Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill stated at the SNP conference in Inverness that we are not to celebrate the Boyne of 1690 and the Dublin of 1916 and singing the ”Sash” or the ”Soldier’s Song” is inappropriate and might land you in jail. But Mr MacAskill obviously feels that the Bannockburn of 1314 and singing ”Scots wha hae” are appropriate, yet they are even more distant in history.
The armies of Robert the Bruce fought those of Edward the Second to win sovereignty for the Scots, the supporters of William of Orange fought those of James the Second to secure the final victory of capitalism over feudalism and the Irish rebels fought against the might of the British Empire for a free, sovereign, socialist republic of Ireland.
At their time all were noble, progressive, democratic and worthy causes, none of which can be wiped clean from the slate.
Each of these events is a historical fact representing contending political and military forces which existed at different epochs in our islands’ story and as such each had, and still has, its adherents and opponents.
Why select some and not others as targets for new legislation when recent crimes with a sectarian tinge have been dealt with by the justice system through the deployment of current legislation?
History also informs us that authorities which have pursued thought crimes have either found them unenforceable or have perished at the hands of their own tyranny.
Raymond Mennie.49 Ashbank Road,Dundee.
No financial imperative
Sir, Nicola Sturgeon informs us, and her party faithful, that anything beyond a two-week wait for discharge from hospital after a patient is medically fit will be unacceptable by the year 2015.
How much more refreshing it would be if she were to propose some action which made it less likely. With the current system, endorsed by our government, every day spent unnecessarily in hospital is a day saved from the social work budget at the expense of the healthcare budget.
Only when these two budgets are joint will there be a financial imperative to do the right thing, to make a less expensive community care place available for someone who no longer requires acute hospital treatment.
(Dr) J. A. Wilson.Consultant physician, NHS Fife,Station Road,Kingskettle.
In private ownership
Sir, I refer to your article of October 22 entitled: Right royal overhaul for Fife eyesore. May I point out an error in your otherwise welcome article?
It states: ”the garden was subsequently bought by a St Andrews citizen and given to the St Andrews Preservation Trust, who now maintain it for the public benefit.” Unfortunately, this is not the case.
The garden at 1 Greyfriars Garden, St Andrews, remains in private ownership and the trust is looking at different ways in which it might acquire it and so implement the plans which it has lodged for planning permission in principle.
Graham Wynd.Chairman,The St Andrews Preservation Trust Ltd
We’ve all been in this situation
Sir, Your contributor on Saturday October 22 asked how to deal with the driver of a red sports car who tailgated her along the Kingsway. If the lady was driving in the nearside lane I presume the sports car driver would have overtaken her.
So, assuming she was in the right-hand lane and in her own words ”at exactly 50mph and was tailgated for some time,” the answer would have been to move to the nearside lane if traffic allowed, let him pass then move out on the approach to her exit.
While he wanted to go faster than the speed limit, it was not her responsibility to enforce his speed.
We’ve all found ourselves in this situation, and what we don’t know is why the following car approaches above the speed limit. Some drivers may feel they have good reason to ”rush” to their destination and it may explain it, but it does not excuse it.
So my answer to the question of how to ”deal safely with such individuals” is simply to avoid coming into conflict with them.
Tom Thomson.Westward House.10 Birkhill Road,Stirling.
Skilled workforce is absolutely vital
Sir, The continued commitment by the current Scottish Government to apprenticeships and the delivery of a skilled workforce is to be greatly welcomed.
At its recent conference in Inverness the SNP recognised the skills shortages in the energy sector, with a commitment to deliver 2,000 modern apprenticeships specifically for this sector as well as an additional 1,000 flexible training places for energy and low-carbon industries.
In addition it was announced that, for every major contract or grant from Government, there would be an apprenticeship or training plan attached, something the Alliance called for in its manifesto in the run-up to this year’s Scottish Parliamentary elections, and which we are delighted to see. This will greatly assist the Scottish Government in the delivery of its target of 25,000 modern apprenticeships a year.
The delivery of a skilled workforce, especially in the current economic climate, is absolutely vital, ensuring that not only are the skills requirements of today being addressed, but also those forecast for the future.
Jacqui Hepburn.Director,Alliance of Sector Skills Councils in Scotland.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.