The King’s speech in the US was a masterclass

We know the royals weigh their words heavily and don’t grubby their hands by stooping to speak of politics and foreign policy, so my money is on Donald Trump using King Charles’ speech as tune-out time to machinate on his next crazy scheme (“King Charles told Trump what he needed to hear. It may not be enough”, smh.com.au, April 29). It’s so interesting to see an always polite man handle an always rude one. Keir Starmer might be no Winston Churchill, but Donald is no JFK. Genevieve Milton, Dulwich Hill

The King’s speech to Congress was a masterclass in majesty. Engaging in diplomatic dialogue with the “Prince of Darkness” may well be his crowning glory. Janet Argall, Hurlstone Park

I long ago lost my Republican inclinations after 15 years living in a country with a very corrupt, but democratically elected, president – it made me see that the Windsors are better than the alternative. In the nicest possible way, King Charles has reminded the ally of at least four members of his Commonwealth of Nations that it too is bound by law, affected by global warming and belongs to the world community. Long Live the King. David Neilson, Uralla

Because America has all the Trumps, it holds the losing hand. Howard Charles, Annandale

St Donald of Mar-a-Largo

Of course there is a lot of speculation that the latest attempt on Trump’s life was faked (“It’s fine to call the US president a despot, but one line has really rattled the White House”, April 29). His whole life has been based on lies, fraud, cons and dishonesty. The mystery of his miraculously healed ear from the Butler shooting also suggests a fake. The appeal for a grand ballroom for presidential protection so soon after the latest shooting adds to the suspicion of a set-up. It’s easy to be cynical when it comes to Trump. He has the history. Richard Keyes, Enfield

Michael Koziol is correct in stating that Trump has done more than most in contributing to the devaluing of integrity in public life. Is it any wonder there is suspicion regarding the shooting incident at the Washington Hilton? During his presidency Trump has posted and spouted unfounded rhetoric to diminish opponents and dial up aggression. His administration can’t wholly blame others for the hateful and corrosive speech being expressed when Trump has set the tone. Lyn Savage, Coogee

If God saved Trump from that bullet that grazed his right ear in 2024, and Trump recently represented himself as possessing the healing power of Jesus, there’s only one more achievement to confirm his divinity. Pope Leo could canonise him, making him St Donald of Mar-a-Largo. Trump has achieved the necessary miracles, and he is precious enough to be our first living saint. Andrew McPherson, Tathra

The White House says in relation to the alleged assassination attempt on Donald Trump that “debating, peaceful protesting and voting are how we need to settle disagreements, not bullets”. Is that what Trump is doing? Christine Stewart, Willoughby

Pity the children

I am sure there are convicted murderers who have spent less time in prison than the so-called ISIS brides have been in their refugee camps (Letters, April 29), and certainly their conditions were better. Of course the women made terrible decisions, but most of them were very young at the time. If they were back in Australia, would we really be under threat? I well remember politicians who tried to arouse great alarm about the danger of bringing home David Hicks. Anything to win a right-wing vote. Anthony Albanese should be ashamed of his comments about lying in the beds they made. I expected better. Don Firth, Wooli

Get a grip, folks. Those children who have been granted Australian citizenship by descent have not committed any crime, yet we want to punish them for the errors of their mothers. What has happened to our humanity? Shane Nunan, Finley

OK, so the Islamic State women made an awful mistake when they followed their husbands overseas, but they are Australian citizens – and if we think of nothing else we should have some sympathy for children who need care and education in a safer country, which just happens to be Australia. We Labor voters believe we should look after our own even in cases such as this. What are you afraid of, Albo? Nola Tucker, Kiama

The milk of human kindness seems to just flow from your correspondent in his rather extreme response to Australian citizens being allowed to come home. Irrespective of their individual circumstances, they are our “problem”, a point made strongly by both the US and Syria. His desire to punish anyone associated with them does seem as unhinged and radical as some of the ideologies and actions he might deplore in others. Tony Sullivan, Islington

Where would your correspondent deport Australian citizens to? Stephen Dunn, Bonnells Bay

Down, down, down

The AUKUS submarine deal is a farce (“AUKUS in trouble, UK probe warns”, April 29). It was dodgy from the start, and with Trump in the White House it’s now less likely that a single sub will ever be delivered. It’s time to cancel the deal and request a refund. If Scott Morrison hadn’t reneged on the deal with France, we wouldn’t be in this mess. However, it’s not too late to accept France’s offer. Graham Lum, North Rocks

Culture wars unwelcome

Your correspondent (Letters, April 29), judging by his name, has one line of antecedents who were British, though it seems that he has no pride in that today. He now feels entitled to make a series of critical and incorrect statements about those antecedents. Firstly, no one British asked or forced Australia to adopt either the Ode or the Last Post for such ceremonies – Australians chose to do that. Secondly, the British did not have any formal policy to attempt to exterminate the Indigenous peoples of Australia, or indeed anywhere else. In fact, the policy was the reverse. Finally, he says of the Gallipoli landing that there was “barely a British soldier to behold”. In fact, British and British India troops exceeded 348,000, of whom more than 22,000 and possibly up to 34,000 were killed – Australian and New Zealand troops numbered about 60,000, of whom about 10,000 to 12,000 were killed. Yes, the Anzacs suffered a greater rate of death, but they were far from alone. Peter Thornton, Killara

Welcome applause

We are seeing the Welcome to Country ceremony politicised, like the Voice referendum, when it should be above politics (Letters, April 29). It is a reminder of whose lands these were before non-Aboriginal people arrived, and is a positive step towards recognition and reconciliation. This significant gain is being whittled away and may well be lost to the culture wars if it becomes a kind of extended personal story-telling, rather than an accepted ritual at the start of public events like football games or council meetings. Ed Carr, Hornsby

I attended an event at the Opera House this week, and for the first time the majority of audience members applauded after the Welcome to Country. I bet the people who booed on Anzac Day didn’t expect this reaction. Margaret Grove, Concord

Sad decline of DJ’s family values

It was sad reading of DJ’s downfall (“David Jones lives to fight another day, but retail therapy needed”, April 29). In the 1960s my mum was a “Lady in Black” at its flagship Elizabeth Street store, and my uncle lift captain. His uniform would have made General MacArthur envious. I got my first job there as a 14-year-old in the school holidays (needing a hand-me-down suit from a cousin to work there) moving the ladies shoe section from one side of the store to the other (Castlereagh Street side to the Elizabeth Street side, along with half a dozen of the other Ladies in Black’s kids). Its chairman, Charles Lloyd Jones, regularly walked the store with his entourage looking on. It was like being part of a big family working there. DJ’s Sydney used to be an annual pilgrimage for many folks from the bush. The cafeteria had the best pie, vegies and gravy in town. I sincerely hope David Jones survives. Richard Talbot, Cremorne Point

In the film Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Judi Dench gets a job training young Indian staff in customer service. On some floors in David Jones the staff are employed by brand suppliers and are uninterested in the general customer. David Jones might find its “retail therapy” in a return to basic good manners. It worked well once. Judith Salmon, Haberfield

Powerful argument

Your correspondent (Letters, April 29) is correct when he says diesel-generated electricity is used for outback EV charging. Diesel generation is still used in remote areas as there is no electricity grid and probably never will be due to distance-related costs. The diesel-generated electricity also powers the petrol pumps and all other electric appliances and lighting. The cost to run a diesel generator these days must be astronomical. One would imagine an investment in solar panels and batteries versus diesel generators would be very worthwhile over time. The real crowning glory is the lack of solar/wind generation in these areas with their unlimited sun and wind resources. Mark Nugent, Lugarno

I see that your corespondent has trotted out that old chestnut about needing a diesel generator to charge an EV in the outback. I wonder if he’s ever stopped to consider that this apocryphal diesel generator is also highly likely to be providing electricity to the entire town, with homes, grocery stores, schools, pubs and even petrol stations reliant on that diesel generator to provide power. Denis Minehan, Cooma

In you come, Tiddles

As well as owners of dangerous dogs, domestic cat owners who allow their cat to roam free are wilfully blind to the inherent nature of their pet (Letters, April 29). Australia has one of the worst rates of native species extinction in the world and domestic cats contribute to this shameful statistic. My daughter recently rescued a magpie from the claws of someone’s moggy on our suburban street. Please keep your Tiddles inside, as Tiddles is instinctively a killer of birds and lizards. Kate Lumley, Hurlstone Park

Sea-change conurbation

I moved to Brisbane from Sydney in 1988, when Brisbane and the Gold Coast were still separate cities (“The four coastal towns more expensive than Byron Bay”, smh.com.au, April 29). Since then, I have seen the two metropoli, plus the Tweed Shire as far south as Pottsville, merge into a single 200 kilometre conurbation. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry when I see that people are willing to pay median prices of over $2 million to own houses in the southern suburbs of the conurbation in the belief that these places are “sea-change towns”. Paul Norton, Highgate Hill (Qld)

Hard-working Boomers

I wonder how many of those who criticise the Baby Boomers would understand the world we lived in when we were younger. For instance, my young wife and I took out a (Letters, April 29) housing loan on a very humble property and, at the end of 12 months with an interest rate of 17.5 per cent and having met every payment, we owed more money than we did at the start of the loan. So every generation has good and positive elements, but please accept that we worked hard. Nothing was given and nothing was a given. Chris McKimm, Karangi

The generational wars are a manufactured phenomenon to distract from the ongoing class war. Spoiler alert, the rich are winning. Graeme Finn, Campsie

Blown away

Alison Stewart’s letter was pure magic and a tonic in times of grim news. It is so good to start the day with a good laugh. It has my vote for letter of the year (Letters, April 29). Christina Wilcox, Leura

Alison Stewart’s leaf blower story reminded me of a husband who tried to iron the front of his shirt, while he was wearing it. Needless to say ironing obviously wasn’t part of his normal agenda. Elizabeth Kroon, Randwick

Just a few days ago, my friend, who is facing shoulder reconstruction and not looking forward to her husband helping with ablutions told me about her friend who just had the same surgery. Her husband got around the problem of drying her after her shower by bringing in the leaf blower. A lateral thinker. Mary Billing, Allambie Heights

My husband, a keen gardener and environmentalist, gets out his battery operated leaf blower once each week to blow the substantial leaf-drop off the road and onto the gardens. He works quickly and efficiently and most of our neighbours thank him heartily for his efforts in keeping the street clean and the gardens mulched. It’s a steep street and the task would simply not be possible with a rake. If the gardens could talk I’m sure they would thank him too, but they are content to show their appreciation by being and looking lush. Charmain Brinks, Newcastle

Leaf blowers used to be sold with a switch that turned them into a giant vacuum cleaner, with a bag to catch the leaves, so they did not have to be blown around the neighbourhood. Is this no longer the case? Helen Howes, Collaroy

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