Youngsters shine light

Sean criticised Mr Mason for his views on the young and their incapability of understanding such places. Let's put all this into perspective.

I was too young to live the experience of the Second World War, but because we didn't have a television until I was quite old stories were related first hand by relatives and friends' parents. Photographs of Nagasaki, Hiroshima and Borneo brought home visually just what devastation was caused and first-hand accounts impressed just what went one.

We had not entered the graphic modern world that glorifies violence and deals with it to such an extent children and the young are not able to differentiate between degrees and so become apathetic to reality.

Much is the same with heritage and legacies left by our ancestors. Unless they are encouraged to see, to touch and be told about these "lived" moments that are part of the past, how can we expect to win over the PC, the DVD, the techno-turbo fire power of modern society?

I think Mr Mason tars all with the same brush. We (the RoosterSpake group) have just platformed a 14-year-old songwriter who travels back for inspirations to develop his work in a contemporary way.

He references historical moments, connecting with contemporary issues. Alan Neilson, a wonderful local performer, does the same.

I think the point is we have in many ways let these children down by losing codes, practices and values that we inherit in our make-up until the 60s through the 80s.

We need to understand children are not a commodity of labour but need to feel they are part of our community.

Yes, it's a difficult time but people like Adam and his friends are a shining light which mustn't be ignored but built on for future generations.

Billy Spakemon, Tower Road, Tividale.