Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, With a bequest from the late Edwin Morgan, Scotland’s former Makar, a £1 million fighting fund has been created by the SNP. It is seemingly going to be used to help convince Scots to split from the United Kingdom.
Even a roadmap to independence has been supplied and, to get the message across, the party faithful have been told to return to their local areas, knock on doors, and start engaging with all of Scottish society. I can hardly wait!
Will we be hearing from these Bravehearts talk of oppression, chains and servile toil, and that the rule of Westminster is to blame for all Scotland’s ills?
If the following, which appeared in an earlier press release from the Scottish National Party in response to a lecture given by Professor Devine, is anything to go by it seems very likely. In that press release MSP Christine Grahame said:
”Professor Devine and other commentators have their perspective on Scottish history, which of course they are entitled to, but I fundamentally disagree that there is a ‘victim mentality’ to popular perceptions of history in Scotland. Professor Devine may wish otherwise, as do most British unionists, but the fact remains that Scotland has been subjected to almost continuous external interference throughout most of its existence by England, with a political goal to subjugate and subsume Scotland.”
In light of such backward-looking cringe, and with the SNP’s aim to see Scotland in the future as an independent country within the European Community, if all those of the same opinion as Christine Grahame think they have to date experienced an oppressive regime, they ain’t seen anything yet!
Just wait until the unelected bureaucrats in Brussels get a grip even more so than they have already.
Neil McKinnon.Tulchan Garden,Glenalmond,Perth.
‘Democracy’ abroad, but…
Sir, I suppose one benefit of the MoD cuts will be fewer of our young men and women being killed in wars in faraway countries, waged to bring ”democracy” to these nations.
This is particularly relevant given that the same government that wages war to bring democracy to other nations overseas, has signally failed to deliver a similar democracy to its own people.
I find it quite shocking that we have been denied the democratic right to vote on our future membership of the EU.
Perhaps we need some foreign power to step in and force our government to see sense or step aside.
(Captain) Ian F. McRae.17 Broomwell Gardens,Monikie.
This fuss is hypocritical
Sir, The fuss being made about the circumstances of despot Gaddafi’s death is a bit hypocritical, I think.
We allowed Soviet prosecutors (who had probably murdered thousands before and during the war) to participate in the prosecuting of captured Nazi leaders.
We welcomed the capture and death of Mussolini (and his mistress/partner) who were strung from lampposts. Ceausescu and his wife did get a quick military tribunal, and were then shot. No further comment.
Saddam was lucky. He got a trial, and was then hanged.
Milosevic (now dead), Karadzic and Mladic cost us millions, languishing in The Hague arguing their cases, pleading all sorts of spurious defences.
We are obsessed with ‘human rights’ and do, I feel, tend to miss the point from time to time. Cruel, oppressive dictators must expect to feel the wrath of their people, without adverse comment from those of us who enjoy the comforts of the democratic rule of law.
What we saw in Libya requires no further comment, nor investigation.
Had Gaddafi been taken alive and, even worse, transferred to The Hague, he would soon have been declared mentally unfit to plead, and have avoided punishment, ending his days in a comfortable hospital.
A. T. Geddie.68 Carleton Avenue,Glenrothes.
Irresponsible dog owners
Sir, Being a responsible dog owner in Monifieth I am becoming more angry by the minute at the amount of dog owners who bag their dog’s poo then leave it lying on the ground, hanging from a bush, tree or wire fence.
Why do they do this? Don’t they have a brain cell in their head? Plastic bags take many years to decompose.
Will dog owners who walk their dogs in Ashludie Park, or any of the fields or paths around the Ashludie farm area, please take note? Don’t give dog owners in Monifieth a bad name.
Also, to the owners who let their dogs foul the pavements and grass areas, leaving it lying for some poor person or child to step in it, ”Pick it up and bin it!”
A. Johnston.Monifieth.
Doesn’t add up
Sir, Can someone explain to me why Alex Salmond is pushing green energy down our throats but is happy BP has found huge oil reserves off Shetland?
Surely oil is one of the biggest polluters of the atmosphere and he should be discouraging them from any further developments if he is sincere in his green agenda.
Also, his cohort Nicola Sturgeon says there will be no privatisation in the health service. Why, then, am I paying a private company for the privilege of parking at Ninewells Hospital?
Bob Duncan.110 Caesar Avenue,Carnoustie.
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.