On the agenda today: the SFL’s punishment of Dundee FC, abortion, the co-operation pact between the UK and France, and foreign aid.
Administrators are killing Scottish football
Sir,-If ever you wish to find a good example of turkeys voting for Christmas, then you need only look at Scottish football.
I have been a follower of the game in Scotland since the 1960s and have watched our national game fade to a shadow of its former self.
Supporters of our national team have been disenfranchised by the placing of viewing rights with minority broadcasters and the resources that once spread evenly across the game, enabling clubs to build competitive, world-class sides, have been redirected to Glasgow, making the Old Firm both richer and poorer at the same time.
The deduction of 25 points from Dundee FC makes little or no sense at all.
Administration is a mechanism designed to afford a business a chance to survive. It does this by protecting a company from its creditors.
However, in football that protection is worthless when punitive action such as this are levied by its governing bodies.
Our laws afford companies a chance but the Scottish Football League does not. I believe it is time Scottish football rallied in support of its clubs rather than kicking them when they are down.
I agree that Dundee FC could have managed their business affairs better but there is no denying the game in Scotland will be poorer without them and the city of Dundee left bereft of its uniquely friendly club rivalry.
The game in Scotland is dying a slow, lingering death. The malaise is a result of the self-interest of those that govern its structure and who refuse to see the bigger picture.
Iain Waghorn.98 Forfar Road,Dundee.
Does SPUC support Pope?
Sir,-Whilst I support of the right of the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child to hold vigils and to oppose the 1967 Abortion Act (October 30) they really should come clean about their religious orientation.
SPUC tries to portray itself as a secular organisation only concerned with women’s health and well being.
However, this is not fully in accordance with the facts. SPUC is a religious organisation wholly in agreement with the position of the teachings of the Pope and the Catholic Church on the issue of abortion.
I would ask them if they also agree with the Pope that condoms do not stop the spread of HIV in Africa or that abortion, in the case of rape or incest, is a mortal sin leading to eternal damnation in Hell?
Alan Hinnrichs.2 Gillespie Terrace,Dundee.
Perilous security
Sir,-Are we a nation emasculated by our involvement with the European Union and its predecessor organisations? Given our inability to defend ourselves, I fear we are.
Following David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy’s co-operation pact, we will rely on France for our naval air power.
The leaders speak about being strategic military partners. All well and good as long as our political strategies also coincide.
Friction will arise when conflicting political allegiances lead to a divergence of opinion over military intervention.
In those circumstances, will France support British interests or those of the German-led European Union?
Let’s just hope our aircraft carrier is not berthed in Marseille during a fuel strike when we next need to defend the Falkland Islands.
Robert Anderson.Kirkton,Arbroath.
Aid drains UK of cash
Sir,-I completely agree with Bill Duthie (November 1) regarding the British Government acting like Lady Bountiful with our money.
Foreign countries should start to support themselves for a change. We continue to pour money into them and we would be as well making a bonfire and burning it because it does not seem to help the people it was meant to.
(Mrs) June Reid.12 Findhorn Street,Dundee.
Rationalise handouts
Sir,-Stefan Morkis and I rarely see eye to eye (October 29).
In his latest contribution ‘Hard-up needn’t mean heartless’ he attacks those who rail against the UK spending £12.6 billion a year on foreign aid when our economy is in such a dire state.
What’s the point of giving away so much and making Britain bankrupt?
If all the so-called wealthy nations went to the wall, who would be left to help out the needy?
We need healthy and wealthy economies in the West to bail out our weaker brethren in the Third World.
And is the money we give reaching the people who really need it?
India, for instance, receives millions in aid from us yet that country’s government is building aircraft carriers and expanding its nuclear defence programme while millions of its people starve and thousands die on its streets.
Meanwhile, corrupt African politicians use foreign aid either to line their own pockets or to massacre minorities with weapons provided by the funds meant to help their starving populations.
We must help those worse off than ourselves but the way the United Kingdom, the EU and the United Nations now go about it is not only wasteful but counter-productive.
A little common sense and a large dose of honest dealing are required to put things to rights.
George K. McMillan.5 Mount Tabor Avenue,Perth.
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.