Letters to the Editor: Why has sport become so critical to the national psyche?

All Black Aaron Smith is unlikely to play for the All Blacks again this season, as he awaits the birth of his second child. Photo / Dean Purcell

OPINION

I'm in mourning. Aaron Smith has decided that there are more important things in life than playing rugby, representing his country, the feast of attention and accolades that his prowess behind the scrum have brought him over the years.

It would seem that the importance of sport and sportsmen in this country, indeed the western world, is ranked somewhere up amongst the place that perhaps our serving soldiers had during the second world war.

Millions of dollars change hands in the pursuit of the best athlete, further millions are gambled on outcomes and almost national mourning pronounced when we lose.

When did games, I mean games, become so critical to the national psyche, and why?

When we lose sight of what is truly important in life, family, friends, health, hope and especially the hope that faith in GOD brings, society is at risk.

John Williams
Ngongotahā

Sounding off

I wonder if medical centres, pharmacies, and organisations would consider checking the effectiveness of their answer phone recordings.

As a hard of hearing person, and although I have hearing aids, some of them are very difficult to hear, and somewhat hurried.

Voices recorded are low, and quiet.

In one instance I was cut off because I was taking too long to list medications - well, sorry, but I was gabbling as it was.

Probably not a big problem for those who have youthful ears, but a biggie for me.

A N Christie
Rotorua

Testing, testing

What do you all think about the test test test talk? I realise it's a tool to fight this pandemic but don't you think they're putting the cart before the horse? The real solution is to vaccinate.

I see on the TV all these people/cars lined up for testing, if they put as much emphasis on vaccination as they do on testing, Auckland/NZ wouldn't be in this situation.

We've had our chance to put this pandemic on its backside and missed miserably, why are politicians too scared to tell people what to do?

That's what happens in the real world – or are they too distanced from the real world in their parliamentary bubble?

Gavin Muir
Springfield

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