I am astounded N Corelli-Lichenstein (Letters, September 14) thinks countries such as China, Cuba, Libya and Iraq are in any way similar to the West.

Perhaps Mr Corelli-Lichenstein would like to serve as a member of the armed forces, as I did, and see exactly how people are treated in those countries. Would he be prepared to have forced state-run abortions in disused factories without anaesthesia? People who have more than one child in some areas of China do. Would he be prepared to be stoned to death for agreeing freedom can mean the right to say no to whatever he disagrees with? How about not having a choice of which religion to believe in? I spoke at length with many Iraqi villagers who did not want to be a part of it all but what choice did they have? They are now dead. I know, because I saw them punished.

If Mr Corelli-Lichenstein thinks so little of Britain, may I suggest he throws away his freedom by becoming a national of one of those countries he so loves. I'd be happy to lend him the fare. If he wanted to come back, he could try to borrow the money from the state or from a relative who earns about as much in a year as most of us do in a month.

-Justin Smith, College Terrace, Brighton