I AM asking you please to give me the opportunity to set the record straight.

I find myself publicly embarrassed, having been serially misquoted and accused by Mr Peter Greenhalgh (BEN: October 31) of holding opinions which I do not hold and of making statements which I did not make in my letter (BEN: October 29).

1. I did not mock soldiers, their integrity, courage and skill is beyond question. I consider it a privilege to have served alongside many ex-servicemen in my time. The corrupt relationship between states, religions, arms industries and global economies, which makes the death of soldiers and civilians inevitable is, however, highly questionable and nothing to be proud of. Firefighters who want to be soldiers or scientists who want to play God or nurses who want to be welders are clearly in the wrong profession.

2. I did not say that pride in one's country is to be "derided and mocked" and I wear my Remembrance Poppy with pride. I admire many aspects of life in this country, without detriment to others. I also tell friends in Australia, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Norway about the good things here.

3. I was never ashamed to wear my firefighter's uniform. It protected me well in my job and I was proud that it identified me with people who are the salt of the earth. As an example of modern textile technology, it showed how international co-operation between scientists and politicians can benefit the whole world.

4. I was never ashamed to carry out orders. In common with most other jobs these days, my contract of employment and a discipline code required me to carry out all lawful orders diligently, fully and promptly.

5. I did not confuse "marching and saluting with militarism". Marching and saluting are of the military tradition, are they not? (see OE Dictionary).

6. I did not say that "violence is a way of life". I said "violence as a way of life". By teaching children that guns and bombs are the solution to society's problems, war becomes a truly vicious circle. We in the west sell arms to dictatorships, pray for peace and raise our hands in self-righteous horror at TV pictures of 12 year old child-soldiers of the Northern Alliance and the Taliban. Therein lies the hypocrisy.

7. I did not confuse "nationalism and militarism with terrorism". I said that they are at the root (that is they are causes) of terrorism (see New York, Israel, Palestine, South America, Spain, Ireland, Russia, Germany, Africa ...). The list is endless.

8. I can take no pride in the following example of British nationalism. A couple of days ago I was making a silent protest about the American bombing of innocent Afghan people. I was approached several times by people who subjected me to a volley of obscene language and who accused ME of being a "Nazi appeaser".

9. Peter is correct in that I am a very confused person. I can't for the life of me see (if I may quote the Vicar of Bolton Parish Church) why it is "that when we don't find enemies we have to invent them?"

William Kelly

Darley Street

Farnworth, Bolton