Remember who we are

On reading R Bruton's account of the demise of local boroughs in favour of multi-district metropolitan groups, it set me thinking of the title of a convention which will be held at Birmingham University in April, "The Future of Europe".

The amalgamation of local boroughs is merely a reflection on the dehumanisation of identities and cultural histories that, as Mr Bruton remarked, started in the 1970s but has not been gripped by the corporate political nonsense that is Europe.

I am not against the idea of working alongside other countries in relation to economics, the aid of the less fortunate and defence, but when basic cultural mechanics are erased through pompous bureaucracy the future seems bleak.

It manifests itself in business where global boards play their monopoly games with companies from a distance.

My company has been French owned for four years and I have never spoken to a Frenchman face to face in all that time. Policies are initiated that have no baring on English business ethic, but initiated they are.

This example is reflected in major cultural decisions in the quest to form one metropolitan borough of Europe, with mindless people, no history and no roots.

It is essential our children understand about nationalism, regionalism and localism, that they know what their forefathers and mothers did. They should understand and be proud of the way they speak and the land they live in.

There is much to learn from how our fathers and forefathers lived, both locally, nationally and internationally.

To forge forward without understanding who we are is, I believe, a mistake. There needs to be bold ideas but not to the detriment of the people who make up this region, the Black Country, and the nation as a whole.

Billy Spakemon, Tower Road, Tividale.