Fidel is dead and I mourn his passing. During my three visits to Cuba I saw much to admire. While we drown in slick slogans and corruption and grovel to Washington, Cuba travelled in a different direction. Instead of spending money on lethal weapons to support the US war machine, it spends its limited income on free health care and education for all its citizens. It has sent humanitarian missions to 68 countries and trained more than 1800 doctors from 47 poor countries under a free scholarship scheme . It treated, free of charge, some 26,000 victims of the Chernobyl disaster. Cuba has become a world leader in cancer research and development.
While Australia rips up forests in the name of minerals and wood, Cuba has replenished its tropical forests in the name of jobs and the environment. Those who organised Cuba's previous brutal dictatorships and continue to destroy democratically elected governments subject it to constant scrutiny and harassment. Those who lecture it on human rights look away when the death penalty is systematically and racially applied in the US. It seems we are only allowed a single freedom, that of choosing between capitalism and capitalism.
Joan Coxsedge, Balwyn North
Call Castro what he was: a brutal dictator
Castro's achievement of managing to stay in power for decades was only one of the characteristics which he shared with other twentieth century dictators, such as Stalin, Mao, Salazar and Franco.
Bill James, Frankston
Castro freed Cubans from a totalitarian reign
Vale Fidel Castro. He was no angel but I loved him for getting rid of totalitarian dictator Fulgencio Batista, a man who allowed the Cuban economy to be dominated by American companies. He favoured the owners of Cuba's largest sugar plantations at the expense of the poor. Little wonder that the exiled Cuban middle-classes, now living in the US, celebrate Castro's death, while many others mourn his passing.
Sigbert Muysers, East Ballarat
How the US turned Fidel into a martyr
No one could possibly have defended the appalling Batista regime in Cuba. A revolt against it was inevitable. Unfortunately Castro pursued a policy of communism, which was bound to fail. The US administration should have continued on as if nothing had really happened, maintaining trade and diplomatic relations as before. The Castro regime might have lasted 10years. But successive US administrations turned Castro into a martyr, guaranteeing his survival for decades. Given that the US had such little insight into a country so close to it, shouldn't we be worried about it trying to run the Middle East? Barack Obama has tried to redress the imbalance with Cuba. Who can guess what the Trump administration will do?
John Brennan, Surrey Hills
Imprisonment, murder, end of free speech
World leaders have been too kind to Castro, the brutal tyrant who ruled Cuba for more than 50 years. Some have given the impression that this dictator liberated Cuba, when in reality he imprisoned, pillaged and murdered numerous citizens, especially religious and political dissenters. Castro's Cuba is further evidence that Marxism never sets people free. Instead, it smashes free speech, condemns initiative and removes freedom of worship. Castro may have held sway with foolish people in the court of public opinion, but he has now been called to a higher court to answer for his evil deeds.
Peter Curtis, Werribee South
Legacy of oppression
I read with interest Scott Poynting's list of Fidel Castro's achievements (Letters, 28/11). While Castro was performing these humanitarian deeds, was it necessary for him to: have an estimated 3900 of his countrymen executed by firing squad; have thousands more incarcerated because they dissented with his policies; drive an estimated 500,000 Cubans into voluntary exile; and renege on his promise to hold free elections?
Hugo van den Berghe, Abbotsford
A matter of perspective
Yes, there were worrying human rights abuses, including political prisoners and systemic harassment of dissidents, under Fidel Castro. But he also presided over one of the world's best public health systems and achieved ground-breaking gains in literacy and infant mortality. Even in a one-party state, he mobilised overwhelming support from the Cuban people.
Castro's political transgressions pale in comparison with the United States' client states in the region during the Cold War. Think El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Chile. Think political assassinations, mass murder and death squads. When we remember Fidel Castro, and for those who stand in judgment, let us apply the same standards to our governments and those of our historical allies.
Tristan Ewins, Box Hill North
Forgotten rural voters
On the eve of harvest, our federal government has been unable to resolve the problem it caused regarding the backpacker tax. It reinforces the view that career politicians do not have a clue about what matters to Australians who live and work outside our cities. If a quick resolution is not found and crops are left to rot, voter rebellion (read Brexit and Donald Trump) will accelerate. And so it should.
Greg Bozkewycz, Lilydale
Precious tourist dollars
Over the past few years, I have met quite a number of backpackers. In almost all cases, they spent the money that they had earned in casual jobs on visiting local and national highlights around our wonderful country. Our so-called government wants to stop them spending money here. If we tax them at too high a rate, they will not come here and we will be the losers.
Edward Mulcaster, Wynyard, Tasmania
Dominance and power
What is with Sexpo, which ran from last Thursday to Sunday? I felt as though I was in a place of worship for the male orgasm, fake vaginas, blow up dolls, and live women bent over and being whipped while the audience watched, laughing. Naked women were available for photos, lap dances were on sale and, of course, there was advertising for brothels and strip clubs to further objectify and use women.
Sexpo is an insult to women at any time, but for it to coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women was disgraceful. On the day we were supposed to "stand up, speak out, and act to prevent men's violence against women", we promoted a culture of female subordination and male entitlement to their bodies. This ensured that future generations of men will maintain their dominance over women.
Angela Trin, Brunswick East
Finding the balance
No one that I know is objecting to development per se ("When does 'heritage' become code for NIMBYism", 28/11). The issue is developer greed. Yarra City Council has world class heritage and sustainability policies and I, as a resident, support them. Some of us baby boomers care about our grandchildren's future and many of us understand heritage is not often the number one priority of the young.
There are plenty of sites in North Fitzroy that lend themselves to mid-range development. These will enable people like Bianca Hall to enjoy a North Fitzroy lifestyle in a four or five-storey apartment, rather than in a high-rise building where you may not feel a connection with the very neighbourhood which makes the area so attractive. If mid-range apartments are out of range for first-home buyers, then this is a perfect example of developer greed. We need to find a balance of lifestyle, heritage and sustainability with population increase, before the heart and soul of the inner-city disappears.
Susan Mahar, Fitzroy North
Those poor investors
How sad a sight is a row of spectacularly situated luxurious houses, yet many are empty and advertised for sale and lease. No combination of prizewinning designs, sea to mountain views and abundant supply at affordable rents is enough to fill the homes provided by generous, risk-taking investors. Do the carping critics fail to appreciate the benefits that negative gearing bestows on the housing market? Might the ignorant southerners just need to be reminded of the fresh local avocados around Port Douglas?
Stephen Howard, Alphington
Qualifications matter
Just a thought on teaching qualifications. No one would want someone who could not ride a horse to teach their child to ride one. Or someone who was not an accomplished gymnast to teach their child gymnastics. Etc, etc. So why do we think it OK to have people who are not accomplished and experienced readers, and who pretty much never write, teaching English and history to our children?
Ann Ritchie, Bellfield
Seeking a third voice
Mark Kenny's report of the Fairfax-Ipsos poll, highlighting the fact that Labor is in the lead (51per cent to 49per cent) on the two-party preferred vote (The Age, 28/11), was somewhat contradictory. On primary votes, Labor is on 30per cent, down by 5per cent from the July election and the Coalition is on 36per cent, down by 6per cent. The most obvious reason for the two party-preferred result is the 6per cent increase of the Greens, now with 16per cent.
However, Kenny dismisses the Green increase as being "overestimated" by the poll. He cannot have it both ways: to imply the poll is unreliable and yet highlight Labor's alleged lead.
Could it be that both major parties are on the nose for their inhuman attitudes to asylum seekers and failure to address social disparities and inequalities? And this poll has correctly registered a significant shift to a third party that seems to care about treating refugees humanely, reducing inequality, and taking serious action to tackle climate change?
Michael Hamel-Green, Coburg
'Old cure' still works
Your article about acriflavine antiseptic, which is made from coal tar ("Century-old cure comes into its own", 28/11), brought back many memories for me. I was treated with this in 1948 when I was 14 and had a burst appendix. I am pretty sure that it helped to save my life. I also recall it was in general use at the time. There must be many people among your older readers who remember this antiseptic. It is nice to know that it has been rediscovered.
Olive Waldron, Heathmont
Golden days of respect
When I was in my teens, parliamentary debates were rational. I used to listen to them with interest on the then radio station, 3LO. These days they are schoolyard brawls. Question Time is bullying and "domestic violence" writ large, setting a bad example to the community. Our elected representatives have come to realise that, no matter what they do, their efforts are puny when compared to the magnitude of the problems. Their frustration finds its outlet in verbal violence.
John Hensler, Tesbury
An arrogant monopoly
Who are the beneficial owners, and managers, of Melbourne Airport? They need to hang their heads in shame. Last week blackouts, this weekend fuel shortages (The Age, 26/11). This on top of the never ending queues (vehicular and pedestrian), usurious parking fees, bolshie security personnel, and ad hoc terminal renovations. The airport enjoys vast income from many streams. It appears to not give a toss about the convenience or comfort of those who generate this income, particularly the many thousands of passengers and visitors who it use it daily. In business, reputation is everything. It is another example of the evils of a monopoly.
Donal MacKenzie, Kew
Where's the evidence?
Age football writer Rohan Connolly tweeted that the real cultural war looming was "intelligence v rank f---ing stupidity". After reading the profile of Pete Evans (Good Weekend, 26/11), I realised it is clear where Evans sits. Evans is entitled to voice his opinions. What is disturbing is that apparently 1.5million people follow his uninformed and evidence-free utterances. How did we get to this point where there is so little respect for expertise and evidence?
Richard Aspland, Rosanna
A clever 'little maid'
Congratulations to Cathy Wilcox on her "Great Attorney-General" cartoon (Letters, 28/11) after Gilbert and Sullivan's I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General. I hope she continues in this vein, perhaps with Malcolm Turnbull and I've Got a Little List. (And with Tony Abbott at the top of it.)
Edna Russell, Ocean Grove
AND ANOTHER THING
Politics
Abbott said: "If you make a solemn pledge to the people, you can't break it." At last, a politician who understands hypocrisy.
Adrian Tabor, Point Lonsdale
A 32, 19 or 10per cent backpacker tax? Meanwhile, the fruit drops and rots, and prices will rise.
James Henshall, Richmond
Will the media please stop trotting out advice from Keating, Latham, Howard, Rudd and Abbott. There are good reasons why we made them ex-leaders.
Ian Bell, Fitzroy
A New Year's resolution for MPs: Respect Parliament, the people and the nation, and be fair dinkum about advancing Australia Fair.
Stan Marks, Caulfield
With the worldwide rise of racist attitudes, it's no wonder Abbott sees a place for himself in cabinet.
John Walsh, Watsonia
Trump
Apparently 53per cent of white women voted for Trump. So what's making them angry?
Aidan Sudbury, Malvern East
Will the first invitees to the White House include Hugh Hefner and the girls?
John Mcintyre, Brighton East
Furthermore
Australians are warming to the idea of cryonics (Age 28/11)
Rob Kneale, Ascot Vale
What is with Black Friday sales? We're Australians, not Americans. We don't have Thanksgiving and we have Boxing Day sales.
Jill Burn, Ivanhoe
In 20years, there will be stories about children, born from poor Asian surrogates, desperately searching for their birth mothers. Heartache all around.
John Quinn, Avoca
I hope would-be teachers are aware that "anything" is not pronounced "anythink" and "H" is pronounced "aitch".
Diana Gray, Templestowe Lower