Sir, – Since 2016 I have listened to and read copious amounts of garbage regarding Brexit.
This includes the massaging of oversized egos of incompetent politicians.
This year we are remembering with sorrow and admiration the men and women who gave their lives in the First World War, a war that devastated Europe.
Next year we will remember the beginning of the Second World War.
This was yet another devastating conflict that not only obliterated the infrastructure of all European countries involved, it left all of them – including the United Kingdom – bankrupt.
Yes, we got financial aid from America, but, the countries in Western Europe had to show they could work together before they qualified for this financial aid.
Out of this shared commitment to each other was born the European Community.
Several times Britain was invited to join but refused, then after the failure of EFTA Britain decided they wanted to join the EEC.
If the egotistical Tories of today took a look back into history they would realise that when we work together as a community with the other countries of Europe, our people are better off.
In 2016 Scotland, Northern Ireland and London all voted to remain but our voices were disregarded.
What happened to the promise in 2014 that remaining in the UK was the only chance of Scotland remaining in the EU?
Elizabeth Fordyce.
25 Forthill Drive,
Broughty Ferry.
Tread carefully with car ban
Sir, – I view with alarm Councillor Thomson’s thinly disguised proposal to pedestrianise Market Street in St Andrews (“Chance to have your say on car-free town centre in St Andrews”, Courier, October 13).
Any poll of locals or visitors may well indicate a desire for a car-free Market Street, but unless shoppers are able to easily access the town centre for the most part by car, businesses there will suffer.
Our neighbouring Fife towns of Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline have pedestrianised their high streets.
By any measure (footfall, rateable income, customer satisfaction, empty shops and an inability to attract interesting retailers) these schemes have been an unqualified disaster and should be a lesson to tread very warily when considering limiting town centre access.
St Andrews enjoys a unique and dynamic shopping environment supported by easy access to Market Street by car and bus.
This encourages local people to support local business – not least in the dreich, cold, wet and windy weather which St Andrews enjoys for the most part of the year.
Sandy Milne.
13 Church Street,
St Andrews.
Pedestrian plan precedent
Sir, – I note from The Courier that a proposal has been made that Market Street should become a pedestrian-only area.
Many years ago when I was chairman of Leven Merchants Association we were confronted by a similar proposition for Leven High Street.
We spent a fair amount of money to obtain the opinion of a private firm of town centre planners who quite definitely were of the opinion that the scheme was not only bad but positively disastrous.
At a public inquiry the appointed councillors bulldozed their proposal through and declared that their plan should go ahead.
Anyone who visits the High Street now can see that the failure of the plan has wrecked the street.
I for one would not approve the St Andrews plan.
A A Bullions.
6 Glencairn Crescent,
Leven.
Some fear can be justified
Sir, – Recently The Courier reported a meeting of the cross party group on tackling Islamophobia, which also met Islamic community leaders in the city (“Cross party group meets in city”, October 8).
It is worth noting that a phobia is an irrational fear.
There have been many murders in Britain by Islamic terrorists.
World-wide there are more than a dozen Islamic terrorist groups, including, for example, Hamas, which seems to have considerable support in Dundee via the Palestinian support groups.
To fear Islamic terrorism is not a phobia but a considered reaction to the terror.
Hamas and other Islamic terror groups quote the Koran and the Sharia in support of their terrorism indicating we are dealing with religious terrorism.
Meanwhile the average peaceful Muslim is sidelined.
Given that there are now probably more than two million Muslims in Britain, which testifies to the lack of any general phobia, and considering the existence of Islamophobia, cross party groups set up to tackle alleged attacks against Islam – attacks not nearly as serious or murderous as the Islamic terror we have experienced – have we now not reached the point where we equally need to set up cross party groups to tackle Islamophilia?
Andrew Lawson.
9 MacLaren Gardens,
Dundee.
Morality is changing
Sir, – The current posters addressed to bigots, homophobes, transphobes etc are a sign that an ominous change is planned for our country.
During the 20th Century it was quite possible in countries such as the UK to be a law-abiding citizen and to maintain a clear conscience before God, and also before the state.
In others places, such as Nazi Germany or Communist Soviet Union, this was often not the case, and many Christians were imprisoned for putting God before the authorities.
Now here the ever changing morality of the 21st Century is moving dangerously close to convicting those who follow and openly serve God as guilty of a “hate incident” or “hate crime”.
This is disturbing. However, I fully believe that the true Christian, undaunted by the current vogue in morality, will rise above such intimidation, will honour God first, and will fearlessly hold fast to the bible as the word of truth.
Stuart Wishart.
12 Walnut Grove,
Blairgowrie.
Suppression of religion a worry
Sir, – I agree with correspondents who have suggested that the Scottish Government and Police Scotland are fanning hatred of religion.
The “Dear Bigots” poster with its imitation of a religious tract is a clear and unsubtle expression of hatred towards the many ordinary citizens who hold to a traditional Christian view of morality.
It declares that those who hold such views may not express them.
The Scottish Government is engaging in nothing less than a Stalinist type state suppression of expression of religion, and one which Police Scotland seems eager to enforce.
William Guyan.
40 Middlebank Street,
Rosyth.
Sense of irony in sad situation
Sir, – While reading your article, “Access to take-home abortion pill limited” (Courier, October 15), I was struck with a certain sense of irony.
On the one hand, we are constantly told that Scotland needs thousands of new people to come here to support our economy.
Meanwhile, on the other hand, in 2017 more than 12,000 potential Scots were aborted.
Am I the only person who finds that rather sad?
Further poignancy was added when I read on the following page a quote from the head of integration at the Scottish Refugee Council.
They were saying how fortunate we are that “so many people in Scotland are keen to welcome and support new Scots.”
Angela Rennie.
88 Muirfield Crescent,
Dundee.
Royals are just freeloaders
Sir, – Your correspondent Alister Rankin asked why the British taxpayer has to pay the security bill for the latest royal wedding (Letters, October 15).
I think he will find that the answer is actually very simple.
In a nutshell the royals are a bunch of over-privileged and self-indulgent freeloaders.
I think that just about covers it.
Sam Graves.
10 Strathisla Road,
West Ferry.
