YP Letters: Confront this brainwashing by terrorists

WHILE it is encouraging that Keith Vaz MP and other members of the Home Offices Select Committee came to Bradford to talk with ordinary young Muslims and find out what they have to say about extremism, it still feels as though everyone is tiptoeing around a brewing controversy.

Up here in Yorkshire we like to call a spade a spade, so it is with some dismay that we witness the Muslim community picking up the Government’s narrative on what it euphemistically calls “radicalisation” without really understanding what it means. It is not the fault of Muslims of course. The Government itself doesn’t appear to really know what it means either.

However, if we ask the families of the victims lured away by Daesh and other terrorist entities what happened to their loved ones, they will tell us they have been brainwashed. They have been changed beyond recognition.

The danger facing young people, therefore, is not that they may be “radicalised”. It is simply wrong for society to be afraid of ideas. Rather it is that we do not describe what is actually happening to them with the right word – brainwashing.

This failure removes from us the necessary tools to confront this danger. And until the Government is advised differently, the families of victims of cultic abuse, particularly those exploited by terrorist entities, will continue to face their hopeless battles to rescue their loved ones alone.

Failings of Royal Mail

From: David Rimington, Fairways Drive, Harrogate.

WHY do we tolerate dreadful service from state-controlled or subsidised organisations? Take just one example... the Royal Mail. I got up one morning at 8am to find a note from Royal Mail pushed through the letter box.

It told me that they had a package for me, that could not be delivered as it required a signature. I could either go to Claro Road and collect it the following day, or ring a number for further instruction. I rang the number, and a recorded message told me that I could request another attempted delivery in two days, at a convenient time (convenient to Royal Mail that is) or, helpfully, it might be quicker to go and collect it myself.

Later that day the regular postman called, and I enquired whether he had the package. He told me no, it was another department, and added that Royal Mail started delivery of packages any time after 7am. If you were still in bed, it was just unfortunate!

I subsequently went to Claro Road. The car park was full, and there was a queue of people waiting to collect their undelivered packages.

I was introduced to Mr Keith Davison, the delivery manager. He was very friendly, and addressed me as “my friend”.

I replied that in fact I was not his friend, not even a customer, as I would not dream of using Royal Mail for parcels, just an unfortunate victim, who was not very pleased at having to trail down Claro Road to collect a parcel his organisation should have delivered.

Treasures 
lost to London

From: Hilary Andrews, Leeds.

IT is with great distress that we learn that many of the treasures held at Bradford’s National Media Museum are being moved to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Most attendees at the London museums are from other countries and they are delighted to find them free of the charges that have to be paid in their own lands to enjoy such treasures.

Surely it is time the Culture Minister started to impose entry fees to these popular attractions for any non-UK residents? This would provide money to enrich the cultural activities in our towns and cities outside London – surely an acceptable price to pay for the loss of some of our treasures here in the North.

Wogan’s warm words

From: ME Wright, Harrogate.

THANKS to Jayne Dowle for saying what many of us feel following the death of Sir Terry Wogan (The Yorkshire Post, February 4). His warmth, wit and intelligence meant that, while shrewdly observing from the sidelines, he never became part of the musical mass hysteria industry. The Irish twinkle in his velvety tones made him one of few who could make me laugh at breakfast time.

Turbine link to stranding?

From: Stephanie Shield, York.

THE death of so many sperm whales in our North Sea waters is very distressing. Is it possible that the numerous offshore wind turbines have affected the navigation system of these animals, causing them to flounder in shallow waters?

Matter 
of faith

From: Hugh Rogers, Ashby.

BRITAIN, says Martyn Scargill (The Yorkshire Post, February 5), is a Christian country. I always thought so, too. However according to the Collins World Atlas, the religion of the United Kingdom is “Protestant, Roman Catholic and Muslim”. So now we know.