To: letters@thetimes.co.uk Subject: Free Range or No Range? Date: Sun, 02 Mar 2008 09:51:33 +0000 Sir, Martin Samuel adduces a variety of compelling reasons why it would be impossible to free-range breed the 1.6 billion chickens consumed in the UK every year (comment, Feb 29). Here's an idea: how about just refraining from tormenting, killing and eating the 1.6 billion sensitive birds altogether? Mr Samuel seems entirely oblivious to the fact that nobody needs meat. According the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, vegetarians have drastically lower rates of cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and other ailments - and some studies show vegetarians living up to six years longer. Finally, judging by the variety of chins Mr Samuel is attempting to cover up with his beard in the author photo, the last thing he personally needs is another 'whole bird casseroled with beer and onions'. Yours faithfully, To: letters@guardian.co.uk Subject: Social Cohesion - for Muslims Date: Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:25:07 +0000 Sir, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende frets that the new short film "Fitna" by Geert Wilders will be a threat to "social cohesion". [World News, 05 March 2008] This phrase, including as used recently by the Archbishop Canterbury, can generally be translated as "let's pre-emptively surrender free speech and liberal society so radical Muslims won't hurt us." If any dogma or system of thought has ever needed Enlightenment-style critiquing (or Voltaire-style skewering), it's Islam. And, even if it didn't, Wilders' right to do so in a free society is absolute. Letting the threat of religious violence abridge the right of free speech would represent a catastrophe for liberalism and a return to the Dark Ages. Yours faithfully,