignore the fact that Facebook isn’t just any another business: it’s a social media monopoly. And one that has, until now, bolstered its huge fortune by using publications that it hasn’t paid for. Going back 120 years there was no law to govern aviation – but that didn’t mean it wasn’t needed when aircraft were invented. Brenton White, Mosman

Listen up, Premier

A democratically elected leader should never stop caring about what their constituents are saying (“‘When it is life and death, you stop caring about criticism’: Premier“, January 21). Over-confidence and inflexibility might look like strong leadership but there’s a fine line between integrity and arrogance, democracy and autocracy.

The ability to listen and accept criticism is a fine indicator of character. The exquisite irony too of Berejiklian pronouncing that “there’s less appetite in the community for political spin” while furiously spinning her own image as an uncomplicated lass is not lost. This Premier is a consummate manipulator of public opinion. Alison Stewart, Riverview

Supply and de-mined

The wealth generated by any company, including miners, depends on someone being willing to buy your product (“Scott Morrison backs coal wealth for decades to come“, January 21). So, rather than the prospect of governments closing mines, the miners should be more concerned about those overseas who take climate change seriously and who will cease to buy our coal. Yes, change will come, but not necessarily from the source the miners fear. David Rush, Lawson

An age-old problem

The waiting times for home care packages in Australia is part of a bigger problem with our country’s moral compass, increasingly defined by social and economic inequity, neo-liberal ideology and a lack of honest and transparent governance (“Elderly endure long wait for home care”, January 21).

It is no coincidence that, in 2017-18 for instance, taxpayers spent more than $12 billion on residential care (funding 179,000 residents) but only $5 billion on home care and support services (funding 720,000 people). More than 40 per cent of residential aged care services are managed by for-profit providers, and they are doing pretty well, thanks very much. There are about 100,000 seniors waiting for already-approved community care packages; who cares how they are doing? Marie Healy, Redfern

Debt is dangerous

Authorities seem to be happy to see a significant increase in first home buyers entering the housing market (“Low rates spur first-home buyers”, January 21). The government subsidy, current ultra-low interest rates, 5 per cent deposits and the fear of missing out will lead to significant debt problems in the future for many of these participants.

We are currently seeing many who are unable to keep up their current mortgage repayments. Those entering the current inflated housing market with a deposit less than 20 per cent are looking at major financial problems in the future. Interest rates will and have to rise sooner rather than later to stabilise the monetary system. Should the RBA get its wish of increased inflation then this is a sure bet. Bruce Clydsdale, Bathurst

You can count on that

The Liberal National Party coalition want to hold an inquiry into the responsible lending practices of the banks two years after being dragged kicking and screaming to hold an inquiry into the inappropriate lending practices of the banks (“Christensen struggles to get numbers“, January 21)? Neil Reckord, Armidale

Off the pace, it seams

I notice all the armchair cricket critics are out in force (Letters, January 21). Would it be easier to say Australia was beaten by a better team from a country where cricket is almost a religion. Robyn Lewis, Raglan

Sir Donald Bradman once said that there were plenty of better batsmen around than him, but they kept getting out. So too the trouble with the current crop (“Australia left with burning questions after series loss“, January 21). In the Ashes series in the UK last time, the same occurred – except for stoic Kurtis Patterson, who when called-up, hung around when he batted, but was then not further required and was sent home. He is now trying to make good playing the white-ball game. The Australian selectors have a lot to answer for. David Sayers, Gwandalan

Credit where it’s due

Au contraire, Michael Chapman and Jim Brokenshire (Letters, January 21). There is almost nothing that the NSW Premier and her government have done that I approve of, but Berejiklian’s handling of the COVID health crisis has been the most measured, balanced, sensible, and least socially destructive in the country. Well done, Premier. Alynn Pratt, Grenfell

Puts wind in my sails

My favourite is Bound for South Australia – easy to learn and popularised by Irish band The Pogues (“Centuries old sea shanties ride new wave of popularity“, January 21). I fervently hope one day to be bound for SA and bound for the Dock Bar in Redfern for a night of bellowing and brews and sea shanties. David Farrell, Erskineville

Words of wisdom

Your correspondent’s description of “jargonauts” is apt (Letters, January 21). After all, they seem to be in the same boat, inexorably “going forward”. Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga

The word “unpack” has plagued teachers for decades as it describes the tortuous process of turning the turgid language of syllabi into something that actually works in the classroom. Phil Armour, Yass

While on the subject of luggage: if you are contemplating starting a relationship for the second, third, or whatever time around with someone with a similar history – it’s best you both have matching baggage. Alicia Dawson, Balmain

The latest idiom is “helmed”, meaning lead. Graham Russell, Clovelly

There’s one popular phrase that makes me want to “retch out”. Ashley Collard, Fairlight

By the book

Don’t give up on those boring books. I read Ulysses. It took me a year – hated the first 50 pages then something clicked, I ended up enjoying it and laughing. It is funny. Robyn Hansen, Pennant Hills

“When I finally caught up with Abraham Trahearne, he was drinking beer with an alcoholic bulldog named Fireball Roberts in a ramshackle joint outside Sonoma California”: best first sentence from James Crumley in The Last Good Kiss. Mark Dwyer, Wellington

The digital view