Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Eric Nicolson’s ”Last Word” (Courier, August 13) takes the usual scaremongering route when talking about Scottish independence by equating future Scottish sporting success with the two worst examples he could think of; Puerto Rico and Uzbekistan.
He could have easily mentioned Denmark, Jamaica or New Zealand, all with populations similar to Scotland and medal hauls to match.
He may also have mentioned Russia which won 25% more medals than Team GB and pointed out what more could have been achieved if they could add the medal hauls of Kazakhstan (13) Belarus (13) or Azerbaijan (10).
Of course those three nations may have had something to say about the loss of sovereignty merely to boost Russia’s perceived sporting prowess.
Sovereignty should be the starting point for any nation and with it Scotland can make decisions based solely on what is in her interests, in whichever sphere of endeavour she turns her hand to.
If Scots are willing to barter their sovereignty on something as transitory as the career of a gifted cyclist then we deserve, as a nation, to be consigned to the dustbin of history.
Henry Malcolm.331 Clepington Road,Dundee.
Important to be able to increase efficiency
Sir, – Ewan Pate’s thought-provoking article on basic, common sense economics, with an informative recap of conditions for food production and sale over the last few decades, makes good points.
Inflation, the creation of cartel-type production and selling bodies and downright government interference from local, national, EU and even the UN, makes a mockery of the natural laws of survival.
There is nothing wrong with becoming more efficient and improving the fertility and growth versatility of agricultural land.
Adam Smith was all for it. (He maybe didn’t think much about fertilisers contaminating water courses. No matter.)
Government subsidy should continue, to enable affordable food.
Milk springs to mind, reading your recent columns, but, in my opinion, from national and not EU funds.
The British government could then reduce its contribution to the EU.
The spuds on the farm, adjacent to where I live, look excellent but were, I thought, planted rather late because of the weather, in fields which haven’t seen potatoes for years exactly as recommended in your own farming columns.
The man is a genius, a meteorological marvel.
A T Geddie.68 Carleton Avenue,Glenrothes.
Regrets over SNP support
Sir, – I feel sorry for Liz Fordyce, 46 years’ membership of the SNP, a loyal servant to local government and the SNP.
My wife received a letter from our local MP, MSPs and local city councillors addressed, ”Dear Friend for Yes Scotland”. It states: ”So let’s start to work together to build a greener, fairer and more prosperous Scotland.”
How can we have a fairer Scotland when we are asked to reply to the consultation (and I did), then when the result does not suit them, they state that they are going to do it anyway?
Alex Salmond wants the gay vote in the referendum. He will stop at nothing even when fewer and fewer people want independence.
I’m of the opinion that he wants to be President of Scotland and to take it a stage further; change the name of the Scottish National Party to the Scottish National Politburo and from there to a dictatorship.
I now regret supporting the SNP and voting for them election after election.
Religion after religion has said ”no” to gay marriage. The people have made their opinion known and that should be enough. But they don’t listen.
Norman Ewan.98 Dens Road,Dundee.
More triumph than a blow
Sir, – Your headline ”Double refusal blow for Carrach and Corse Hill windfarms” (August 8) might perhaps have been better as ”Double triumph for lovers of Scottish landscape.”
The sense of utter relief felt by those of us affected by these schemes is overwhelming, not just on a personal level but because we love the Angus landscape as it is.
Scotland is under many threats from these terrible turbines and it is a triumph for common sense that they have been rejected in these cases.
Congratulations to our councillors on two very sensible decisions.
David Grant.No 2 Balintore Cottage,Balintore,Kirriemuir.
Fastest twit?
Sir, – If anyone needs convincing that in some aspects the world has gone mad they should look towards America where a Wisconsin student has won $50,000 for becoming the US fastest texting champion.
What next? $100,000 for the twit who can send the most tweets in 24 hours?
Robert Smith.30 Braeside Terrace,Aberdeen.
Says it all
Sir, – Re Mr Valentines’s letter on Perth City Hall (August 3). I agree entirely with his comments on the negative attitude of Perth and Kinross Council regarding the sale of the City Hall.
When a prominent councillor tells potential developers to put up or shut up I think that sums up their thinking.
Tom Fisken.18 Wilson Street,Perth.
A question mark over team for Rio
Sir, – Wee Eck the First Minister and his associates in the SNP are confident of a yes vote for independence in 2014.
If that is indeed the result of the referendum will it mean that those ”elite” Scottish sportsmen and sportswomen who are being funded to train by the UK Government, at that time, will be withdrawn/excluded from that programme and sent, if they qualify, to the Olympics in Rio 2016 to represent a Team Scotland?
Will there even be a Team GB at Rio?
Alan Provan.19 Park Place,Elie.
That would be a real legacy
Sir, – I am still basking in the warmth of the Olympic games and the song, Imagine, by John Lennon, so beautifully sung at the closing ceremony. Reading the papers I see that all the great and the good are talking about ”the legacy of the games”.
One thing that struck me most about the Olympians was the tributes to their parents yes, they paid tribute to supporters, the crowd and coaches, but most welled up when speaking about their families. So many mouthed ”thank you” while holding up phones with ”I could not have done it without you” to mums and dads.
Rather than rushing out directives to schools, how about standing back and looking at the mothers in our society. The unsung heroines of this nation.
How often have you heard in reply to the question: ”what do you do?” the answer ”I am just a mum”? Or, ”no, I don’t work, I stay at home and look after my kids”?
I have heard a lot of them say they feel miserable at the response they get. Isn’t it time we showed mothers more respect?
Could I have brought up an Olympian? Not sure but the words I heard recently still echo in my ears: ”You are only as happy as your unhappiest child”.
Mums need support, respect, uplifting, educating they need to be recognised.
When filling in forms you have to tick a box stating married, single, divorced, employed, unemployed. How about adding ‘mother’ to that list? How about encouraging and supporting mums to stay at home while their children are growing up?
We might not breed more athletes, but we could start to make a difference with our broken society and perhaps turn out more ”gold medal” citizens.
Barbara Sturrock.12 Invergowrie Drive,Dundee.
Two weeks of absolute bliss
Sir, – The two weeks of the Olympics have been a marvelous example of Great Britain at its best and virtually no sight of Alex Salmond either. Bliss.
Donald Gatt.17 Land Street,Rothes.
Should have attended
Sir, – I think it was terrible that our head of state did not think it important enough to attend the Olympic closing ceremony.
It was a huge occasion and the eyes of the world were upon us. The least she could have done was to thank the athletes, organisers, spectators and volunteers who created a masterpiece of entertainment.
A poor substitute stand-in did not suffice on this occasion.
Her only contribution to the games was speaking about a dozen words at the opening ceremony.
A poor show.
Alister Rankin.93 Whyterose Terrace,Methil.
Why did we have Team GB instead of a Team UK?
Sir, – Well done to Team GB in the Olympic Games. For such a small country to come third in the medal table behind the USA and China is quite an achievement.
I am, however, somewhat puzzled that our athletes were known by the media and apparently our top politicians as Team GB.
The athletes had Great Britain emblazoned on the back of their team clothing. Great Britain, however, only comprises the mainland nations of Wales, Scotland and England. Northern Ireland is a separate part of the United Kingdom, made clear in the correct title, which is The United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland.
Should our squad not have been named Team UK? Were the Northern Irish banished on purpose? Were they competing with the Irish team? Or were there just not any Northern Irish athletes involved?
Why did we only have Team GB instead of a Team UK?
(Captain) Ian McRae.17 Broomwell Gardens,Monikie.
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