Tuesday begins with a stirring rallying call to Dundee, as well as discussions of the Lockerbie bomber, Tiger Woods’ indiscretions and the Rev Mike Erksine.
Dundee’s prosperity in hands of its citizens Sir,-Graham Duncan (August 20) suggests that “unrealistic expectations” are to blame for the demise of Realtime Worlds.
Dundee, according to Mr Duncan, is a failure because of its “distorting marketing mentality.”
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Realtime Worlds had a major product that failed in the market.
That is very unfortunate for such a progressive and pioneering organisation, for its people and for Dundee.
However, we should not generalise that fact and apply it to the entire games development community in Dundee, nor to the city itself.
Dundee is an outstanding city, with outstanding people, location, organisations and potential.
The very regrettable demise of one company doesn’t change that fact.
Expectations do have an important role to play. Not “realistic” expectations, as Mr Duncan suggests they lead to limited thinking, and mediocrity.
Dundee needs positive, stretching expectations, based firmly on reality but focused on what could be possible. We need the people of Dundee to get behind them, not to gleefully shoot them down at the first sign of an obstacle to realising them.
Winston Churchill once wrote, “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.”
Every day, Dundonians have the opportunity to write Dundee’s history, to create Dundee’s future.
We need to sing loudly about Dundee’s successes and potential and get behind its marketing campaigns rather than disparage them.
Let’s make the decision to do so. Our future is in our own hands.
Andrew J. Lothian.Chief executive,The Insights Group,Dundee.
Absence of compassion
Sir,-Whether Megrahi is guilty or whether he should have been released, is not for me to say but I find it strange that two factions of predominantly Christian countries are upset at the fact a human being has not died yet.
The USA and Great Britain protest at the moment as a Saudi Arabian court sits to decide if a man should be paralysed by the state because he paralysed a man in a fight.
Callum Campbell.The Paddocks,Grange of Lindores.
Monogamy outdated
Sir,-There is no reason for Jim Parker’s rant (August 19) against Jim Leishman’s call for Tiger Woods to be included in this year’s Ryder Cup team, or for him to call for Woods’ expulsion from golf for an unspecified period.
Woods has not broken any of the rules of golf.
He hasn’t given or received any bribes, he hasn’t cheated on the course, he hasn’t assaulted another player or spectator or committed any crime.
Decisions regarding his sponsorships were taken on commercial grounds, his sponsors fearing a market backlash because of the fear of public sentiments similar to those held by Mr Parker.
Mr Parker states that wealth brings responsibilities, one of which is to be a role model to our young. Why should this burden be placed on the wealthy?
Why does he exclude poverty from this?
Are the poor not capable of being role models?
Woods, like most celebrities regardless of profession, has not sought this role.
He has been appointed to it, had it imposed on him without his consent, by an audience who, for reasons best known to themselves, need to seek moral as well as sporting perfection from their heroes and who are unwilling to accept any frailty in their characters, even those frailties which they themselves may possess.
Tiger Woods’ conduct is not, as claimed by Mr Parker, indefensible; it is merely human and it is not for Mr Parker and the myriad of others to judge.
I suspect that it was probably another of Mr Parker’s heroes who commented, wisely, that he who is without sin should cast the first stone.
Given the increasing reluctance of people to marry and the increase in divorce in Western society, one now has surely to wonder if this trend, rather than illustrating a decline in moral standards as is regularly claimed by politicians and clergy, is an indication that it is the condition of marriage and the morality of monogamy which is wrong?
Perhaps we are returning to a state which is more natural to humanity than the dogma which has been imposed on us by religion for the last two millennia?
None of our primate relatives are monogamous. Why should this be expected even demanded of us?
Murray Duncan.100 Craigie Road,Perth.
Prayers for Fife minister
Sir,-I fear Gordon Rennie’s hoary urban myth (August 21) of the nocturnal adventures during the Kirk’s Assembly week is undermined by the geriatric condition of its clerical participants.
As to the sad events in the East Neuk, Mike (Erskine) was much loved by his fellow ministers in St Andrews Presbytery and had it lain within our powers, he would still be in place.
We are all human and make mistakes but so often the fall-out is driven by a malicious insider and when that happens, we have no option but to send the case up to Edinburgh.
Gordon is absolutely correct to say that Mike was a superb parish minister, had done excellent work in Crail and Kingsbarns and that the Kirk is short of men of his ability.
It has been an absolute heartbreak for his parishioners and fellow ministers and he is very much in our thoughts and prayers as he sets his face to the future.
(Dr) John Cameron.10 Howard Place,St Andrews.
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