Sunday, 24 February

Feb 24 2008 Wales on Sunday

IT’S been three months since I moved from the village of Cwmbach to New York.

What I hadn’t counted was how much I would miss Wales: the good, the bad and the ugly. On the back of that, I have found out how much I can fill that void despite being so far away in the most iconic symbol of Americanism.

This is the worst time of year to be a Welshman in NY as it’s Six Nations – but there is a God, or to be more precise a pub.

The Red Lion in the ‘Village’ in Manhattan is an Irish/Celtic pub where I watched the Wales v England game. To my amazement, there were plenty of Welsh jerseys, and suddenly I felt like I was back in Cwmbach British Legion.

I went absolutely mad when the final whistle went and even got on the small stage, prayed to the rugby gods, and started a rendition of Bread of Heaven. I wasn’t sure that the Red Lion had seen such behaviour, but I had never seen Wales win at Twickers – so tough. I’m quite enjoying making my own little piece of Wales in New York.

MARC WITHERS New York USA

PERHAPS the Government should consider setting up a subsidiary of Northern Rock, possibly given the name of Welsh Rock, giving savers the opportunity of having their deposits guaranteed by the Bank of England, removing the limit on the sums paid out in case of a building society failure.

The cash transfers this would produce might help to reduce the burden on taxpayers ironically picking up a bill while most of them are currently getting no protection on their savings.

MAURICE WILLIAMS Caerphilly

THE muddle-headedness and hypocrisy of the First Minister for Wales, Rhodri Morgan, appears to know no bounds, and one wonders what the people of Wales have done to deserve such a representative.

It now seems that after assuring the good folk of Powys, during a recent visit to Welshpool, that the forests of Powys will remain ‘scot free’ of industrial wind farm development, the opposite is to be the truth – the Dyfnant Forest is to be developed into one of the largest wind farms in the country.

People throughout the whole of the principality should now be demanding of their respective Assembly Members why this should be. For it cannot be said enough times that Wales generates more power than it requires, the surplus being exported via the Grid for England.

Ask your AM, but be prepared for a lot of bovine effluent – maybe you will get a more truthful reply from your MP, but surely this madness has got to stop.

Is this to be the thanks the folk of Wales will have to endure for the forced desecration of our beautiful country? Remember there are elections in May.

DAVE HASKELL
Boncath, Pembrokeshire

WITH still no referendum on the EU constitution or the Assembly, it seems the Government is only influenced by votes in the ballot box at election time.

Every vote at every election is a threat. Not voting is giving a vote to the party for whom you would not have voted.

Only a full turnout will express the wishes of the Welsh people.

GWILYM LEVELL
Tonna Neath

IN 1808 a dissertation on The Pelagian Heresy by St David was published. It reports how St David travelled to an assembly of celtic church bishops at the Synod of Brevi, where he denounced the Celtic Monk Pelagius.

Pelagius had pilgrimaged to Rome about 400AD, to be horrified at the corruption and depravity he found in the Roman church hierarchy, so campaigned for a Reformation. He almost succeeded – the Pope agreed, but soon died to be replaced by a participant in the corruption and depravity.

Pelagius was declared a Heretic and driven out of Christendom. Instead of turning to the light, the Dark Age deepened and St David was able to persuade the Bishops of the Celtic Church to abandon their independence and participate in the corruption of Rome. There is talk of the Government making a Welsh Award to be called ‘The Order of St David’. Such would be a very appropriate title for those who betray the Welsh heritage, or are simply corrupt and depraved.

Should it be given to all the people in New Labour for their betrayal of socialism, especially to Tony Blair?

There is an interesting possibility that those who acknowledge their corruption and depravity by accepting such an award might have satisfied Pelagius’ criteria for getting into Heaven.

ILYAN THOMAS Via e-mail

LAST weekend Welsh Labour undertook its local party conference. Basically, it is a conference of Labour Party members in Wales.

Just like Portsmouth North & South, Welsh Labour is no more than a branch of the Labour Party in Victoria Street, London.

The last statement of accounts submitted to the Electoral Commission by Welsh Labour was the year ending 31 December, 2003. The emblem of Labour in Wales is the red rose, like their comrades in Scotland and England. So how can they call themselves the party of Wales, when they are subservient to London?

ANDREW THOMAS NUTT
Bargoed, Caerphilly