AS an “old person” of this region, I take great offence to the generalised attack on seniors by columnist John Griffiths in his haphazardly constructed, and rather juvenile, diatribe on the supposed rudeness of the older generation (“Why are old people so damn rude?”, CN, August 4).

How he develops his argument against the penchant of “old” people to prefer to interact on a more traditional and personal level – in preference to hiding behind the cowardly and often socially destructive façade of social media – into his closing statement: “Having rorted the real estate and retirement income systems to the utter detriment of the wider nation, please excuse us if we don’t want to hear more about your moral superiority” is beyond me.

As someone who has spent a long and sometimes arduous working life putting into place the wherewithal for my retirement – so as to be fully self-supporting and no drag on the poor, young taxpayers like Mr Griffiths – this last statement is wholly offensive.

And, Mr Griffiths, if you would like to peruse an example of moral superiority in print, read your own column.

Clive Chapman, via email

Stop being so sensitive

COLUMNIST John Griffiths, like a lot of people, thinks that because people see a problem and voice it they are bigots (“The problem with bigots”, CN July 28).

When is the world going to stop being so sensitive? When I arrived in Australia 44 years ago, I was subject to a lot of what he would call bigotry. I just took it on the chin and got on with life.

This was usually unfounded as I did nothing to deserve it apart from being a foreigner, even opening my mouth to speak incurred criticism –  and I speak English.

However, there is justification against radical Muslims (note: I did say radical) who are infiltrating all around the world and causing mayhem. This cannot be denied. Look how many people have been killed and maimed in countries such as France, England, Germany, Syria, Turkey and Pakistan, to name a few.

There have been attacks or attempted attacks here. Does there have to be bombings here before the likes of John Griffiths get the point? Australians have a valid reason to be scared. There is a saying that is very valid in this instance: “Don’t shoot the messenger”. Well, Andrew Bolt, Sonia Kruger and Pauline Hanson are just the messengers because nobody else has the courage to say it or are too naive to see it.

Vi Evans via email

Thank you, John Griffiths

CONGRATULATIONS to columnist John Griffiths for his article “Shock win for dogs and decency” (CN, July 14).

I and many others agree with everything he wrote. Greyhound racing is indeed a very cruel industry.

Sue Gage, via email

Concern at ‘unsafe’ work

READING the edition of August 4, l was interested in seeing the article in the Tradies Health Month feature headed “Cultural shift helps building-site safety”. But then l felt slightly nauseous when l saw it was quoting Kirk Coningham, of the Master Builders Association.

I recently had dealings with an MBA builder who, while taking six months to complete a six-week contract, was insulting, lied to me and overcharged me.  

When l tried to get some advice from the MBA they simply asked me: “What did l want them to do about it?”   

My real insult came though when the work was supposedly “finished”. The builder walked away from the job deliberately and knowingly leaving it unsafe telling me: “l should not use it”!   

When l contacted the MBA about this a letter from Kirk Coningham advised me that the builder’s actions were “appropriate”.

So according to the MBA director it is “appropriate” for a builder to walk off a job leaving the clients in an unsafe situation, where they could be injured.

If that’s the “safety culture” the MBA talks about, no wonder there are too many accidents.

Geoff Barker, Flynn

One down…

ONE down and one to go; Manuka Oval down, now for light rail.  

           Cedric Bryant, Watson