Sir, – As someone who tends to hold minority views on a number of issues, such as Scottish independence, voting to remain in the EU, and for the removal of the legal defence that parents have against smacking their own children, to name a few, I find it sad some of those holding the current majority view can, at times, be very intolerant of those holding the minority view.
While I understand how it plays to the “unionist” audience for the pro-union parties to continue going on about stopping a divisive second independence referendum, and for some of your columnists to refer to people like myself as “separatists” constantly, when will they realise that we can be part of the solution instead of a problem?
I seem to remember on September 19 2014, after the referendum result, it was suggested that Yes voters could participate in helping create a better union but the debate must move on.
Now it seems the pro-union parties only remember the latter part.
When will they realise there are a proportion of 1.6 million votes on offer to them?
Similarly, I asked a couple of quite reasonable questions to the Be Reasonable Scotland group, as I do not feel it is reasonable to keep the legal defences –such as “reasonable chastisement” – open to parents with regard to smacking their children.
I have yet to receive a reply from Be Reasonable Scotland.
My late father, Robert Ovenstone, spent 27-and-a-half years working at the Robert Gough Centre, and would have lost his job as a woodwork instructor had he smacked the vulnerable adults in his care – and he would have faced prosecution.
In terms of the argument that good parents could be criminalised, and police and social services could be tied up with trivia, consider the argument that it is a legal requirement to have enough washer fluid in your car, but I cannot imagine police going to the bother of making sure every driver is complying with the law.
Also, if you justify relatively minor behaviour, then much worse behaviour against children could, potentially, be justified, in my perfectly valid opinion.
Peter Ovenstone.
6 Orchard Grove,
Peterhead.
Who could the assassins be?
Sir, – Two obvious developments have resulted from the attempted assassination in Salisbury, and the subsequent rattling of the rusty old imperial sabre, both to the advantage of the Westminster Government.
Firstly, the continued chaos of Brexit has been diverted from the headlines and, secondly, the continued demonisation of Russia helps pave the way for the renewal of the Trident weapons programme.
I can’t see any benefit whatsoever to Russia from this poisoning of a former double agent, so we are left with the question: if not Putin, who else?
Could the responsibility lie with the organisation that committed the murder of Willie MacRae?
Joseph G Miller.
44 Gardeners Street,
Dunfermline.
Challenge to councillors
Sir, – I write regarding the rubbish littering our county.
I believe I may have a solution to some of it, so this letter is aimed directly at all our councillors.
We all know that our council tax has to be increased and some services cut so this is the perfect opportunity for all our councillors to show they are totally committed to doing their bit, and by doing so cost us all nothing.
Now all the snow has melted, the rubbish on the A926, between Forfar and Kirriemuir is clearly visible and increasing on a daily basis.
My challenge to our councillors is: don a high vis jacket, get together and pick it all up. I will even join you.
We have one of the world’s premier sporting events coming to Carnoustie in The Open this year, visitors will be travelling all over the area. Let us show them that Angus is not a glorified litter dump.
This is a serious challenge. Hopefully our councillors will take it up.
Let me know the day and I will be with you.
Mr R W H Hudson.
North Mains of Ballindarg,
Forfar.
Now here’s a follow-up idea
Sir, – In his programme, The battle for Scotland’s countryside, on BBC Scotland, David Hayman made an excellent job of summarising almost 200 years of threats to the access and amenity of Scotland’s countryside and the various victories along the way that make us the envy of the world, particularly, as he reminded us, compared to England.
He never mentioned the biggest current threat to our countryside, which is the proliferation of windfarms across our countryside, the consequent effect on local tourist economies, the dubious benefit it has on energy security and continuity of economic provision, and the undemocratic way that local decisions on massive corporate ventures are over-ruled by the Scottish Government. That would make a riveting follow-up programme.
Allan Sutherland.
1 Willow Row,
Stonehaven.
Flowers aren’t all gone
Sir, – “Where have all the flowers gone?” John Stoa asked in his Greenfingers column (The Courier Weekend, March 17).
As John knows himself, these days have withered, along with changes and trends that encourage sustainable planting, with a reduction in traditional floral bedding schemes.
Most of the reduction in flowers and general standards in public areas is down to financial cutbacks, which have all but killed traditional parks departments.
Were it not for the many bloom groups with their dedicated volunteers, many towns, and in particular the villages, would be totally devoid of any floral impact.
Add to this the various environmental maintenance tasks, such as grass cutting, weeding, watering, litter picking and much more.
Given the constraints and pressure on the remaining local authority workforce, it is remarkable what they achieve with the ever-reducing resources.
As someone who has the pleasure of visiting towns and villages throughout Perth & Kinross, I never cease to be impressed by what the bloom groups and volunteers do to enhance their communities.
So, it is not all bad news, John.
Gordon Croll.
31 Ardblair Road,
Blairgowrie.
Respect in death as in life
Sir, – With reference to Archbishop Cushley’s remarks on the death of Cardinal O’Brien, I suggest a better yardstick for respect for the departed is to offer the equivalent amount of respect they showed to others throughout their life.
Alistair McBay.
National Secular Society,
5 Atholl Crescent,
Edinburgh.
Voting across EVEL lines
Sir, – On March 13, while all attention was on Salisbury and Russia, a bill was passed in Westminster removing free school meals from English children.
Twelve Scottish Tory MPs voted in favour of the motion, despite the fact that English Votes for English Laws (EVEL) means only the votes of English MPs can be counted. The votes of these 12 Scottish MPs were discarded, so what reason these Scottish Tory MPs had for taking part in this vote?
I can see no benefit from voting, other than to show solidarity with their English Tory MP colleagues. However, I might infer, as Ms Davidson has set her sights on becoming First Minister, should a similar bill be placed before Holyrood, the Tory MSPs, to be consistent, would have to vote for ending free school meals in Scotland too. Would that be a fair assumption?
Alistair Ballantyne.
10 Hillpark Drive,
Birkhill.
