What those opposing multiculturalism fail to grasp is that it is a natural adjutant of, and to, the human condition (“Hanson gives voice to Howard’s view”, July 3). My late mother spent her formative years during the 1930s in Iran, then Persia. Her parents worked there under the Shah and she witnessed Christians, Muslims, Jews and others living in a multicultural harmony, celebrating the weekly Sabbath day of each of the major religions. That period ended with World War II. But the human objective to socialise and mix has never ended and it never will, notwithstanding the blind prejudices of one Pauline Hanson and her ilk. We live in a world of many cultures on a planet celebrating multiculturalism. Frederick Jansohn, Rose BayThe federal government is investing in a quiet institution of multicultural Australia — community language schools — learning togetherCLA.As the Coalition digs around in ancient mounds of conservative values, it has alighted happily on Hanson’s diatribes over mono/multiculturalism. I expect our Indigenous people would be the first to agree. Foreigners flooding the land, imposing their values, speaking in foreign languages and not just at home, destroying an ancient and homogeneous culture – see what happens. Nola Tucker, KiamaTo add to Waleed Aly’s comments on cultural identity, one of the most devastating attempts to engineer a national monoculture occurred in Nazi Germany. Before 1933, Germany enjoyed a vibrant, progressive, and inclusive cultural life. Giants of the interwar era — dramatist Bertolt Brecht, filmmaker Fritz Lang, composers Kurt Weill and Felix Mendelssohn, painter Otto Dix, and Nobel-winning author Thomas Mann — shaped a dynamic intellectual landscape. Yet, following the Nazi rise to power, these figures were declared non-Aryan or “decadent”, their works were banned, and an ugly, austere, anti-intellectual monoculture was forced upon society. History shows that enforcing a single cultural mould inevitably requires the erasure of diversity, dissent, and free expression. When Hanson’s One Nation advocates for an idealised Australian monoculture, one must ask: how does it propose to achieve it without walking the same dark, exclusionary path as those in 1930s Germany? John Bailey, CanterburyWaleed Aly expertly chronicles the anti-multicultural sentiment of the Coalition, especially under the social re-engineering period of John Howard and his attack dog Tony Abbott. Across 25 years, the Coalition (initially through Howard) raised doubts about multiculturalism in Australia; then it proceeded to “white-ant” (excuse the pun) a concept that previous generations of Australians had generously embraced; then it moved more boldly to express dislike and distrust of multicultural Australians; and finally it seized the opportunities through immigration and terrorism debates to demonise people from other cultures. Aly identifies that the Coalition’s “winks and nudges” — releasing and directing antagonism towards multiculturalism — had in effect “set the hounds loose”. Along then comes a rejuvenated Hanson and the Coalition, with its continual shift to the right, now “grasps in vain to find a leash” to control the opening which it has created for Hanson. Warren Marks, Long BeachWhat is this sudden panic about mono versus multiculturalism? In retirement, I travel around seeing hordes of schoolchildren with obvious backgrounds from all corners of the globe, conversing mostly in English or, just as often, not conversing at all while glued to their devices. We all know it is easier to travel overseas with English as your first or second language than any other single language. The most universal language of all, internet connectivity, is unifying the world, and all those youngsters are English-speaking Aussies, who just pay lip service to the backgrounds of their parents. The mono/multi problem is a political beat-up that doesn’t exist. Let’s not go back to the monocultural diet of the 1950s that I saw at the Bonegilla Migrant Camp museum near Albury, where the daily Aussie menu was mutton prepared three ways – with veggies boiled to near extinction. Having visited the countries of my ancestors, I can say they are never as good as I was told by my parents, who were essentially reminiscing about their childhood rather than the country itself. I am a proud second-generation Aussie. Peter Kamenyitzky, CopacabanaGame changerGo Pharaohs: (left to right) University of Melbourne Egyptian Club members Amira Marwan with a cardboard cut-out of player Mo Salah, Essam Altayyar, Mohamed Orabi, Ryan Rud, Mariam El Meligi and Lujain Aldawood.Jason SouthI was struck by Sarah Yassien’s thoughtful insight, “Patriotism can be complex as well. You can love something deeply and equally care about another culture deeply, and so I think you find joy in all of it” (“Win-win will be ‘pure joy’ for Egyptian Australians”, July 3). How much better is her view than the strident jingoistic statements about patriotism made by some blinkered politicians, media commentators, and self-described “real” Aussies? Do we really want to adopt the American mindset of ‘My country right or wrong’? How blatantly self-righteous, ignorant and wrong, would that be? Thank you, Ms Yassien, for your clarification – and for making my day. Jennifer Fergus, CroydonMenzies’ black markDefence Industry Minister Pat Conroy is right (“Fury over minister labelling Menzies a ‘Nazi appeaser‴⁣⁣ , July 3). Robert Menzies was a Nazi appeaser. Menzies suggested, after the invasion of Poland by Hitler’s forces, that Britain should let Hitler have Poland and France and make peace with Germany. At a public meeting in July 1939, Menzies said: “History will label Hitler as one of the really great men of the century.” Menzies also wrote to his sister extolling the virtues of Hitler’s harsh dealing with trade unions. He also praised the way Hitler had the whole citizenry committed to the common goal of the state. Menzies joined the war effort only because Britain did. If I were the Coalition, I would be using a very long pole to come anywhere near Menzies’ pre-World War II engagement with Nazi Germany. Barry Welch, Bridgeman Downs (Qld)Robert Menzies with the portrait of him painted by Ivor Hele.The Age archivesPerhaps Conroy should have also explained the epithet of “Pig Iron Bob”, given to Menzies for encouraging exports of scrap metal to Japan just before World War II, and perhaps he could have noted the appeasement policies of the Lyons’ government.Perhaps, too, he could have said organised labour such as the Wollongong wharfies were well ahead of the conservatives in being aware of Japan’s threats after its invasions of China. He was too generous. As for Gerard Henderson, a former chief of staff to Howard, claiming that “Menzies put on the khaki” – he was never a soldier in either war. Tony Sullivan, IslingtonWhether you should label Menzies an appeaser can be argued about. That he thought in July 1939 that Hitler was a great man defies understanding, given that Hitler by then had occupied Czechoslovakia, had introduced the Nuremberg racial laws and launched the violent persecution of German Jews with the “night of broken glass”. To follow Great Britain into the war was more likely loyalty to the Empire then deep conviction about Nazi Germany. Dierk Mohr, South TurramurraPutin’s blunderIn September 1940, during the Battle of Britain, Hitler (motivated by a vengeful pique) made a serious strategic blunder and switched the Luftwaffe’s bombing targets from RAF airfields and infrastructure to English cities (“Russian blitz hits Kyiv apartment buildings”, July 3). It allowed the RAF to regroup and rebuild. He believed it would break morale but instead it strengthened English resolve. It altered the course of World War II and many historians rank it as the major cause of Germany’s defeat. Vladimir Putin appears to be making the same mistake. Gary Stowe, SpringwoodMegan HerbertStop rising to this challengeHigh-rise apartments are not the solution to the housing crisis (“NSW housing promise falls well short of the target”, July 3). They are expensive to build, expensive to maintain, their floor plans are inflexible and their security arrangements, such as needing a pass to operate the lift, mean kids need constant supervision, even if they’re just going to the playground. We need more gentle density, more dual occupancies, duplexes, small two-storey apartment blocks, townhouses that can slot into the existing fabric of a suburb without smashing it to smithereens. We need the large housing companies to design family houses that could be easily split into two apartments so that people have flexibility at all life stages, and we need governments to support this through the ability to subdivide and sell these as needed. We need so much more than what we are being given. Gina Hay, BayviewSome new unit blocks in Chatswood have had low sustainability ratings. Renee NowytargerWe are well short of the 75,000 new homes that need to be built each year in NSW, but something else should be remembered. In the inner west, we see lots of duplexes. They are counted as two new homes when, in fact, it is only one additional dwelling. The situation outlined in the article is understated. Neville Turbit, Russell LeaPublic shameHere we go again (“Global search for architects of new Bays West precinct”, July 3). Yet more publicly owned harbourside land to be handed over to the rich, with a mere 10 per cent allocated to “affordable” housing. The government’s definition of such housing involves a 20 per cent discount on rents, with such properties reverting to private ownership after just 15 years. I suppose it’s a slight improvement on the total absence of affordable housing in perpetuity at the nearby Blackwattle Bay redevelopment, with Building 1 on this publicly owned site being allocated to a private company to build yet more housing for 601 students. Shame. Elizabeth Elenius, PyrmontFree screechI am sick and tired of the privacy lobby, which I suspect was formed to help rich men hide assets from their departing wife and kids (“Privacy fears over new digital laws”, July 3). We’re kidding ourselves if we think social media companies don’t already have intimate and sensitive information about us. Whenever you log in to another platform using your social media account, personal data is being shared. Anonymity in social media contributes to bad behaviour. Content creators should own their words or shut up because we need to protect kids from harmful social media content. Anne Matheson, GordonIt seems to me that privacy advocates take too broad an approach to online privacy; wanting guarantees of free speech and anonymity where there should be no guarantees. The anonymity/privacy situation was so aptly described by the great philosopher Mike Tyson, ″⁣Social media made y’all way too comfortable with disrespecting people and not getting punched in the face for it.″⁣ Peter Butler, Wyongah‘Gore’? Blimey!Sometimes some things just don’t make sense (“X ’fought to keep Bondi shooting content online‴⁣⁣, July 3). When I hear that the world’s only trillionaire and owner of social media platform X likens footage of the Bondi massacre to being no more graphic than a “gore movie”, I wonder how an obviously well-educated, privileged person could ever use such a boneheaded analogy to defend the right of his platform to keep such graphic and upsetting content online. This has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Real people died. Bill Young, Killcare HeightsMoney countsWith billionaires proliferating like mushrooms and making all kinds of questionable deals in an attempt to amass even more wealth, how refreshing to read of the philanthropic work of Isaac Wakil (“Reclusive philanthropist dies aged 104”, July 3), who lived to an extraordinary age. He spent his money without undue noise in making his adopted part of the world a better place both culturally and in the field of healthcare and education, the joy of giving accurately portrayed in his Art Gallery photo. Well done, good and faithful servant. Bernard Moylan, BronteGas-trick bypassMost of our elected representatives have fled the chill of Canberra for the comforts of home during the winter recess. If parliament were still sitting, there could have been plenty of heat being applied to government members on the issue of a gas tax. The widespread support across the nation earlier this year for a fair levy on gas exports has just been further justified by the news that Australia’s gas industry giants will reap a windfall profit of $18 billion as a result of the Iran war (“Gas giants to reap $18b from Iran war fallout”, July 3). This is over and above the handsome cut they make in the normal course of events. The war-fuelled boost to their profits makes headlines but is not the real issue. Its importance lies in drawing attention again to the status quo by virtue of which the gas industry plunders a national resource at little cost to itself and fattens its coffers at the expense of the taxpayer. Sadly, this will be forgotten by the time the Canberra circus resumes. Tom Knowles, Parkville (Vic)There has never been a better example of shortsighted political gain than the way we treat our gas exports. Australia started exporting LNG in 1989, following the completion of the North West Shelf project in WA. Since this time, our top four gas exporters have profited, and been assisted by every federal government, to the tune of billions of dollars. If we had taxed the net profits of gas exports at the rate of 78 per cent, as Norway has done from the beginning, we would not now be arguing about a mere 25 per cent tax. This finite, precious resource is the gift that keeps on giving, with our government’s approval. When will we learn? Daniela Catalano, HaberfieldGrid your coinsAfter much research into the “free” three hours of electricity (Letters, July 3), one recoils with confusion, caution, reluctance and annoyance. A fellow traveller and good friend found listening to The Beatles for half an hour a small mercy while waiting for his provider to take his phone inquiry. Tempted to “let it be”, he continues to seek solar sanity and reason. Brian Jones, LeuraI read with interest this week’s letters relating to correspondents’ electricity charge experiences. I note that my daily average power bill sits at a little over $2 a day, while my daily supply charge is about $2.79. If it were possible, I’d buy a larger battery and simply say goodbye to the grid. Phil Armour, YassTherapy goalsSoccer is definitely therapeutic (“The World Cup is just the therapy we all need right now”, July 3). Soothing therapy if your team wins and shock therapy if your team loses. Mustafa Erem, TerrigalAmerica, the beautiful?Semi-quincentennial congratulations to our cousins across the water on the fourth of July, bearing in mind that if not for the United States of America our Australian nation would simply not exist. The formation of the USA in 1776 eliminated Britain’s convict transportation to America, requiring England in 1788 to establish the penal colony of NSW. On this 250th anniversary of the Union, we may echo the words from its well-loved anthem: “Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n rescued land,/praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation!” David d’Lima, Sturt (SA)Happy Birthday, USA; 250 years of remarkable achievements and major contributions to the state of the free world as we now know it. And yet: your current leader, a malignant narcissist of the worst kind, has in his second toxic term of government set about destroying much of what has made the United States great. The man with the Midas touch has reduced your standing to one of unreliable ally, treacherous trading partner, avaricious expansionist and unprovoked warmonger, to name just a few. There seems to be no limit to his corruption, and sadly no appetite to curb it. Happy Birthday indeed, USA. So much to celebrate. Donna Wiemann, BalmainKathy Fain, from Longview, Texas, holds a US flag while singing the American national anthem.AP Photo/Julia Demaree NikhinsonWhile Americans joyfully celebrate 250 years of independence, I believe they should be mourning instead. After 2 centuries, the nation remains deeply immature. They elected a clown with 35 felony convictions as president. Furthermore,when his actions demonstrated that he was unfit and unstable, they couldn’t even impeach him. Mokhles Sidden, South StrathfieldAmerica always looked perfect to me. The movies, the Frank Sinatra songs, the comfort, the joy. Then I saw its reality. The poverty and misery. The rich aren’t just millionaires; they are billionaires. The steaks aren’t rare and massive, they are raw; the houses are gigantic. People speak louder and stronger. They fight willingly. They sing higher and kick further. Their leaders are sometimes a worry and yet often charming. But through it all, to me it seems that America is always a loyal friend. Happy 250th anniversary, and thank you. Mary Julian, GlebeTo submit a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. Click here for tips on how to submit letters.The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform. Sign up here.