Letter: Hounding of Hoddle

Sir: Poor old Hoddle, what has he done to deserve all this? Bad previous Karma perhaps?

There seems to be a great deal of ignorance on the subject flying around. Karma is a balancing mechanism, between negative and positive actions. It is not reward or punishment. Imbalance can be carried forward to another life. I have not heard Hoddle talk of punishment for previous sins - although just about anybody else commenting on his remarks has.

Most disabled people I know would say, "What a load of rubbish", or, "If I sinned in a previous life , I hope I enjoyed it."

What is more remarkable is our fevered response. Why are we so keen to show our compassion for disadvantaged groups by jumping on anyone who seems to be lacking in such compassion? It all seems to be tied up with our highly sensitive emotional state. People are "devastated" very easily, and in need of "counselling" for the slightest unpleasant event. The reaction to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales was a good example of this delicate state. People seem to be on the verge of tears most of the time.

Come on England. Since when have we been so precious? Where is our much- acclaimed stoicism? What happened to our famous upper lip?

MIKE INGRAM

Peterborough