Letters: Hard work would teach garden thugs a lesson

THE article "Youths attack disabled boy with live carp at city garden" (News, 9th August) deeply concerns me.

It shows how low British society has become when disabled people and their carers are unable to go out for a day without being verbally abused or assaulted.

Those responsible should remember that all it takes is an accident or an illness and they themselves could become profoundly disabled.

Would they like members of the public to throw stones at them if that ever became the case?

Having had almost 14 years of experience in the horticulture industry and working at various parks and gardens throughout Scotland, I have a positive solution which might deter this kind of behaviour.

If a particular garden is having problems with vandalism then it might be a good idea to find out who is causing the problem and engage with them to find out why they are doing it and perhaps invite them to come and carry out some voluntary work.

When the perpetrators see just how much work has to go into keeping a park they might just respect it that little bit more and dissuade their friends from carrying out similar acts of vandalism.

Alastair Macintyre, Webster Place, Rosyth, Fife

Limits are put on class numbers

WHILE I understand some of the concerns the parent behind Kids not Suits has about class sizes (News, August 6), I feel that I must make it clear that the council has no powers, as yet, to keep P1 class numbers down to 25 at Roseburn Primary or at any other school.

The council has been accused of allowing class sizes to rise. This is simply not the case.

I have been lobbying the Scottish Government for some time to get a legal limit in place and we are assured that legislation will be brought forward soon. Until then, the limit must be 30 because, if we try to keep it at 25 without a legal backstop, parents can appeal and classes can grow beyond 30 pupils.

Cllr Marilyne MacLaren, City Education Leader

Picture painted is to be deplored

THE article "Losing our Religion" (News, August 9) is timely and disturbing, but will not be affected by the visit of the Pope to Edinburgh. The heading suggests that Scots are turning their backs on Christianity, but it would be more accurate to say that many Scots have turned their backs on Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came into this world to save sinners.

The Bible, which Christians hold to be the Word of God, makes the situation clear. It tells us "all have sinned" and deserve eternal punishment in Hell, whereas those who believe that in His death on the Cross, Jesus has taken the penalty due to us for our sins, are "saved for all eternity" and will go to heaven to be with Jesus.

Moreover, we read in the Bible that we all have an appointment with death, and after this The Judgment; not a good prospect for non-Christians.

The picture painted in Adam Morris's article is to be deplored, as it depicts the majority of Scots as irreligious, and while we should be thankful for the 600,000 who attend church every Sunday, we should be concerned for the 400,000 who spend time at Sunday football matches and cinemas.

The church I attend is comparatively small, but we reach out to the community with the invitation of the Gospel, telling people their need to commit their lives to Jesus Christ who alone can save them.

Thankfully we find people prepared to listen, to respond positively and to commit their lives to Jesus.

Donald Jack, Summerside Place, Leith

Thankfully, cuts were bloodless

IF there was a competition for startling newspaper headlines I would definitely enter "MP carries out surgery in gay bar" (News, August 9).

Reading on, I was relieved to find that the only "cuts" involved were the pending cuts in public services as discussed by Edinburgh East MP Sheila Gilmore with customers in a bar.

Harry D Watson, Braehead Grove, Edinburgh