RE 'Why you're so wrong Brian . . .' Your Views October 5.

Mrs Gault criticises me for "slapping her down". But isn't this a case of the kettle calling the pot black?

Didn't she do exactly the same to Mr Essa, when he wrote about the suffering of children and innocent people in Iraq?

But isn't this what Your Views is all about? Everyone is entitled to their point of view, but once they make that view public, they must be prepared to have that view criticised. They should then be prepared to argue their point, or modify it.

Mrs Gault says if I do not want to argue, I should stop disagreeing with other people's views. But, here again, she completely misunderstands.

I made it clear that I did not want to argue about the whys and wherefores of these sanctions. That's up to our leaders to sort out. But Mrs Gault should understand that I am prepared to argue with anyone, if I disagree with what they say.

Mrs Gault tells us she is a caring person: "That's my problem," she says, "I'm too caring". Well, maybe that's my problem too.

Maybe that's why I take time to write so many letters to the BEN. I find it very hard to turn a blind eye to any kind of injustice, be it in Bolton, Belgrade, or Baghdad.

And if that's being sanctimonious, so be it!

Brian Derbyshire

Ribchester Grove

Bolton