Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments.
Reader argues against those protesting Trump’s state visit
I wonder what those people protesting about Donald Trump’s state visit are expecting to achieve (Metro, Wed).
He’s going to be the US president until January 2029 whether UK citizens like it or not. All we can do is try to rub along with him as best as possible until then.
This visit is a carefully orchestrated act of diplomacy intended to ease trade and improve European security.
Yet president Trump is notoriously short-tempered, which means that the only potential outcome of any attempt to aggravate him could be to damage our relations with the US, which could have ‘bigly’ negative implications for UK trade and for the defence of Europe.
Protest is pointless unless it sets out to achieve something positive. In this instance, there is simply no cause to be fought for other than to express outrage at the tangerine tyrant’s policies.
We’ll no doubt hear claims that the protesters are ‘on the right side of history’ – whatever that means – but if the cost of them feeling good about themselves is damaging to the world about us then it doesn’t matter what colours they wrap themselves in, it’s still an act of self-harm. Julian Self, Wolverton
Is ‘outrage shown in retrospect’ to Mandelson’s appointment unjustified?
I am a little surprised at the outrage shown in retrospect over Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US (MetroTalk, Wed).
Of course it was known that Mandelson – sacked over his association with Jeffrey Epstein – was a bit sleazy and obsessed with the rich and powerful.
Who better to sidle up to an elderly president, also a bit sleazy and obsessed with celebrity? We need America more than it needs us and the relationship worked well – until it didn’t, of course.
Where Trump, Mandelson, Bill Clinton and others coincide in their relationship with convicted paedophile Epstein is in their complete indifference to the fate of those many young women who surrounded Epstein. But politicians are not supposed to be perfect, just effective.
Did people believe Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner when they kept stating how morally superior Labour were compared with the Tories? Some people need to grow up. Chris Shepherd, London
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Reader defends Unite the Kingdom protestors
After reading Tuesday’s MetroTalk about the Unite The Kingdom march in London on Saturday (‘Scared, spat at and abused – face to face with Tommy’s patriots’) it seems your readers are terrified of flags and working-class men.
Those are the people who would step up to fight for our country in any future conflict, not the middle-class wets who read your paper. Martin, via email
Reader says to ‘allow the LGBTQ+ flag would be prejudicial’
Caitlyn (MetroTalk, Wed) misses the point about councils who remove LGBT flags in favour of the Union flag.
The Union Jack represents us all. To specifically allow the LGBT flag would be prejudicial in favour of one group, so then we’d have to fly every other flag representing every other interest group, ethnic group or nationality that exists in our country. That’d be ridiculous. Yes, if there’s a special day of the year to fly an extra flag then fine but the continuous, uniting flag of this country is the Union flag. Paul, London
Reader is ‘too afraid’ to currently denote identity in the UK
I’m a granddaughter of a fleeing immigrant family, who learnt the language and worked extremely hard and integrated into the UK. I’m also Jewish and am too afraid to wear my own flag or anything denoting my proud identity in the UK right now. Giselle, via text
Would litter picking show true patriotism?
If people waving St George’s crosses really cared about Britain, they’d show it by picking up litter rather than plastering flags everywhere. A tidy street shows pride in your country. A sea of plastic flags just shows you’ve confused patriotism with patriotism’s tatty bunting. Steve Clarke, London
Reader argues against claim that Christian values are ‘inherent in Britishness’
Brian Dornan (MetroTalk, Wed) is naive to think the Unite The Kingdom rally represented the marginalised defending themselves. One of its speakers emphasised the Christian values supposedly inherent in Britishness.
Well I have never been a Christian nor had Christian values but that’s not to say I’m a recent migrant – my most recently migrant ancestors were in London before 1800. I just saw what Christianity was and decided I had no wish to become part of it.
I would argue Britain should end Christianity’s privileged position and be a secular nation giving equal respect to all religions, however few members they have. Charles EL Gilman, Mitcham
