Letter: Unearned insult

Published on Wednesday 15 February 2012 00:00

IT WAS with a sense of astonishment that I read John Eoin Douglas’s description of Greece as a savage, fiscally irresponsible nation (Letters, 14 February).

The words pot, kettle and black come to mind. Britain has experienced its fair share of riots and we too are a nation that is running on debt.

Mr Douglas also seems unaware that the rest of Europe is insisting that Greece continues to spend more on armaments than any other Nato country bar the US.

While teachers have their wages slashed by 40 per cent the Greeks are buying €4 billion (£3.3bn) of French Frigates, 60 Eurofighters at another €4bn, and €2bn worth of German submarines.

There is the true savagery and irresponsibility. Little wonder that ordinary Greeks (ie those who can’t take their excessive wealth and invest it in stock or the London property market) are protesting.

David A Robertson

Solas CPC

St Peter’s Street, Dundee

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Alastair Scott

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 07:53 PM

#3 You're probably right. Pity there's not an "unpost" option. Not the first time I've adopted a "post first, think later" attitude.

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samcoldstream

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 03:23 PM

The UK now has a £3 trillion national debt and is paying £145 billion in annual interest payments. Fortunately for the UK, its economy is 14 times greater than that of Greece. Ironically, the Olympic Games, which were first held in Greece, are this year being held in London, and it will help to inject some needed cash into the economy. However, this will come at a £9.2 billion cost, and even with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, and the forthcoming Glasgow Commonwealth Games, it will not solve the UK's chronic economic problems. Today, the Governor of the Bank of England's low key economic forecast only confirms this fact. (Source: Financial Times)

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theweeflea

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 02:56 PM

It is also disappointing that what is a serious issue involving the suffering of many people and the injustice referred to in the letter, is reduced to nit-picking and some vain attempt at humour - if that is what it was.....

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theweeflea

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 02:55 PM

I'm afraid that it was not obvious at all that what Mr Douglas intended was irony. There have been numerous comments to that effect and there was no reason to think otherwise. Alastair that was a cheap and unnecessary self righteous comment - one that Christians sadly are far too apt to me make without thought.

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Alastair Scott

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 01:36 PM

#1 Regrettably, and I write as a Christian myself, far too many Christians have no sense of humour.

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Brotyboy

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 09:42 AM

While I agree with your sentiments I can't help but think that you entirely missed the irony in Mr Douglas' letter.

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