Letters to the editor, September 19

No double standards in grieving for Charlie Kirk

The Mercury’s September 17 editorial assertion that double standards prevail in Western countries because the outcry against Charlie Kirk’s murder is not matched by one against atrocities in Gaza is a mistaken conflation of two very different issues.

The Middle East is a cauldron of controversy inflamed by atrocities on both sides. Charlie Kirk’s life and legacy amounts to everything the Middle East does not reflect. That is the distinction that needs to be recognised which is why, despite ungodly propaganda, millions worldwide are grieving at his death.

It is reflective of the fallen nature of this world that Charlie Kirk is branded as ‘controversial’ for striving to heal, teach and minister moral precepts of decency, forgiveness, love, compassion and truth.

Charlie Kirk sought to uplift and improve lives by emphasising the timeless principles of righteousness found in the Bible. He did not harbour grievances towards those who mocked and verbally assailed him. He cherished and exemplified the right of free speech without retribution despite the barrage of abuse and opposition. He saw the good in humanity and sought to help the fallen from the error of their ways and thinking. He strived to mend and inspire relations not to divide them.

Abraham Lincoln’s words in his second Inaugural Address aptly sum up Charlie Kirk’s pursuit of life: ‘With malice towards none and with charity for all with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right…”

Consequently, the claim that grieving over Kirk’s murder constitutes double standards is grossly mistaken because the underlying issues between his life and Gaza are poles apart. | DR DUNCAN DU BOIS Bluff

No child should have to face cancer alone

This September, as we mark International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, I want to thank the public for its vital role in raising awareness and supporting children with cancer.

A diagnosis of childhood cancer is more than a medical condition – it shatters normal childhood and plunges families into fear and uncertainty. No child should endure such suffering, and no parent should have to watch. The journey is filled with sleepless nights, anxious days, and immense emotional strain.

By offering both emotional reassurance and practical support, we can help families discover their resilience and give them strength to face treatment and recovery. It is crucial that we all contribute to organisations funding research and providing family support. Early detection and active participation in awareness events can also lead to better treatments and improved outcomes.Despite progress, much more must be done.

Together, we can ignite hope, advocate for every child’s right to a healthy, joyful life, and work towards a future where childhood cancer no longer devastates families.

As the saying goes: “Childhood cancer is a battle no child should have to fight and no parent should have to watch.” | Dhayalan Moodley Mobeni Heights

Suspend the corrupt – without delay

We, the citizens of this country, are sick and tired of waiting for government to declare war on corruption.

At the very least, employers should have the right to suspend employees accused of corrupt activities involving more than R200 000. This would prevent corruption from continuing unchecked and stop employees from misusing company funds to drag their employers through the courts.

If this means some attorneys are forced to drive older cars, so be it.

Furthermore, employers should be entitled to reduce an employee’s salary if that employee deliberately delays disciplinary hearings by postponing them more than twice.

Such measures would help curb abuse, save costs, and demonstrate that corruption will not be tolerated. | Terence Grant Cape Town

Funding cuts will cripple culture

Your article of Thursday, September 18, Jobs At Risk From Gayton Mckenzie’s Arts Funding Cuts, refers.

This is an incredibly unfortunate and shocking decision by Minister McKenzie. Arts festivals have long been the cultural backbone of towns across South Africa.

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival, for example, is a world-class event that draws jazz lovers from across the globe. Beyond the music, it boosts tourism, with visitors arriving with foreign currency, leaving with smiles, and pledging to return. The publicity it brings to South Africa is priceless. Likewise, the National Arts Festival in Makhanda is an institution that energises the Eastern Cape economy.

Other festivals, too, have become part of our national heritage.To cut funding to these institutions is nothing less than a self-inflicted wound. It is thoughtless, damaging, and risks destroying cultural assets we have painstakingly built.

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture must reconsider, acknowledge the gravity of this mistake, and reinstate funding before irreparable harm is done. | Michael Bagraim Cape Town

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