In your Friday lead article ("AWM's tick of approval", December 11, p1) the Australian War Memorial's new director welcomed the proposal's approval. He said that the project "aims to honour the ... 100,000 Australians who have served our country over the past 30 years". His comments raise the question of what is to be built, after the next 30 years, to honour the 100,000 who will have served in the years 2020 to 2050 and so on, in perpetuity: 2080, 2110, 2140 etc?
Perhaps the residents of the suburbs of Reid and Campbell should prepare to vacate their homes in the long term. This project is short-sighted and self-serving, memorialising a tragic war that was based on a false premise.
David Nolan, Holder
Childcare Matthias?
According to Jenna Price ("It's Love and Money", December 11, p47) the "OECD ranks Australia fourth highest in the world for cost of childcare as a percentage of pay".
If Mathias Cormann should succeed in his quest for the top job at the OECD can we rely on him to change that grim statistic by rejigging the way it's calculated or perhaps by using carry-over credits from some time in the distant past, say 1950?
Keith Hill, Yass, NSW
Canberra drivers
Canberra is often touted as the "highest educated city in Australia". And so it is. However, a higher education doesn't mean you are equipped with basic common sense or intelligence. This is obvious on Canberra roads day-in and day-out. Stupid drivers doing stupid things, highly educated or not.
The same goes for our regional areas of course. We have a 40 km/h zone in place in Jerrabomberra because of road works. Do you think Queanbeyan or Canberra drivers know how to do 40 km/h in this zone? Apparently not. If you do 40 you are tailgated, abused and left in their wake as most drivers leave their brains in neutral and their foot flat on the accelerator.
Indicators don't function either, apparently. And I'm quite sure most are wearing a gormless look on their faces. Buck up you idiots, you don't own the roads and the roadwork speed limits apply for a reason.
John Panneman, Jerrabomberra, NSW
Drinking culture
The National Health and Medical Research Council has advised us about the health impacts of alcohol. One statement made is that people under the age of 18 should not drink any alcohol in order to reduce the risk of injury and other harm.
Australia has long had a "drinking culture" Alcohol is often the root of all evil in our society ... domestic violence is one example. Attitudes have been slow to change since kids were offered "beer-making" classes at my Canberra high school.
The youth in our society need to be aware that one drink can be the start of a downward spiral into alcoholism.
G Gillespie, Scullin
Lift your game
Men and women alike must strive for and practise respectful, professional and mature interactions in the workplace. It is therefore hugely disappointing and embarrassing to watch and listen to Senate question time.
The relentless, rude, inconsiderate interjections, sometimes personal, by women is appalling. We often condemn our male members of Parliament for their un-parliamentary behaviour but from what I have observed, the women are equally guilty.
Angela Kueter-Luks, Bruce
Military pronunciation
Steve Evans is in error on the pronunciation of certain ranks in the Australian Defence Force. ("Parade has fewer guests but still loud", December 6, p9). Each service has its own customs, all derived from their British heritage.
The navy pronounces "lieutenant" for sub-lieutenant, lieutenant and lieutenant commander as, 'l'tenant'. The army and air force share the same pronunciation for "lieutenant". For the army ranks of lieutenant, lieutenant colonel and lieutenant general, and the air force rank of flight lieutenant, the pronunciation is, "lef'tenant".
As for "loot" or loo' tenant, the speaker's mouth should be washed out with soap.
Bill Thompson, Scullin
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