A visitor, or a new arrival to Tauranga could be forgiven, if after reading a selection of letters in the current Weekend Sun (July 31), they are now wondering if by some terrible mischance, they have stepped back in time to a previous draconian age of ignorance!

I am referring to the writers, who in this one issue have voiced the following: that a ball and chain, welded shut, is more appropriate than an electronic bracelet; that while another writer has 'great respect” for the Maori language, he/she deems it both undesirable to learn it, or to greet friends in Maori; another who also 'respects” Maori culture, expresses similar views, but asserts we need to know the 'real truth”, and not the 'whitewashed stuff”.

And finally, the fourth example where a family living in a caravan are berated for wanting help with decent housing.

As so often the writer blames the family, and not the poverty that they would rather not live in. This last exemplar includes the fact that the father smokes, and that the mother's pregnancy with a second child is indicative of irresponsible behaviour. Instead of rushing to moral judgement, the writer has not paused to consider if the article cited was perhaps slanted in a particular way to effect such a reaction, or if indeed all the facts of the matter were in the article?

We all need to be cognisant of all aspects of a situation before we make decisions on types of behaviour. I am always reminded of an occurrence during the Depression of the 1930s.

A passenger on a train between Wellington and the Waiarapa, was morally affronted when the train passed men near the tracks, leaning on their shovels, being idle. He complained to the authorities of such lazy behaviour in a time of scarcity of work.

It was, however, pointed out to him that they were railway employees, working on the tracks, and if they hadn't moved, they would have been hit by the train. We rush to judge a little too quickly, I think.

S Quaddel, Tauranga