The Spectator

Letters | 11 October 2012

issue 13 October 2012

The views of Sentamu

Sir: I wonder if Archbishop Sentamu is really the best candidate for Canterbury as you suggest (Leading article, 6 October). Cutting up his dog collar on live television in protest against President Mugabe was a splendid gesture; but how exactly has it helped anyone in Zimbabwe? He is wrong in any case about gay marriage. It is absolutely within the remit of the state to redefine what in the first instance is a civil contract. Religious groups may make rules on the subject for their own members, but they surely have no right to bind those who don’t share their belief.
Tim Hudson

West Sussex

Debating genius

Sir: I was amused by the article about the Beatles in last week’s issue (‘Was Lennon really a genius?’, 6 October). I’m only a hack amateur musician and certainly not a ‘music expert’ (what is that anyway?), but I listen to enough music from across many decades and styles to know that Mozart, Purcell and Handel changed nothing: sure, they wrote good tunes, but music wasn’t changed one iota because of them.

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