Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Can I firstly be pedantic and point out to those who use the phrase ”Victorian picture postcard” charm, that it was well after 1901 and Victoria’s death that the picture postcard came into mass popularity.
The term ‘charm’ is not what I would use as I wander through Pitlochry’s litter-strewn street on a wet and windy summer’s evening.
Most of what we here in Pitlochry consider to be ”precious” is sadly falling apart and in need of some sensible redevelopment. Without that, we are heading into a ghost-town scenario.
It seems that many local people have very few altruistic bones in their bodies and are only aware of what damage will be done to their lot if any forward-thinking development was to go ahead.
There are fewer traders than ever in Highland Perthshire and most have to pay a ridiculous sum just to be in business here.
Few sell any Scottish-made goods and I do think that Pitlochry, like many towns, is surviving on its past glories which, in time, will dwindle and fade as people go elsewhere.
This seems like such an nihilistic attitude to adopt but it seems for many the only attitude.
One only needs to wander through the town and count the number of vacant business properties for sale or lease and the increasing number of residential properties on sale or unsold.
I do think we cannot depend on quasi-Victorian charm to get through this malaise.
When the building of Alba Place the pivotal building in the middle of Pitlochry was proposed, the owners of Fisher’s Hotel protested that their residents’ view of Ben-y-Vrackie would be lost.
I rest my case.
T. K. Millar,Broom Place,Pitlochry.
Appalled over minister’s outburst
Sir, – I feel I must respond to the letter from Rev Dr John Cameron ”Scots don’t give a Hoot” (Tuesday, July 17).
As a Christian, I must disagree with many of his comments.
Dr Cameron stated: ”Paul wasn’t very keen on homosexual rape or some of the goings-on in pagan temples, but no one would be.”
In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter Six, it states: ”Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Dr Cameron has taken these verses and taken the six words, ”men who have sex with men” to refer to being ”goings on in pagan temples”.
I was appalled to see such a vindictive outburst from one Christian minister, against the beliefs of another!
Steve Ross,18 Nairn Street,Fife.
The wind taken out of their sails
Sir, – It is time that people like Jenny Hogan, of Scottish Renewables, had the wind taken out of their sails.
For a long time now, it has been known that if Scotland reduced its carbon emissions to zero it would not make a blind bit of difference to the planet.
Even if the global warming alarmists were correct, it is poor Joe Public who is paying for the vast increase in the cost of electricity.
It must be said that the blind obsession with wind turbines which definitely detract from the Scottish countryside and deter visitors reminds me of the old story of the Emperor’s New Clothes.
It is time to explode the myth, once and for all.
Ian Hannah,Upper Kinneddar,Fife.
How times have changed
Sir, – I was intrigued with the story about Bel Forbes and how she fell into becoming a butcher. It brought back many memories.
I started to work in a butchery branch of the Co-op in 1941, as a cashier/clerkess.
I worked as a butcher for 17 years, and when the men came back from the war I had to finish work at the Co-op as they didn’t employ married women.
How times have changed.
I wish Bel all the luck in the world.
Mary Wilson,Balgreggie Park,Fife.
Scotland moving with the times
Sir, – I think it is brilliant that Scotland is taking a pioneering step towards marriage equality.
The right to marry who you love is something I am sure we all hold dear to us.
This is a bold statement of Scotland as a progressive nation, which upholds and extends principles of equality and liberty.
This makes me absolutely proud to say I am Scottish.
Gary Paterson,Arbroath.
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.