Maria Bhatti ("Why are we letting criminals define shahada?", Comment, 30/12), I am sorry that you feel judged, but you also judge. That is exactly what every religion, including Islam, does: judge. The very first words of your article were "there is no deity but God and Muhammad as His messenger". Later, you say "there is no one worthy of worship but Allah".
That is a judgment that all other religions (and atheists) are wrong. And why couldn't you simply say that you are Australian instead of Australian-Muslim? Religion divides our community. Australians of all religions silently judge others because each religion believes all others are wrong.
I am sorry that you feel misunderstood, but you also misunderstand. The "I'll ride with you" campaign was intended to bring the community together, not to condemn Muslims on the terrible act of one disturbed person. However, you misunderstand the spirit in which it is was given, which was one of peace and conciliation.
I am deeply sorry that you rejected this act of friendship and kindness towards your religion because, with this rejection the divided nature of our community lives on.
Sarah Wilson, Mount Waverley
Towards deeper understanding
Quick, award Maria Bhatti the Nobel peace prize or at least give consideration to this. As a well-meaning, but ignorant, non-Muslim Australian, I found that her simple, humble explanation of her faith not only enlightened me, but also made me feel less afraid – and therefore less susceptible to unfounded fears about terrorism. Thank you, Maria.
Bernadette Florence, Allans Flat
True understanding, an elusive goal
Maria Bhatti, in saying "Please don't ride with me, understand me", you are actually asking a lot. As a Christian in a secular and increasingly theophobic society, I have long ago given up wishing to be understood.
To many, people like you and me are delusional, and that is as far as the understanding goes. It is enough to be accepted. In fact, to be accepted without being understood (much less agreed with) is pretty good.
As for rejecting the offer of a ride, how will people understand you if they do not ride with you?
Gavan O'Farrell, Oakleigh
Critical examination of all religions
Maria Bhatti makes a legitimate and impassioned plea to her fellow Australians to understand her Islamic faith. That is reasonable and welcome.
But will she tell me that in trying to understand Islam, I can openly question her faith and its doctrines and certain practices? My concern is that as far as certain media groups and Islamic groups are concerned, I cannot do this.
If I do, I am accused of racism, bigotry and insulting Islam. Any religion or way of thinking and behaving should be open to critical examination.
Phillip Turnbull, Cornelian Bay, Tas
Religious – and atheist – warmongers
The battle between the atheists and those who are religious (Letters, 29, 30, 31/12) continues. As usual, both sides are ignoring reality to prove a point.
Power and/or economics is always the underlying reason for war. Religious people have started non-religious wars, as have atheists. For the record, Hitler was not an atheist.
Michael Lunney, Leopold
Test of character
As Australian philosopher Peter Singer notes in his book The Life You Can Save, most of us say we would dive into a pond to save a youngster from drowning, even to the detriment of our nice suit and shoes.
The case of asylum seeker Homayon Hatami, who was awarded the Royal Humane Society of Australasia's silver medal for bravery and the Australian Bravery Decorations' commendation for brave conduct (The Age, 31/12), represents a highly unusual character test for new Immigration Minister Peter Dutton. I look forward to learning if he will act to save a man who risked his life to rescue a stranger from drowning.
Iain Murray, Thornbury
Compassionate man
When Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay spoke in his gentle, authoritative way, we listened. Thank you for being such a role model for all males, and showing the way. You will be missed but as always, you have your priorities right in putting your family first at this time.
Julie Houghton-Smith, Glen Iris
A heartfelt thank you
Ken Lay's departure is a sad loss for the police force and the community. His calm, yet insistent manner has been invaluable. He is to be applauded for his stance on family violence and the way he shaped the force into a more professional and effective body. Our thoughts are with him and his family as he faces this new challenge. Thank you, Ken, for everything you have done.
Kathy Stewart, Kinglake
The test of leadership
I was astonished to read your editorial (The Age, 31/12) and find you had described both Ken Lay and Tony Abbott as displaying "leadership". Your description of Mr Lay's achievements over three years in office includes dignity, healing of divisions in the police force, plain speaking and compassion. Mr Abbott merely reaffirms that his government's toxic policies are "on the right track", suggesting that popular resistance is misguided self-interest to be overcome. It is a pity Mr Lay is retiring. He would make a great prime minister.
Heather D'Cruz, Geelong West
Ban will save lives ...
It is hard to feel sorry for solarium owner Tim Beris (The Age, 30/12). From today, he and others like him will no longer be able to flog dangerous tanning services known for many years to cause melanoma.
As early as 1989, Dr Peter Berger in his book Save Your Skin: A Guide to Maintaining Skin Health warned about the dangers of solariums which use treatments that "penetrate deeper and can cause damage to the supportive layers of the skin". Mr Beris argues that banning solariums will merely make the practice go underground. He has been so concerned about this that he has sold eight of his tanning beds to private users rather than take advantage of the sensible state government disposal scheme.
Beth Wilson, South Yarra
... and so will slashing
We are lucky enough to live in the beautiful Murrindindi Valley and have lived through many bushfires, including black Saturday. Despite our rates being some of highest in Victoria, and several calls to Murrindindi Shire Council, there was no roadside maintenance in 2014.
There is a huge fuel load of long dry grass, where roadside white posts are not visible to motorists. The residents of Murrindindi are living in an extreme, bush fire-risk zone, with limited internet access, no mobile coverage and no roadside slashing, even on sealed road frontages.
Thankfully, many local residents are taking the matter into their own hands and doing the slashing themselves.
Olivia Lawson, Murrindindi
A ban is a ban
With statewide fire restrictions now in force, I wonder what Parks Victoria and the Department of Sustainability and Environment are thinking. Residents throughout Victoria, who know their own area and the fire danger they live with, can no longer burn off organic material that fuels fires. At this time of year, I can understand the reasoning behind that.
But how anyone – drunk or sober, foreign visitor or Australian, aware or unaware of the risks they are taking – is allowed to light campfires, day or night, in national parks and state forests and then often leave them unattended while they are still burning is a mystery. Fire restrictions should apply to all open fires.
Maarten Mulder, Kalorama
Why not morning tea?
Ian Trevor Jones (Letters, 31/12) considers a dinner (at taxpayers' expense) of $1123, including $408 for alcohol, to be "drivel" when, at the same time, these well-paid politicians lecture everybody that the age of entitlements is over. Why are formal business meetings held at lunch or dinner time at obviously outrageous costs? What do the politicians and business leaders do before and after meal times?
Lidio Bertelli, Dallas
It's our town, too
I do not know when Margaret Skeen (Letters, 29/12) moved to Point Lonsdale and claimed it her own. We bought our family beach house in 1986 and since then have spent as much time here as we have been able. When we are here, we shop locally, use local tradesmen and pay our rates and taxes on time.
Ms Skeen evidently regards us as Melbourne "thrip" but are we not just as entitled as she is to love Point Lonsdale and enjoy all that it has to offer?
Vanessa Keenan, Point Lonsdale
A very warm welcome
We too are sharing our lake with city campers and speed boaters. They bring welcome income to our area, shop at the local store, buy fresh fruit and vegetables from our local growers, drink and eat in our pub. It is not so long ago that Lake Boga was dry and our township was suffering the effects of that long drought – including very few tourists and their welcome dollars.
Most visitors keep their campsites litter free and, by the end of their holiday, they are happily calling out "good morning". (I also enjoy checking out the visitors' latest fashions.)
Carolyn Reynolds, Lake Boga
Pot, kettle, black
Speaking of gender agendas: how does The Age compare to the Prime Minister ("PM falls behind in gender agenda", The Age, 30/12)? According to the table on your letters pages, of the 19 featured jobs, just one is held by a woman. It seems male dominance is overbearingly everywhere. I wonder where the women are – surely they are not out the back, ironing the fold into the spine of the newspapers?
Mel Freeman, Nathalia
A massive con job?
The Interview, Sony Pictures' biggest ever online release has made more than $US15million in four days (Age Online, 30/12).
Earlier, Sony claimed it had to cancel the film's cinema release because it feared a reprisal cyber attack from the evil North Korean regime. The decision to not release the movie made news for days, with broadcasters repeatedly showing the trailer on news bulletins around the world.
Has any other movie received such free, saturation publicity? Perhaps the controversy was manufactured to generate this? What would The Gruen Transfer panelists say? Was it a massive con job or did Sony just take advantage of the events that unfolded to make a good profit by releasing a movie that had had poor reviews?
Chris Zombolas, Moonee Ponds
Cricketing farce
What sport goes for five days, and then all drop tools and call it a draw when a result could have been obtained by extending the game for a short time? Cricket. The end of the last Test was an insult to the paying public. Steve Smith could, and should, have declared earlier. No wonder crowds are down, what with exorbitant entrance and food charges. These areas need to be addressed if the great game of Test cricket is to survive. Administrators need to think about the fans. Draws are boring when a result could easily be obtained if commonsense prevailed.
Ray Armstrong, Tweed Heads, NSW
Follow the French lead
Now that the East West Link behemoth has, instead of strangling Melbourne, been strangled itself, perhaps, for the sake of our health, the lord mayor will consider following the lead of the mayor of Paris. Her far-sighted plan is to ban diesel cars from the centre of the city by 2020. Vehicle use will be limited to residents' cars, buses, taxis, emergency vehicles, delivery vehicles and bicycles. The result will be a healthier and more pedestrian-friendly city.
Can Melbourne rise to the challenge?
Ruth Clemens, Richmond
AND ANOTHER THING
War and religion
Andrew Dixon (31/7) says warmongers tend to be men. Some notable exceptions: Thatcher, Gandhi, Meir.
Peter Price, Southbank
What about Joan of Arc, Catherine the Great, Boudica, ElizabethI?
John Paterson, Carlton North
Perhaps no atheist has ever started a war in the name of atheism.
Benjamin Nisenbaum, Mount Dandenong
Hitler was raised a Catholic.
Gary Sayer, Warrnambool
Sport
Get those hamstrings fixed, Pup. We need a captain who plays for a win.
Rod Smyrk, Sunbury
As more journalists are now calling batsmen "batters", shouldn't they refer to their "battership" instead of batsmanship?
Peter O'Brien, Newport
Kurdish Iranian asylum seeker Homayon Hatami should have ditched karate in favour of cricket.
Bryan Fraser, St Kilda
Furthermore
Ken Lay, thank you for caring and restoring decency. When you spoke many listened, and your actions brought change.
Daryl Goldie, Camperdown
I never thought I'd see another chief commissioner who was as sincere and widely respected as Mick Miller.
Alan Brown, Wattle Bank
Thank you, Ken Lay. You have made us feel so much safer. May the future be good to you. We will miss you.
Anne McLean, Box Hill North
Leunig (30/12), another apt proverb: Shop in haste, repent at leisure.
Liz Jovanovic, Moonee Ponds
New Year resolutions are of the same genre as politicians' promises.
Max Horton, Clarence Park, SA
Guns don't kill people. Two-year-old children do.
Scott Poynting, Meadowbank, NZ