Sir, – The recent dreadful events in Paris illustrate the foolishness of those who assume that our moral values are those to which all citizens of the world aspire and whose attainment is frustrated only by the lack of Western-style democratic governance in the countries which they inhabit.
Sadly, the reality is rather different from the concept.
The exercise of power and religious supremacy are addictive components of the social structure in many countries and attempts by Western governments to relieve the oppression which they believe to be contrary to established ideals of democratic morality by initiating regime change constitute questionable policy.
In many cases, it is better in many countries to have a benevolent dictatorship than a parliamentary democracy and easier for Western governments to confront aggression by a state than aggression by individuals belonging to obsessional sects, who are currently allowed to travel more freely into Western democracies than ever before.
This begs the question of the Holyrood Government’s magnanimous gesture of taking foreign refugees and granting residency and citizenship rights in Scotland, without, apparently, the necessity of conducting detailed due-diligence on their provenance and backgrounds.
We hear that two of the Paris assailants had actually arrived in Greece as refugees, carrying Syrian passports.
It is not that long ago that a serious attempt was made to kill and maim innocent people at Glasgow Airport by academically-educated people, but who were lacking the cultural integration to understand and belong to the mainstream of British social and cultural values.
We have not yet heard the means by which the Scottish Government will satisfy themselves on this point but the disaster in Paris surely means that an open-door policy based upon good intention rather than practical reality has the real possibility to endanger lives, not only now, but also in the future.
If foreign citizens wish to avail themselves of our hospitality, tolerance and benefits, they have to embrace our values and I think there is far too much importance now given to the so-called human rights of people to behave as they wish without the need to observe the responsibilities inherent in living in British society.
Derek Farmer. Knightsward Farm, Anstruther.
Democracy compromised
Sir, – The scenes of bloodshed which filled the streets of Paris were truly shocking.
Sympathy for the victims and the terrible suffering their families will endure does not relieve us of the responsibility of assessing the source of this tragedy.
If, as seems likely, the attacks were carried out by European veterans of ISIS or a similar militia, the dead and wounded on the streets of Paris are victims of imperialist wars in the Middle East, waged for geopolitical ends, that are spiralling out of control.
Twelve years ago, when the Bush administration launched an illegal invasion of Iraq, the French Government, foreseeing the disaster that would flow from the war, refused to participate.
The reintegration of France into NATO’s military command in 2009, followed by its decision to join the United States and other NATO powers in Middle East wars in 2011, has proved to have disastrous consequences.
The French political establishment backed Islamist militias in proxy wars for regime change in Libya and Syria, encouraging its citizens to join these militias by widely presenting them in the media as “revolutionaries” fighting Gaddafi and Assad.
Now these forces, trained to carry out terrorist attacks and guerrilla warfare in the Middle East, are returning home.
This has created an environment in which terrorism can flourish and spread rapidly and, as a result, the war has come home to France.
Since the Kouachi brothers waged their deadly terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo, the ruling elite has reacted to such dangers not by shifting away from the policy of war for regime change in Syria, but by building up the state’s anti-democratic police powers.
Alan Hinnrichs. 2 Gillespie Terrace, Dundee.
Stand by EU neighbours
Sir, Now is not the time to contemplate leaving Europe but instead we should all be giving it support after what has just happened in Paris.
The UK and Europe have woken up to the fact that we are all being targeted by Daesh.
Sticking together as Europeans is the only way to defeat our adversaries, no matter what our differences.
Those who oppose this common enemy are also those that would wish to live in peace with their neighbours.
Bob Harper. 63a Pittenweem Road, Anstruther.
Dangers of EU open borders
Sir, – The horrific scenes in France must touch everyone, in their barbarity and intensity.
It is indeed hard to understand the depths of depravity to that which zealots can plummet without any regard as to the consequences of their actions.
The attack brings to mind Robert Burns’ words: “Man’s inhumanity to man, Makes countless thousands mourn.”
President Francois Hollande has said this will not terrify his people and disrupt French society, stating: “We will continue in the French way.”
Sadly he means the EU way which allows free movement between states.
The European Union’s open-border policy and the experiment of multiculturalism have failed.
David L Thomson. 24 Laurence Park, Kinglassie.
Promotion of ignorance
Sir, – I was disappointed to read RHL Mulheron’s ambiguous advice to Brian Petrie (November 11) that, instead of commenting on Jenny Hjul’s column, he should ignore it.
Whether Mr Mulheron meant that Mr Petrie should read the column but then think no more about it or not read it at all (I suspect the latter) he is promoting ignorance over inquiry and thus bigotry over informed debate.
Gordon Dilworth. 20 Baledmund Road, Pitlochry.
End tax break for small cars
Sir, – With regard to the debate about cyclists paying road tax, the Government should be giving financial incentives to encourage more people to cycle.
It should also be getting rid of the no road tax policy for cars under 1,000cc.
These vehicles are allowed on the road for nothing although they take up the same road space as cars which have to pay and they are still polluting the atmosphere, something which cyclists do not do.
A car less than 1,000cc pays nothing yet for my car, with the same dimensions yet an 1,800cc engine, I have to pay £265 a year.
Alister Rankin. 93 Whyterose Terrace, Methil.
Identify the rogue cyclists
Sir, – Robert Anderson (November 14) goes off on a personal crusade suggesting that young people will not take drink, drugs and tobacco and will take up cycling as a healthy exercise and that I would deny them this opportunity.
He is rather naive, I would suggest.
If he had read my letters, the point I was making was the cycle lanes and facilities have cost taxpayers £70 million in only two years with lots more in the pipeline.
In return I said there should be an identification number to identify the ever-growing number of rogue cyclists.
Clark Cross. 138 Springfield Road, Linlithgow.
Remembrance festival thanks
Sir, – On behalf of the organising committee of Dundee Festival of Remembrance, we would like to convey our sincere thanks and gratitude to the members of the Royal British Legion Scotland, regimental associations, war widows and cadet forces, the Central Band of the Royal
British Legion Scotland, 3rd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland (The Black Watch) and the band of 113 Northern Area Sea Cadets for their participation at this year’s festival at the Caird Hall.
A sincere thanks to the Lord Provost’s office, staff at Dundee City Council and a big thanks to all the staff at the Caird Hall.
It would be very remiss of the committee to fail to acknowledge the public who attended and supported the festival
Alastair W McLean. Convener, City of Dundee Festival of Remembrance.
Scots jobs are moving south
Sir, – The latest in a long list of falsehoods from the anti-independence campaign has been exposed as HMRC announce the closure of offices in Scotland with the potential loss of thousands of jobs.
These were among the very jobs they said were only safe with a no vote in the referendum last September.
How many more lies and scare stories have to be exposed before we all realise that we were cruelly fooled in last year’s vote?
But worse and much more worrying is the obvious asset stripping taking place across Scotland right now in an attempt to make splitting from the union all the more difficult.
Be it tax and benefit offices, power stations, armed forces or steel plants, they have all been closed or are being moved south.
We know our nation is not too wee, even as they try to make us too poor.
Let us not give them the satisfaction of proving we are too stupid.
Richard Clark. Craigton, Monikie.