Price of Middle East war will be paid by the innocents

Peter Hartcher has made a reasoned case on Gaza and its humanitarian predicament, following the Hamas incursion (“Israel’s power, to show restraint”, October 17). Israel is exercising lawful hot pursuit, and is engaging two front-line enemies; both proxies of Iran: Hamas and Hezbollah. A stateless Palestine, sovereign Israel and Lebanon, can all agree on one fact, innocent civilians will suffer in what soon will be remorseless combat, between implacable foes, if history guides us.

The US Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin, warned “that now is not the time to equivocate on atrocities.” Decoded, he signalled a green light for an Israeli military assault on Gaza on several fronts. Cicero said that “in the midst of war, the laws are silent”. Mike Fogarty, Weston (ACT)

I read Ben Saul’s analysis (“A war crime remains a war crime”, October 17) with great interest. I agree that violence cannot resolve this dispute, even though the violence goes back a long way - think of young David slaying Goliath. Perhaps they could take a look at what occurred in Northern Ireland when short-term retaliatory violence was shunned in favour of long-term peace. Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga

Peter Hartcher writes “Hamas deserves no sympathy from anyone and no Israeli restraint. But no Palestinian civilian deserves to die for the crimes of Hamas. Israel has a duty to act with military effectiveness”. In what fantasy world is this not a practical contradiction? Ted Kroiter, Cremorne Point

Your correspondent is incorrect in stating that the British treated the original inhabitants of Palestine as non-people without rights (Letters, October 17). In his 1917 letter to Lord Rothschild, Arthur Balfour, British Foreign Secretary, specifically stated that the British government supported a “national home for Jewish people”, provided that nothing “be done that may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine”. Furthermore, after WWII Britain made every effort to restrict Jewish migration to Palestine having experienced violence between the Arabs and Jews in the 1930s. If anyone is to blame for the more than 70 years of violence in Israel it is the United Nations which approved its establishment over the objections of the Arab nations. A classic example of Western colonialism.
Rodney Crute, Hunters Hill

In the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks that occurred just over a week ago, numerous governments and a multitude of media outlets have exhibited a degree of leniency towards Israel’s chosen approach in dealing with the Hamas threat. While the attention of cameras gradually shifts away from the ongoing rocket assaults on Israel and focuses more on the dire situation faced by civilians in Gaza, it’s not surprising that calls for restraint are becoming increasingly common. These pleas for moderation are expected to grow as commentators such as Peter Hartcher intensify their coverage of the impending ground offensive and the potential human shield tactics employed by Hamas, which could result in civilian casualties. John Kempler, Rose Bay

Constitution itself makes change almost impossible

Anne Twomey outlines with her usual clarity the impossibility of changing our Constitution in a post-truth world without bipartisan support (“Imagined risks make Constitution unchangeable”, October 17). The “double majority” requirement of a majority in four of the six states also adds to the difficulty of change. It partially disenfranchises residents of the two territories, and it means (for the states’ majority) a vote in Tasmania carries 15 times the value of a vote in NSW. While states’ rights may have made sense in the 1890s, it makes little sense now in a world of instant communication. Anyone up for Constitutional change? Anyone? Kevin Fell, Cooks Hill

The referendum’s voting patterns demonstrate that there is now a clear social demarcation between the more affluent inner-city enclaves and the outer suburbs. For a host of reasons, new migrants and established communities away from the niche coffee shop strips decided not to amend our nation’s colourblind rule book. It was a vote for universal equality under the law, regardless of your heritage or background.

Also, the mainstream demonstrated that it cannot be bullied or bought by the moralising corporate elites, self-righteous big businesses or the preachy sporting bodies who felt that they had the right to tell the wider populace what to think and do. Instead, Australia rightly held the line in nationally declaring that what ultimately matters in changing one’s fortunes is not yet more administration, but agency and aspiration. Peter Waterhouse, Craigieburn (Vic.)

Dutton rejected the Voice because he claimed it would be a Canberra-centred elite with no grassroots input. He now he states that “all of the Coalition policy on Indigenous affairs would be subject to review by Nampijinpa Price and ... Kerrynne Liddle” (“No answer on truth and treaty as Albanese defers to Indigenous leaders”, October 17). So a two-person, even more Canberra-centred elite, appointed by and answerable to Dutton is somehow going to be more effective than a representative body? Anne Croker, Woonona

Professor Anne Twomey is no doubt right in suggesting Constitutional change is necessary from time to time, but referendums will rarely succeed if there is not bipartisan support and the change will clearly benefit all Australians, not target one specific group. This latest referendum proposal did not pass the pub test and it was doomed to fail. Denis Suttling, Newport Beach

A tale of two politicians. One, who made an election promise and kept it, one who made a promise and couldn’t wait even a week to back out of it. Coral Button, North Epping

The mainstream media’s failure to call out Peter Dutton for sabotaging the referendum without offering an alternative is difficult to swallow. Dutton’s victory is actually a massive own goal. The Teal seats, all of which voted Yes, now seem lost forever. Dutton cannot win an election without them. Rob Mills, Riverview

Dutton’s call for a royal commission into Aboriginal child sexual abuse and an audit of government spending to Aborigines is a giant dog whistle to his bigoted supporters. He is pushing the trope that we are giving too much money to Aboriginals and that they’re all child abusers anyway. This is his idea of bringing the country back together after this lacerating referendum? It’s playing out of the Trump playbook! Judith Dunn, Balmain

Don’t think the world is not watching. Next time when Australia criticises the human rights records of other countries on the international stage, we will surely be reminded again to look into the mirror first, and be questioned on how we treat the First Nations people of our land. Vincent Wong, Killara

No quick fix

Australia isn’t the only first world country to discover it has an ADHD epidemic (“ADHD diagnoses double in five years”, October 17). The link with anxiety is clear, together with previous under diagnosis. Worried parents are more likely to seek help and one way or another, it is expensive. Long-term medication is the most common strategy and that has big implications for both the PBS and the NDIS. These drugs are effective but not for everyone, and there are sometimes side effects, including dependency. There are even bigger questions. Is our whole society somehow contributing to ADHD becoming more prevalent? Can we (both as individuals and as communities) learn to live with and accept as “normal” some prevalence of ADHD (and other behaviours) without labelling and resorting to drugs? We need to examine closely what problems we are trying to fix by medications and what different support we can offer. Margaret Johnston, Paddington

The SMH editorial on ADHD (“Spike in ADHD further threatens NDIS budget”, October 17) misses the point. Before the budget is threatened, a diagnosis of ADHD has to be made. There is no biological test for ADHD. The test is the subjective opinion of one or more persons, usually a medically trained person and/or a family member. There is simply no objective measure(s) to determine an ADHD diagnosis. An objective measure that seems to be professionally used is “give them the amphetamine-based drug and if the concentration improves and is maintained and the behaviour diminishes, there is ADHD”. The same behavioural changes occur for everyone who takes those drugs, from truck drivers to party ragers! Do we all have ADHD? ADHD is a social construction, being provided a medical solution, leading to a budgetary black hole. Paul Gannon, Coopers Shoot

Hands off kids

Invasive strip searches take more than clothing from the isolated, interrogated child (“Invasive searches for girls aged 12”, October 17). It strips them of their dignity, undermines the rationalisation of basic entitlements of decency and puts to question the role and rights of adults presiding over their life. It can be such infringements on a developing mind that set in train physiological damage that manifests in a later self-harming mindset. In the eyes of the affected youth, their peers and their kin, the position of the police may also be seen to have been stripped of a degree of decency befitting their uniform. We have a world-leading police force. Let’s not degrade their standing in the community too. Steve Dillon, Thirroul

Won’t fly

Commenting on Qantas loyalty boss Olivia Wirth’s hitting the eject button and parachuting out of the crisis-ridden airline, chief executive Vanessa Hudson said, “During COVID, Loyalty was one of the few parts of the business that was able to carry on” (“Wirth resigns from Qantas to ‘pursue other opportunities’”, October 17). Tell that to the 1700 Qantas ground staff who were illegally sacked during a pandemic. John Payne, Kelso

Just the facts

It is difficult for an academic institution like the University of Exeter to justify offering courses on ancient witchcraft and the occult (“Once hanged, witches now centre of uni course”, October 17). Universities are supposed to provide truth in learning. They should not promote and pander to populist superstitions. Is Exeter University so starved of funds that it is obliged to offer such courses?

Most universities no longer have a theology faculty. Theology is left to the special institutions of individual churches. My local U3A college ditched a course on numerology because it was based on superstition and not truth. What’s next? Astronomy schools in science faculties that offer courses in astrology? Spare me. Geoff Black, Caves Beach

Albo’s next move

Anthony Albanese’s time as prime minister has been marked by major policy blunders – the $370 billion AUKUS nuclear submarines deal, the commitment to stage three tax cuts for high-income earners, costing $313 billion over 10 years, and the Voice referendum debacle. Two of these policies were initiated by Liberal federal governments. If the Australian people had wanted Liberal Party policies then Scott Morrison would still be prime minister. If Albanese is wondering what his next steps should be, he could start acting like a Labor PM and scrap the AUKUS deal and the stage three tax cuts. Peter Martina, Warrnambool

Nature responds

My first letter published in the Herald 12 years ago was about jacarandas flowering in late October (Letters, October 17). If they are early this year, why? Not just content to enjoy nature’s spectacles, we should learn to read the signs. Meredith Williams, Northmead

Jacarandas are not the only plants responding to climate change. Sydney’s suburban mango trees seem to be coming into flower three to four weeks earlier than normal. Seppo Ranki, Glenhaven

Republic on hold

As no referendum has ever passed without bipartisan support, the man tasked with overseeing Australia’s transition to a republic, Matt Thistlethwaite (assistant minister for defence, veterans affairs, and for the republic) has just been done out of a job! Former Liberal prime minister John Howard told a meeting of the Australians for Constitutional Monarchy group in Sydney recently that “if this (Voice) referendum is heavily defeated, which I hope it will be, that will discourage the current government from having a referendum on a republic”. With this in mind, any plans to hold a referendum on a republic in the future I am sure will slowly fade away, possibly forever. Ray Armstrong, Tweed Heads South

Work in progress

Ross Gittins talks about setting an employment target (“Chalmers should give the RBA an employment target”, October 17) but the difficulty is that there are always a group of people in transition which muddies the figures. Can I suggest rather than only look at the traditional unemployment rate, we focus on the time taken to get another job? For example, 60 per cent of the unemployed are out of work for less than a month. It also allows us to focus on the other end of the scale: the long-term unemployed. Neville Turbit, Russell Lea

Prime minister who?

A new PM for NZ (Letters, October 17)? I’ve barely had time to learn the name of Jacinda’s replacement: Chris Hopkins, er, Hipkins. Joan Brown, Orange

Car freedom

What arrogance Clover Moore has to think that anyone living and working within 4 km of the CBD should not own or drive a car (“Obsession with travel times on Metro West line ‘massively outdated’”, October 14). How does she think tradies carry their tools or families collect groceries, or even people who visit their elderly relatives to help with chores, get around this sprawling city? It is time they consider car spaces for every bedroom. Gregory Strange, Earlwood

Rain rain go away

We are all aware of El Nino and its effect on rainfall. We are now in an El Nino phase. We have already seen the rainfall decline in August, September and October, yet we have not heard a peep from authorities. I wonder why we have not already been encouraged to start saving water?
Miles Harvey, Newtown

Black is the new gold

I never thought that the day would come that I would be barracking for the All Blacks in a rugby test.
Frank Payne, Killara

• To submit a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. Click here for tips on how to submit letters.
• Catch up on the best letters and online comments on the topic of the week in our Friday wrap Yours. Sincerely
• The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform. Sign up here.