Sir, – Was President Obama right to intervene in the debate about British membership of the European Union? (April 22).
He should at least be given credit for helping to focus on what the debate should be all about: peace and prosperity.
Some people argue that it is NATO not the EU that has ensured peace in Western Europe for the best part of seven decades.
But it is trading relations as well as military alliances that help secure international goodwill and decent living standards.
The European Union, for all its faults, has helped develop those relations.
It has to the extent that Britain, France and Germany are no longer obsessed by when they will next go to war with one another but how they can put their trading partnerships on a more secure footing.
Almost a decade after the First World War, Winston Churchill went to France to survey a changing world after the years of carnage.
He wrote: “Is this the end? Is it to be just another chapter in a cruel and senseless story? Will a new generation in their turn be immolated to square the black accounts of Teuton and Gaul? Will our children bleed and gasp again in devastated lands?”
We know the answer to those questions. We should know too that reform not retreat should be the way forward for Britain and Scotland in Europe.
The challenge we face on June 23 is to determine whether positive things like hope, reform and vision are allowed to triumph or whether we delve into to an uncertain and insecure world so favoured by the Brexit campaigners.
Bob Taylor.
24 Shiel Court,
Glenrothes.
Times changed for the better
Sir, – In answer to Mr AA Bullions, Changing Times (April 20)) I was born in 1938 so we are about the same age.
When I was a boy sex was a dirty word, only mentioned behind closed doors or sniggered about in the boys’ lavatory.
Any girl who asked questions about it was expected to come to a bad end.
When I was a boy, childcare consisted of leaving the house at 8am, coming home for a jeely piece at about noon provided by a female relative often younger than I was and then disappearing again until the evening when dad came home for dinner.
When I was a boy, people paid to travel on the bus and you queued for up to an hour in the rain (no bus shelters then) for the privilege.
When I was a boy, a class of 30 in September would be down to around 27 by July because of TB or polio.
When I was a boy, men worked on Saturday mornings and spent their working lives inhaling coal or asbestos or other toxic chemicals and being deafened by riveting guns. If they were one minute late clocking on, they lost a full hour’s wages.
When I was a boy, you spent you Saturdays tramping the railway tracks looking for bits of coal.
When I was a boy, women were chattels, simply existing to look after men and to be abused on a Saturday night.
When I was a boy, chicken, chocolate and oranges were a once-a-year treat, at Christmas. I never saw a banana until I was nine.
When I was a boy, it was roast on Sunday, cold cuts Monday, mince on Tuesday, stew or casserole on Wednesday and Thursday and fish on Friday. You had local carrots and cabbage in the winter and local peas or beans in the summer.
It was fortunate, not unfortunate, for me that I was born in 1938, for I have lived to see the end of most of these things.
Laurie Richards.
100 Crail Road,
Cellardyke.
Reinstate Leven rail link
Sir, – Despite the overwhelming case for reinstating rail services to Leven, by far the largest unconnected community in Scotland, it was extremely disappointing to find none of the party manifestos except the Scottish Greens included this as a specific commitment.
Since opinion polls indicate the SNP is on course to form the next Scottish Government, the mentions given in its manifesto to consider studies for rail links between Dunfermline and Alloa, to Hawick and a station at tiny Reston village raises real concerns.
Necessary feasibility studies have already been completed for the Leven line, so why the continuing neglect?
Partly it is due to the absence of any political champion advocating our cause and partly the sheer timidity of those likely to wield power again.
We do not care which party gains power, we just need rail services and the opportunities they bring. Every other town in the country of our size and smaller enjoys these. It is time we did too.
N. Stewart.
60 Omar Crescent,
Buckhaven.
Treat voters like adults
Sir, – Where has your correspondent Gordon Kennedy been lately when he berates Nicola Sturgeon for campaign photographs at a nursery school?
Surely he has noticed that the leaders of the four “main” parties for the Holyrood election have hardly done anything else but set up photo shoots with children of all ages.
The only leader to campaign among adults is Patrick Harvey of the Greens.
In 72 years I have never seen so much negative campaigning from politicians who should be putting all their efforts into the adult population: the people who have the vote in this election.
Ian Allan.
5 Marchside Court,
Sauchie.
Walkers should pay attention
Sir – I write with reference to recent letters regarding walkers having close encounters with cyclists, or Lycra louts as some people call them, on shared paths.
As a very mature recreational, Lycra-clad cyclist, I stopped using shared walking/cycling paths months ago and much prefer cycling on the roads.
I find that 99% of vehicle drivers are considerate to cyclists and I only have to watch/listen for the remaining idiotic, incompetent, impatient, inconsiderate one per cent we all have to share the roads with.
Any cyclist who listens to music while cycling is included in this one per cent by the way.
I will go back to using the shared paths, however, if the following rules were to be introduced.
These would include, no extending dog leads, dog walkers limited to two dogs (on normal leads) multiple mothers pushing baby buggies must walk in single file, and solo walkers and buggy pushers must not be allowed to walk in the middle of a wide cycle path.
The rules would also ban people walking with their heads down texting. No walkers would be allowed to isolate themselves from who and what is around them by listening to music through ear phones.
The paths would have to be swept regularly to get rid of broken glass. Perhaps Bob Duncan from Carnoustie has the right idea about carrying a big stick.
But where would I store it on my bike?
Dave Brimner.
15 Mearns Drive,
Montrose.
We have lost a true talent
Sir, – Like many people in this country I was deeply saddened by the untimely death of actress, singer and comedian Victoria Wood.
She was exceptionally talented and brought much joy and happiness to millions of people through television and theatre.
Throughout her life she remained true to her north of England roots and she was, by all accounts, a consummate professional.
Unlike so many modern celebrities who seem to achieve celebrity status regardless of any specific art or talent, Victoria Wood was true to her vocation as an actress and comedian and never sought out celebrity status.
She was a very British talent who will be missed greatly by millions of people across the United Kingdom and throughout the world.
Gordon Kennedy.
117 Simpson Square,
Perth.
