The poppies everyone is obsessed with wearing are nothing to do with ‘remembrance’

Mark Steel is absolutely right to call out the insane poppy fascism that overtakes this country each year in the run up to Remembrance Day. I have no doubt that both my father, who took part in the D-Day landings, and his younger brother, who died in a Japanese POW camp in 1943, would have viewed the current two-week jamboree with distaste.

Isn’t it time to ditch the hysteria and get back how things used to be: a few days of quiet reflection, with poppy-wearing optional but not obligatory, particularly on TV where it has got really out of hand? As Steel says, it is the government’s duty to make sure our ex-servicemen and women are well looked after. They should not have to depend on charity-based annual top-ups, however well intentioned.

Steel also correctly points out that compensation for servicemen used as human guinea pigs during nuclear testing in the Pacific in the 1950s and who went on to develop cancer, is long overdue. Even now, the MOD continues with its shameful denial of any causal link between the tests and subsequent cancers in bomb test veterans, with one or two rare exceptions. Hopefully, the results of new DNA testing will force the MOD to back down and do the right thing while some of those affected are still alive.

As for the long-term effects on local islanders, these have largely gone unacknowledged. Unusually high rates of skin cancer, along with a spike in stillbirths and physical abnormalities, have been reported ever since.

Doubtless few if any nuclear test veterans, let alone any islanders, will be present for formalities in Whitehall on 11 November. All of which gives the phrase “Lest we forget” a distinctly hollow ring.

Rob Prince
London SE13

The latest news about Khashoggi’s death is no surprise

We are overwhelmingly distraught but not surprised by the grim revelations of Jamal Khashoggi's dismemberment and then liquidation.

Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has been capable of undertaking more grotesque crimes – torture, arbitrary detention, human rights abuses and other appalling attacks on hospitals, mosques, schools, wedding ceremonies and funeral processions in neighbouring Yemen. He holds prime responsibility for the unwarranted slaughter of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians.

This is abhorrent in a state that guards and protects Islam's holiest place. Have we forgotten the quranic verse that states "saving one life is as saving the whole of humanity."

Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob
London NW2

The Muslim community stands with Jewish families after Pittsburgh shooting

The tragic massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue should be condemned in the strongest terms. As an Ahmadi Muslim, my faith teaches me to honour the sanctity of life.

In the Quran we are taught to defend places of worship, including synagogues. The Prophet Muhammad stood up out of respect as a Jewish funeral procession once passed by. And the worldwide leader of our community, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, has instructed us to build strong bridges with our Jewish neighbours and friends with the common goal of peace and mutual respect. In fact, last year when a Jewish cemetery in Pennsylvania was desecrated, members of our community were the first to repair the damages and stand guard.

This is what Islam teaches us. That we respect people of all faiths and share in their grief. Indeed, our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to our Jewish brothers and sisters.

Ahsan M Khan MD
California

Some good news in Scottish politics for once

Amid the grimness of austerity Britain – zero-hour contracts, huge cuts in public services, universal credit hell, food banks and, where I live, a stonking new garden bin-collection levy (which will of course harm the environment and was applied as fairly as the poll tax was originally applied) – a bit of good news always goes down well.

It was lovely to see the Scottish Tory leader safely delivered of a bonny baby boy. Also the spanking brand new toddler park in Davidson’s constituency (near Murrayfield and just across a small stretch of grass from another play park) is very nice indeed.

Amanda Baker
Edinburgh

Hashtag not all vegans

Regarding your article about vegans virtue signalling, it’s probably about the same proportion as those that refuse gluten but really aren’t celiac – quite a lot.

But your assertion that there’s no such thing as a silent vegan is a bit of a disingenuous generalisation. I had lunch with a work colleague recently that I’ve known for five years. When he heard my order he asked “are you vegetarian?”. I said: “Yes, well I suppose vegan would be a more accurate description.”

I’d never mentioned it in the course of the last five years of work conversations. Which I suppose is a bit surprising given that we’ve had maybe 100 visits to the coffee shop together and he’d never questioned my soy latte regular order.

Steve Capell
Australia

Donald Trump’s case against guns

If Donald Trump thinks that there is not much difference between being hit in the face by rock and being shot in the face with a bullet from a gun why doesn't he provide his bodyguards with rocks instead of guns – much cheaper (he is keen to save the American taxpayer money) and, apparently, just as effective.

Patrick Cleary
Devon