Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – The comments by Gordon Wilson, late SNP MP, in Tuesday’s Courier fill me with wonderment.
The simplistic remarks, supposed to argue for an independent Scotland, suggest that if we throw off the ”rottenness” of British institutions including ”the banks, the House of Lords, the UK press and the MPs’ expenses scandal”, everything in the garden would be lovely.
Is he really saying that by being independent, our Scottish institutions will be pure as the driven snow? What about the Royal Bank of Scotland? What about the MPs’ expenses scandal in which several Scottish MPs were involved including one from the west of Scotland who was actually jailed?
What about the appalling social statistics there are for Scotland in terms of poverty, ill-health, sub-standard housing, falling educational standards, abortion rates, under-age mothers, etc., all problems which are all already within the control of Holyrood and/or Scottish local authorities who should be tackling them much more successfully than they do?
Does Mr Wilson believe all these problems would be solved if we cast off the ”British” institutions?
Like Alex Salmond, Mr Wilson seems to be dreaming about a ”Brigadoon”.
Mona Clark.9 Millbay Terrace,Dundee.
Received great support at Wimbledon
Sir, – Did Ellen Branagh, Courier front page (July 9), ”Murray’s pain laid bare after final loss”, and Eric Nicolson, Courier sports editor, ”Andy Murray let down by so-called home support”, watch and report on the same Wimbledon men’s singles final on Sunday?
Eric Nicolson wrote: ”He (Andy Murray) was let down by so-called home support.” Did he not, for example, hear the soccer style, three claps ”Andy” chants?
Ellen Branagh reported: ”Murray … thanked his family and the crowd, who roared to deafening applause throughout the match.”
To quote Murray himself: ”Everybody always talks about the pressure of playing at Wimbledon, how difficult it is. It’s not the people watching. They make it so much easier to play. The support has been incredible.”
Having watched the whole of Sunday’s final on TV, I would support Ellen Branagh’s report as being the accurate account.
Further, having watched most of Andy Murray’s matches throughout Wimbledon 2012 support for him from all courts and of course ”Murray Mound” has been overwhelming.
The ”Brits” Scottish, English or otherwise at Wimbledon have always supported their own.
What provoked Eric Nicolson to write his account of Sunday’s final? Does he harbour pre-conceived notions of Wimbledon’s Centre Court crowd?
Perhaps he is just suffering a temporary aberration.
Wimbledon may be in England but local support is for all British players, they also give credit where credit is due and applaud excellence.
R A Dickson.Bridge of Cally,Blairgowrie.
Andy moved to tears by it
Sir, – I have to take issue with Eric Nicolson’s view of the Wimbledon final regarding All England club members and all spectators which I am sure would not be endorsed by Andy Murray.
I watched the whole match on TV like most other Scots and cannot believe his comments.
Andy Murray received absolutely fantastic support from almost everybody in the arena and was moved to tears in thanking them for the tremendous support throughout the two weeks of the tournament.
Tom Somerville.16 Latch Gardens,Brechin.
Asked to go so he went
Sir, – How good to read David Robertson’s excellent article ”Need to return to a better set of values” (July 10). His comments reminded me of an article regarding Anne Graham Lotz ( Billy Graham’s daughter) who, when she was interviewed on TV after the 9/11 tragedy, was asked: ”How could God let something like this happen?”
Her reply was: ”I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are; but for years we’ve been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our Government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman that he is I believe he has calmly backed out.
”How can we expect God to give us his blessing and his protection if we demand that he leave us alone?”
How true! Over recent years there have been those who have sought to remove God from this country in any way they think they can.
Sadly we are suffering the consequences in all walks of life respect, honesty, integrity, all fast disappearing. We are reaping what we have sown.
However, our God ” is still on the throne” and it is impossible to remove him. Just as it is impossible to alter the direction of the wind and rain we are experiencing maybe he is trying to tell us something.
When will we listen?
Christine Heron.9 Marygate,Pittenweem.
Ridiculous price
Sir, – Re your article on the Dundee to London air service from Riverside.
The quality and reliability of the service is only one issue. The most disturbing issue is the cost.
I tried to book a day return journey for later this week. The cost? £559, round trip.
Ridiculous. Think I’ll go to New York it’s a lot cheaper!
Donny Coutts.38 Middlebank Crescent,Dundee.
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. Letters should be accompanied by an address and a daytime telephone number.