Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Alex Salmond’s decision not to meet the Dalai Lama should be commended.
The Dalai Lama is a testament to how well a slick PR campaign coupled with lazy assumptions can lead to an inaccurate portrayal.
The widely held misconception that Buddhism is less authoritarian and more reflective than Christianity and Islam, coupled with Bhagwan-type twaddle from a Hollywood cult as powerful as Scientology, has created an image of an idealised Tibet and the Dalai Lama as a saint.
The truth is the Dalai Lama was an autocratic feudal ruler much like that in Saudi Arabia. Slavery was practised in Tibet well into the 20th century.
In this feudal kingdom torture and mutilation including eye gouging were commonplace. After the Chinese takeover in 1959, slavery and feudalism were abolished as was the crushing tax system imposed by the Lamas. The Chinese also brought running water and electricity to Tibet.
The CIA organised an army of Lamas to overthrow the Chinese in 1959.
They were the representatives of the aristocratic clans. Some 90% were never seen again.
The population did not want to bring back the feudal theocratic system that the Dalai Lama now represents.
Alan Hinnrichs, 2 Gillespie Terrace, Dundee.
Fans are letting emotion rule their heads
Sir, – Scottish football is facing a watershed, and I fear that many fans are letting their emotions overcome practicalities in their desire to force the Rangers newco out of the SPL.
By refusing to buy their own club’s season tickets, if the newco is accepted in the SPL they are only punishing their own club. Is that really what they want to do?
There is every chance Sky will renege on the current deal if Rangers are not in the SPL. This would further financially penalise all other SPL clubs.
The most sensible course for all concerned would be to retain Rangers in the SPL whilst taking the opportunity to amend certain current rules and procedures.
The first matter to be amended could be the 11-1 majority required to change the status quo. If this could be amended to 9-3, then the Old Firm could never again combine to thwart the other SPL clubs.
Secondly, I feel that the following penalty for any club going into liquidation would not only punish the guilty party but financially help the other clubs who have not acted dishonestly. This would, for say a period of five years, entitle clubs visiting the newco to, say, one-third of the home gate revenue.
Together with the three-year European ban this should be sufficient punishment for Rangers FC, and taken in conjunction with the amended voting majority required should ensure all SPL clubs have more power to look after their own interests.
This is a one time opportunity for other SPL chairmen to get together and change what they can for everyone’s benefit.
Bill Watson.17 Seaview Avenue,Seaton Estate,Arbroath.
Where is the consistency?
Sir, – Tayside Police recently considered two proposals for local protests. The first was by an outside gang calling themselves the Scottish Defence League. The second was by a well-known local campaigner for social justice.
The first are intent on whipping up Islamophobia and have issued the public with the warning ”The SDL are coming!” The second was planning to hand out a few leaflets explaining the historical origins of the Olympic torch relay.
The police response to the street thugs was to approve their application stating that they saw no significant risk of public disorder. Their response to the elderly campaigner was to turn up at his sheltered housing and try to intimidate him into staying at home.
Where exactly is the consistency in that?
Peter Allison.Unite Against Fascism,c/o Fire Brigades Union,Headquarters,Glasgow.
A strange kind of hypocrisy
Sir, – It is intriguing to note Prime Minister Cameron’s attitude to a referendum on the political status of the Falkland Islands, especially when contrasted with the holding of a referendum on Scottish independence (June 13).
The Falkland Islands Government has announced its intention to hold a referendum in the first half of 2013 to reaffirm the fact the islanders wish to remain British.
The decision to hold such a vote was taken by the Falkland Islands Government, not the UK Government, and Mr Cameron has stated that it is up to the Falkland Islanders ”themselves” to choose whether they want to remain British and ”the world should listen to their views”.
While one is in total agreement with this stance, it is interesting to note that the Falkland Islands are to be allowed to make a decision on their political future without the interference of the UK Government.
There is a strange hypocrisy that the Falkland Islands Government, 8,000 miles away, is to be allowed to decide its own political future by the UK Government, but when it comes to Scotland the UK Government seems to be operating by a totally different set of rules.
Alex Orr.77 Leamington Terrace,Edinburgh.
Garden visits
Sir, – Apologies for rising indirectly to the bait of my old Harris acquaintance George Galloway, but Stewart Hosie’s extensive list of Dundee visitor attractions has an omission the University of Dundee Botanic Garden.
We had 76,000 visits in 2011 and are listed as a four-star attraction by VisitScotland.
I know that Mr Hosie is the MP for the east side of our city but he is most welcome to come out west to visit the garden.
Dr Neil Paterson.Education Officer,University of Dundee Botanic Garden.
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.