MY NEXT birthday is just ahead and I will hopefully reach my 82nd year. It certainly has been quite a journey, filled with just about every turn life's road can bring to an individual born into a middle class family just before the time when World War2 ravaged throughout the lands; a war which for six years took millions of lives before it was finally brought to an end. And where did it get us, I ask myself? Well, of course it did save us from the tyranny of Adolf Hitler and his attempt to take over the world, and how, we may ask, can one man rally others to follow his murderous ambitions and cause so much devastation throughout the entire world? History books will tell us that this was not the first time this happened, and that it is still going on in countries around the world. If World War 3 ever happens, will it mean whoever pushes the button first wins the day? And if so, what will be gained from it other than the destruction of planet earth?

Surely by now we should have found a way for disputes to be brought to the table under the influence of organisations such as the United Nations, when as civilised people their leaders can sort out any problems without there being bloodshed everywhere. I often wonder if anyone ever stops and thinks about what a wonderful world we are privileged to be part of, and how different it could be without wars and political and religious interference. (Yes I have my own political and religious beliefs). Yes, we do need leadership with lots of wisdom to guide us through our existence on this planet, and fortunately we do have the people who are capable of doing this. Throughout past generations this has always been the case, but because of a few countries whose leaders oppose the freedom in which other countries choose to live, we always have the need to be on alert to keep the peace whenever problems arise.

When I look back over the past 82 years of my own life and see what outstanding and positive advancements have been made, I realise what a clever people we are (perhaps too clever sometimes). If only we could persuade those minority of "negative" thinkers to convert. Wow, what a difference our lives could be if, and when, we could all live together in harmony with each other.

Remember the words of the song Louis Armstrong sang "What a wonderful World"? Well it's just a song amongst many that have been written about "Our Wonderful World" but the lyrics do carry a message and were written by someone who felt the need to compose them. I’m sure by now you are thinking what a day dreamer I must be! Well perhaps I am but then to quote another song by Walt Disney "A Dream is a Wish your Heart makes" says the same thing but put in a different way.

So I will keep on with my dreams for a better future world for the coming generations, as they won’t wish or deserve anything less.

JOHN HOLMES

Windsor Road

Swindon

THE 16TH of March was one of celebration in the Crimea, as it was a year ago to the day that the people living there who predominantly speak Russian and who were living in fear of what they may face next after witnessing the US inspired coup in Ukraine’s capital Kiev, were able to express their democratic wish at the ballot box to be reunited with Russia.

Not surprisingly over 97.3 per cent chose to do so as they had already been told by the new Western backed government in Kiev which was made up of many pro Nazi right wing sympathisers, their mother tongue was not to be used in the future, and anyone overheard using it could face harsh measures indeed, even facing imprisonment. It surely isn’t really surprising the people of Crimea had no wish to be dictated to by Kiev any longer, which may come as a surprise to the likes of comments from Robert Major SA (12 March).

The scenes of celebration in the region were nothing short of ecstatic, with fireworks, dancing in the street, with many Russian flags being held by all, and it was very reminiscent of the fall of the Berlin wall celebrations which are now but all a distant memory. Of course people have more to celebrate in that they are no longer part of the Ukrainian economy whose future remains uncertain, and they will benefit from higher wages, better state pensions, other benefits and better infrastructure. This is unlike the people in the Donbas controlled separatist towns and cities whose elderly people have seen their pensions stopped for many months by the Kiev regime, and sadly it would seem they are never likely to see them resumed.

It doesn’t seem possible that in the blink of an eye a year seems to have passed since this eventful and historic day took place, and now it is hoped the US will finally stop its interference in Kiev’s affairs, and there will be no repetition by the Poroshenko regime of shelling innocent Ukrainian men, woman, and children in the Donbas cities and towns.

Hopefully peace in Ukraine will prevail, as it is estimated over 6000 people, the majority civilians, have been killed in the Donbas and surely Poroshenko will at some stage be taken to task for his actions at the international war crimes court in the Hague? The protagonists of the coup in Kiev, namely the US, also has much to answer for, and it will be better for the whole planet if they would just stop using western countries under the guise of NATO to continually stick their nose in to other sovereign countries affairs, using subversion and financial blackmail. The transatlantic military bloc is using the Ukrainian crisis as a pretext to further encroach on Russia, as it has been doing since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

G A WOODWARD

Nelson Street

Swindon

IN REPLY to Chris Humphrey’s thoughts on obese and disabled people, it is blindingly obvious his view is sadly that of the majority of uneducated people who hold similar views.

Disabled people are often ridiculed; sneered at and made the butt of jokes, while having to endure on a daily basis the pain of their conditions. Some medications have side effects of weight gain, thus compounding the issue of mobility.

We are a marginalised people with chronic health conditions who try to maintain our independence and have no other option but to use mobility scooters to mobilise ourselves.

Most disabled folk are only able to do very little exercise as their condition allows. Therefore, a lot of the time we are seated, not through choice, in our wheelchairs or chairs.

We don’t burn as many calories as our more fortunate bi-ped counterparts, and as a consequence, tend to be prone to weight gain, even though dietary intake is closely monitored.

Does Mr Humphreys realise that he could face prosecution for hate crime? Perhaps he should re-educate and understand what impact his vitriol has upon those less fortunate than himself. He should re-evaluate his thought processes and think to himself, ‘there but for the grace of God go I!’

J CLARK

Enford Avenue

Swindon