I WAS saddened by the remarks attributed to religion by Neil Cameron ("Remembrance Sunday is not for attention seeking", Herald Sport, November 7) especially in this week of Remembrance. Despite dwindling church attendance it is the churches of all denominations who steadfastly provide the focal point of annual remembrance.

Lest we forget is the simple message conveyed in memory of all who made the ultimate sacrifice. It is not conditional and certainly should not be sullied by the mindless actions of so-called football club supporters.

Admittedly Mr Cameron condemns the bigotry but sadly not as stridently as he criticises the churches in their continued efforts to bring unity in remembrance.

Allan C Steele,

22 Forres Avenue, Giffnock.

CAN someone explain to me why half of Neil Cameron’s Final Say column was basically a rant (he said that himself) against Christianity? He is entitled to believe what he likes but what has that got to do with sport?

He also states that over the past 15 years or so Remembrance Sunday has gone from a day of silent reflection to being hijacked by those who love telling people what to think. It would be interesting hearing how he comes to that conclusion. Were he to properly research his subject he would find that generally people respect and honour this particularly poignant day.

Michael Watson,

74 Wardlaw Avenue, Rutherglen, Glasgow.

BRITAIN'S entry into the First World War was the greatest error it made in its first two centuries of existence. Apart from the nearly one million servicemen it lost, the cost was catastrophic. It was left in a hopelessly weakened state both strategically and economically with vast debts and many of its highly skilled workforce crippled.

Even if Germany had defeated France and Russia, the new German-dominated Europe would have remained much weaker than the British empire in naval and financial terms. Given the resources we had in 1914, a better strategy would have been to wait and see what transpired, because the Kaiser was no Hitler.

Of course arguments about honour resonate today as they did in 1914 but too high a price can be paid for mediaeval notions of chivalry. Britain had a tradition of realism in foreign policy and it would ultimately have been better to have considered the national interest rather than an wholly outdated treaty with Belgium.

Rev Dr John Cameron,

10 Howard Place, St Andrews.