Anne Ali MY HUSBAND and I were taken aback by your front page story "Family's Fury at Cracker Gaffe" (Newsletter December 29).
However the reason for our amazement was not because the family had found an “insensitive” question about the World Trade Centre in a Christmas cracker, but because a) they had actually deemed it important enough to inform the press and b) the Newsletter had printed it and not only printed it, but printed it as front page news! Of course, like everyone else we were deeply saddened and upset by the events of 9/11 and in no way wish to trivialise the tragedy. However, I am sure that most people who had found the question in a cracker would have assumed that the crackers or their contents - were produced pre-9/11. Even Mrs Jones admits "I can only assume these crackers are old stock.....printed before the dreadful events of September 11th" I find it hard to believe that the find "wrecked the family's yuletide celebrations" and quite frankly if the "atmosphere changed at [the Jones'] Christmas meal" because of it then they need to get a life! I am sure that even relatives of the people lost during 9/11 would not have been offended by the contents of a mere cracker - it is far too trivial a thing in comparison with the real events.
Should the whole memory of the World Trade Centre be wiped from our communal memories in case someone should read about it? I am sure there are plenty of quiz books, printed pre-9/11, containing questions about the twin towers. Perhaps Mr and Mrs Jones would like these books to be destroyed? Mr and Mrs Jones thankfully did not lose anyone in the atrocity. If I were them, I would be more concerned that I had been sold old stock than whether or not a totally innocent question was offensive.
Hopton Heights Stafford
