And here's the outcry (appart from one) from readers:- A city replies By Reader's letter IT is always a delight to visit York, but I also greatly enjoy going to Liverpool. The architecture there is superb and extremely impressive. I have a great affection for both cities; indeed I am a member of York Civic Trust. Mike Bentley's article on Liverpool (Liverpool - why do we need it? The Press, February 9) was nasty and it saddened me to read it. Of course Liverpool has its problems and faults; what big city doesn't? Even York has its fair share. advertisement Liverpool people have a reputation for over-sentimentality. Perhaps this view has some truth in it, but I can think of worse regional characteristics. These are all silly stereotypes anyway. I wonder whether Mr Bentley has ever been to Liverpool? I am sure he would be made very welcome. While there he could see and do many splendid things, and perhaps change his ridiculous misconceptions of the city and its inhabitants. A Bond, Fulwood, Preston. # IN reply to the Mike Bentley article, or should I say rant, about Liverpool and Liverpool people, I was born in Liverpool but have lived in York for ten years. Mike Bentley has never met me, but I can tell him that I do not go in for "forced jocularity" nor am I a "braying celebrity". Leafy Surrey probably does contain some rich Liverpool people, but Judi Dench does not live in York all year round. Rich people do gravitate to Surrey and other wealthy areas. If Bentley wants to know about Hillsborough I am quite prepared to speak to him about it. I was at the game and believe that the inquest verdict was a travesty of justice. As for Heysel, both Liverpool and Juventus have made strong efforts at reconciliation, as noted when the two clubs played each other last year. I do not suffer from whining grief addiction over Hillsborough, but the dead deserve to be remembered in the same way that the people of Manchester remember the Munich air disaster - is that whining grief addiction? Like all cities, there are good and bad things about Liverpool. Murders are not unique to Liverpool and neither is the slave trade - ask London and Bristol. The article was insulting and I am amazed that my local paper of which I am a loyal reader chose to print such rubbish. Peter Ashton, Kingsway West, York. # HAVING read Mike Bentley's column regarding Liverpool, I would like to express my disgust at such a stereotypical piece of journalism. For the last 30 years I have read this view in the media - and for the last 30 years this view has rubbed off onto similar narrow-minded, prejudiced people. There are still, unfortunately, people like Mr Bentley around who judge others by their city of origin and take pleasure in scoring cheap points in classing every person the same. Mr Bentley should have time for Liverpool, as it gives him an easy target to aim at, as I am sure that his bigoted views would not be tolerated if aimed at race or religion. Obviously Mr Bentley, being an "irreverent" journalist, is not interested in writing a column of any substance, just in raking over old stereotypes. Tim Gillbanks, Priory Wood Way, Huntington, York. # MIKE Bentley may or may not like the city of Liverpool, but your decision to publish his comments relating to the Hillsborough disaster was in very poor taste indeed. Any attempt to draw a parallel between the terrible events at Heysel stadium and Hillsborough is simply inaccurate, misleading and highly offensive. Justice was served following Heysel, and those deemed responsible by the courts were imprisoned as "any sane person" who bothered to research their facts would know. The "Justice For The 96" campaign is not directly related to Kelvin MacKenzie either, though his actions have caused much misunderstanding about the Hillsborough disaster. The campaign is much more concerned with establishing the truth behind the events on that day, something that has been denied to the families of the 96. Anne Williams, for example, the mother of Kevin Williams who died at Hillsborough aged 15, is taking her case to the European Courts, because she believes there is proof that he was still alive at 4pm, whereas the official coroner refused to hear any evidence relating to events after 3.15pm. There are many other examples which demonstrate why 18 years later those affected are still having to campaign for justice, and I would urge Mike Bentley to familiarise himself with the facts before passing comment. Visiting http://www.contrast.org/hillsborough/ would be a good place to start. Peter Bee, Newborough Street, York. # I FEEL honour-bound to counter Mike Bentley's most recent diatribe. Now, I know columnists are supposed to be controversial and stir up emotions, but Mr Bentley, who hides behind anonymity, snapped the integrity of such endeavours with his scandalous reaction to the Hillsborough disaster. His having a go at my native Liverpool is up to him. You can't please everybody and Scouse power is not admired by all - fair enough. For him to decry the death of 96 football fans as "bloody Hillsborough" is scandalous. As a Liverpool fan, I cannot believe that someone can have such disregard for a tragedy in which 96 people - men, women and children - who simply went to a football match, did not return home that same day. No one, as yet, has been punished for the tragedy, save for those who died and their relatives. I suggest the author read Lord Justice Taylor's report and discover where the blame lies, though no one has been brought to book. Mr Bentley refers to the equally disgraceful Heysel disaster in which Liverpool fans were blameworthy. He wonders where the "justice" was for the 39 Italian fans, who were sadly killed. Offenders served jail sentences and Liverpool were banned from competing in Europe, as were non-guilty English clubs whom Lady Thatcher decided in her inestimable wisdom to take a sledgehammer to, just to prove another of her crass class-war points. Mr Bentley is feted as proposing "An irreverent look at life..." - more like a rabidly outrageous and blinkered viewpoint. Tony Kelly, Wigginton, York. # MIKE Bentley's outspoken contributions are basically tongue-in-cheek, but even if his views on Liverpool (February 9) were completely serious I'd still agree with him. So many in the Midlands and South seem to think that Merseysiders represent the entire north of England. Scousers are only one part of the north, and I get fed up of them being elevated to a level of importance they are simply not worthy of. Mike Bentley is right regarding the Liverpudlian image of being witty, loveable scoundrels who are often the victims of injustice, particularly the reference to the Heysel Stadium disaster, which has so often been conveniently overlooked because of Hillsborough. Colin S Jeffrey, East Mount Road, York. # MIKE Bentley's recent column contains what I believe to be several comments, which are nothing short of offence for the apparent sake of it. Heysel victims did in fact receive due justice (rightly so), but victims and families of Hillsborough have yet to, in spite of Lord Justice Taylor's findings. Mr Bentley also dismisses out-of-hand 800 years of history and culture in Liverpool. I acknowledge that he has the right to his views - just as long as the media collectively continues to enable such views to be fairly challenged as a balance and any inaccuracies corrected. Jim Sharman, Expat, Sweden. http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/search/display....ity_replies.php Agree amte even though I've got the paper for over 10 years not noticed this tool till now but did notice a lot of complaints about his articles when I searched the press website. Yes York was viking stronghold than a Roman one with prison where people where tortured!
