Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Perhaps, as George Galloway says, Lochee was a slum (April 23). Families of up to eight and more lived in two rooms, a ”but ‘n’ ben”, while some lived in one room, a ”single end”.
The lavatory, a latter-day invention, added almost as an afterthought to the building, could be shared with four or five other families.
The majority were honest, hardworking folk, struggling to survive in conditions much worse than today.
The problems then were real and obvious, not the sophisticated politicking that besets us now and in which self-proclaimed democratic politicians use undemocratic means to gain political advantage, as they draft ambiguous questions to confuse their enemy the voters.
In the book All Quiet On The Western Front, German soldiers in the trenches would have had the generals do the fighting and the dying and, in a similar vein, my favoured political scenario would have ”unco’ guid” temperance George crossing claymores in Holyrood with ”unco’ Scot” braveheart Alex as, indefatigably, they fight to take us into the never-neverland of Scottish independence on the one hand, or straining political correctness on the other.
Andrew Lawson.9 MacLaren Gardens,Dundee.
Come, friendly birds, and land in Dundee
Sir, – In Monday’s paper there is a computer-generated image of the V&A structure which looks to rival the best pigeon, dove and seabird roosts around our coasts, including St Kilda and Bass Rock.
The stratiform structure is strikingly similar to the cliffs and stacks of Caithness on which every ledge has a nest.
Will the V&A mature to attract more bird-watchers than art-lovers to Dundee?
The white drape of droppings and the bloom of sea pinks in season will soon soften its stark appearance.
Of course, we readers see only ‘brochure’ pictures maybe it is intended to drape the whole thing with chicken wire to prevent human visitors being attacked or worse by aggressive nest-protectors plus experiencing the smell of accumulated guano on the ledges and slippery mess underfoot on the plaza.
I must be patient the architect will have thought about the bird factor when seated at his drawing board, as would the various authorities when they selected the winning design so possibly I should not be so concerned.
Kenneth Foster.Hatton Road,Luncarty.
The famous Skintish sense of humour
Sir, – Having read AT Geddie’s letter of April 19 in which he refers to The Economist’s tongue-in-cheek comments about ”Skintland” and asks whether we have all lost our sense of humour, I began to question why I felt offended by the article.
I also asked myself why should I feel insulted when Scots are portrayed regularly on TV as drunks, penny-pinching, dour or aggressive.
Just as I was about to concede that perhaps AT Geddie had a point, up popped Dr David Starkey with his latest tirade against anyone who doesn’t agree with him, this time comparing Alex Salmond to a ”Caledonian Hitler” who regards the English as Hitler did the Jews.
At first I was very angry then I thought about AT Geddie and remembered I mustn’t lose my sense of humour.
But it isn’t funny. Could it be that Mr Geddie lost more than his sense of humour a long time ago?
Gordon H Drummond.101 Buttars Loan,Dundee.
Generosity for children of Chernobyl
Sir, – I would like to thank the staff and customers of ASDA Perth for their generosity in helping us to raise more than £500 last Saturday in a bag pack at the store.
With this money we are able to pay for the airfare of a group of 10-year-old children visiting Perthshire from the Ukraine in June.
This year we have 12 coming for a month to breathe our clean Highland air and eat good food with lots of fruit, giving their immune system a vital boost and helping them grow to adulthood.
We would never be able to do this without the generosity and kindness of our loyal band of friends and supporters and we thank you all.
David Dawson.Chairman,Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline (Perth).
Building site
Sir, – It is all very nice to hear that Dundee Railway Station is to be completely upgraded. However, I wonder how much further into the future it will look like a building site?
I lived there years ago and the city was never free of major road and building projects which seemed to go on forever. Parking, using the roads and walking are all a nightmare.
Living near Perth now, this new city should also be aware that it is going down the same slippery slope, with a decline in footfall already noticeable.
Bryan Smith.69 Balmanno Park,Bridge of Earn.
Offer them job
Sir, – A suggestion on how to deal with Abu Qatada and anyone else we seem to have difficulty deporting offer them a job and if they refuse to take it, stop their benefits.
It is costing us a fortune to keep people who have sworn to kill all of us.
This government applies these methods to honest British citizens so it should not be a problem.
Alister Rankin.93 Whyterose Terrace,Methil, Leven.
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. Letters should be accompanied by an address and a daytime telephone number.