Letters: The romantic route to cheap flights

Blood on our hands

Sir: Paul Wood asks if anyone will be punished for the bloodbath in Syria (‘Massacre of the innocents’, 15 March). But where does one start? What we have seen most recently are the dreadful consequences – as also in Iraq and Afghanistan – of selfish western meddling in the Middle East for our own ends.

I was on sabbatical in Syria at the end of 2010 interviewing Syrians of all religions and political persuasions. Well over 90 per cent and especially women saw the Assads as the only plausible bulwark against an Islamist theocratic nightmare. There was freedom of religion, freedom of association, the freedom for women to choose what to wear and be educated to university level. The one thing you did not do was mess with the family who kept the lid on everything.

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I wrote to William Hague to set out this first-hand evidence, but to no avail. Death, destruction, displacement; we have so much blood on our hands. It is perfectly clear where the blame must start.

R.C. Paget

Marcham, Oxfordshire

Divine teachings

Sir: Theo Hobson questions whether teaching RE is a ‘good idea’ based on his Year 11 classroom experience (Spectator Schools, 15 March). While we may disagree with his conclusion, his concerns highlight real challenges. His wish to explore the depth and diversity of religious traditions is exactly what high-quality RE should offer.

The Church of England’s Statement of Entitlement for RE promotes rigorous, knowledge-rich teaching that engages with the theological, philosophical and lived dimensions of faith. Inspections show that strong RE fosters a deeper understanding of diversity. The issue is not whether RE should be taught, but how.