Sir, – There has been much furious comment on the decision by the US authorities to take a much tougher position on the matter of controlled entry and residence in the US.
Neither the US nor Europe should be seen as the never-ending lifebelt for all the people in the world displaced by regional conflict or economic preference.
Surely the solution is to resettle such people in their countries of origin and culture.
Consequently, it would seem necessary to crack down severely on the suppliers of weaponry to the world’s dissidents and the channels through which international aid is provided to the poorer economies of the world and which has, in the past, enriched corrupt officials instead of assisting the poor.
The unlimited settlement of people outwith their countries of origin is going to lead to future problems and the so-called “richer” economies of the world cannot continue to increase national populations beyond the ability to sustain their indigenous populations economically and culturally, irrespective of the well-intentioned clamour of those who cannot see the wood for the trees.
Derek Farmer.
Knightsward Farm.
Anstruther.
Mr Trump can’t be all wrong
Sir, – It seems clear to me that George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Angela Merkel together with virtually the entire Western establishment got the two main challenges of the 21st century entirely wrong.
They largely failed to understand or remedy the effects of September 11 2001 or the credit crunch of 2008 when we undoubtedly needed leaders with quite different outlooks.
Whether Donald Trump was quite what most had in mind, I have to admit that of his 12 executive orders, eight (mainly deregulatory and anti-green) look pretty much spot on.
I can see the problem with Mexico, now the home to some of the worst drug cartels on the planet, but insisting it pays for less porous border control is a bit of a reach.
Again, elderly European ladies being frisked at Heathrow while Middle Eastern youths walk blithely by, demands some common sense and profiling.
Blanket bans? I’m not so sure, however,the hysterical attacks launched by foul-mouthed geriatric celebrities and marching “wimmin” suggest to me that if such awful people are against him, he cannot be totally wrong.
Rev Dr John Cameron.
10 Howard Place,
St Andrews.
Setting down a firm marker
Sir, – In reply to Mr Thomson of Kinglassie, I would like to respond that the anti-Trump demonstrations were not futile.
I do, however, agree with Mr Thomson’s point that the US election “was clearly a vote against the establishment by the American people and an indictment of the political elite”.
But Donald Trump is not apart from the establishment as he and the Republicans are, like the Conservatives in the UK, representatives of big business interests and the capitalist system as a whole.
In fact, far from “draining the swamp”, he is filling it up with his billionaire pals who by no stretch of the imagination represent the working class of America.
The anti-Trump demonstrations in Scotland’s major cities were called by the Stand Up To Racism Campaign to object to the clearly racist statements and policies.
Mr Trump has blamed Muslims for being responsible for terrorism and Mexican immigrants for being rapists and criminals.
Of course, we didn’t change the outcome of his being inaugurated as president, but globally, the protesters set down a marker for Mr Trump that his racism, misogyny and bigotry is being resisted from day one of his presidency.
Jim Barlow.
35 St Nicholas Place,
Dundee.
Confusion over single markets
Sir, – I’m feeling confused. The Scottish Government is arguing the case for continued membership of the European single market. No confusion on my part here. I can see the logic as 19% of our exports go to EU countries.
My confusion stems from the fact that the Scottish Government is arguing that it is in our best interests to leave the UK single market where 61% of our exports go.
So you can see what is causing my confusion. Is it good to be in a single market or not?
Steven Lyall.
17 Rossie Avenue,
Dundee.
Clear benefits of faith schools
Sir, – Robert Canning in his letter(January 28) asks for evidence to support my assertion that religious observance is educational.
First of all we must look at the outcomes of the process of delivery of the curriculum. The evidence is to be found in a sociological study of schools by Edinburgh University around 1980.
This compared schools which had the same catchment area, that is, a housing scheme, where one school was non-denominational and the other denominational (in Scotland, a Catholic school).
This study involved schools in the central belt.
The relevant finding was the difference in performance of the denominational school where it was worth one equivalent of a Standard Grade pass more per pupil.
The only difference to account for this was the ethos of the denominational schools which were Christian and religious observance was a big part of this ethos. Therefore, religious observance is educational as it contributed to this educational outcome of enhanced performance.
The inspectorate advised every non-denominational school to devise its own mission statement, engaging parents and pupils to help schools improve.
Denominational schools attract pupils from all faiths (including Islam) and non-believers who accept the ethos of the school. Christians, Jews and Muslims all worship the same God.
I trust Mr Canning will now present his supporting evidence to show that withdrawing religious observance from all state schools will be of educational value to pupils in Scotland.
Philip Kearns.
47 Grove Road,
Dundee.
An expensive green mistake
Sir, – Most politicians, councillors, civil servants, and directors of energy-related companies will, by now, have realised that the pursuit of a low-carbon philosophy is an expensive mistake. But nobody can admit that because it would be career suicide.
So this mad thing is unstoppable because so many are gaining from it.
It will only end when these people retire or move on and the populace on the receiving end of the greatest subsidy scam of all time will be left without a guaranteed energy supply while the rich will have become richer at the expense of the poor.
Malcolm Parkin.
15 Gamekeepers Road,
Kinnesswood.
