OPINION

What's the problem?

Re: "Control hate speech", (PostBag, Aug 28) and "Denmark to ban Koran burnings", (BP, Aug 25).

In his letter, Eric Bahrt raises a number of interesting questions.

Can the burning of a book be regarded as an expression of speech, or is it an action? If the purpose of this book-burning was to cause violence, is the problem purely with the person committing that act, or is there also a problem with the people who would turn violent?

If the burning of a book is banned because it may incite violence, does it imply that violence in this situation is justified? Does this proposed ban refer to all religious books or just one religious book?

Five months ago, a 15-year-old UK schoolboy took a Koran to school as a forfeit for losing a game. The Koran suffered some minor damage after it was accidentally dropped. The boy was suspended. A local politician falsely claimed on social media that the book was desecrated. The boy's mother had to plead for forgiveness at the local mosque after her son's life was threatened. The police recorded the accidental dropping of the Koran as a "hate incident". A boy who made death threats was "given words of advice by an officer".

The answer may be obvious to Mr Bahrt, but we need to tread carefully when passing laws banning words or stupid actions. We can all find certain speech or actions to be distasteful or offensive. Who gets to decide what is offensive and which of us is to be sheltered from offence? It's obvious to the UK police that unintentional damage to a Koran is more serious than making death threats.

Still alive?

Re: "Breathe in the CO2", (PostBag, Aug 26).

I suppose there is one thing about ludicrousness, it makes for a good chuckle.

I wonder if Korat Chris imbibes effervescent drinks like canned beer? If he does, he is absorbing the "lethal" poison, CO2, which he wishes on me.

When Prince Charles, now King Charles of England, used to say his plants grew well when he talked to them, he was ridiculed. While talking to the plants, he was exhaling CO2 on them. He was fertilising them with CO2.

One could deduce, therefore, that the seven billion people around the globe who are exhaling are a serious cause of climate change. But beer drinkers do not seem to be dying like flies.

No good answers

Re: "Disgraceful banking", (PostBag, Aug 26).

Unlike Peter Jeffreys, after 20+ years I am no longer able to bank online with SCB as their app does not support joint accounts. My wife and I were SCB "First" customers, so we had significant funds on deposit with the bank. No more, we've taken our money elsewhere. When I asked why their app didn't support joint accounts, no one could give me a satisfactory answer but did inform me that they were looking to update the app to accommodate joint accounts.

That's not what I would call forward planning.