I AM writing to say that I enjoy the diversity of opinion expressed on your letters page with the exception of Mr Henig. Although I believe that anonymity devalues content it is also ludicrous of Mr Henig to infer that the Citizen is thus "responsible for undermining democracy." What democracy?

There are far more serious issues at stake being insidiously undermined by the state. Is it totally unacceptable to challenge the establishment in any manner? I have encountered many Goebbels of both sexes in all departments.

Today I received a letter from the Director of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection of which I have been a passive member since 1960. Apparently it has been decreed that the BUAV will be criminally prosecuted if they do not give a list of all its members to any person who demands it, for whatever reason.

What next? A list of dissenters who write to newspapers. That remark is far from fatuous. I was unfortunately involved with a woman from the aptly named 'SS' department who noted in a diary that I wrote to newspapers and supported animal rights! Goebbels is alive and well and Mr Henig should be concerned about what occurs in his own patch.

Mrs Smith,

Coppice Brow,

Carnforth.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.