Letter: Hunting: our last true sport
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Trevor Phillips ("I'm sorry, they're still unspeakable" 12/7/97) expresses surprise at seeing Lord Steel standing in defence of fox-hunting beside people who have in the past shown little interest in the rights of minorities or the liberal view of society.
But surely it doesn't matter whether or not they believe what they're spouting now about being a persecuted minority. It doesn't even matter whether they ever apply the lesson they have learned of what it is like to be on the receiving end of the prejudices of the majority.
What matters is that if you believe in minority rights and a liberal society, then you have to defend those rights even if the people on whose behalf you argue are people you dislike or disagree with. It is the Hollywood view of political argument to think that there are the good people and the bad people and you can easily decide which you are going to defend. Sometimes you have to defend rich, empty-headed fools and bigots too.
MICHAEL CULE
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
0Comments