HAVE we forgotten the words of Niemoller: “First they came for...”, the very articulation of what happens when we lack agreement, when we do not speak out?

Our demonstrations across the UK at the weekend were not an embarrassment, just the opposite; the very thing that Liam Fox and others fear the most: unity in common purpose.

I was struck on the march from Holyrood to the Meadows by the good humour, the friendliness, the openness that found us speaking to strangers, making alliances, without angry noise, rather laughter and music – and face it, Trump does make you angry, sometime, if not all the time.

There were families: couples, holding hands and banners; two, three generations of the one family. Not necessarily all sharing the same credence , but definitely sharing one goal: making it known we do not see our society going the way of others that are providing a platform that first normalises the language of bigotry, prejudice and discrimination then legitimises it through government legislation.

Last week, I watched the Channel interview with Trump’s former adviser, Sebastian Gorka where he openly introduced the “Judeo-Christian” axis of beliefs and values and how those “unite” many Trump followers and voters. Gorka managed to align this with Europe for good measure. Not my Europe, since it appeared nothing more than a veiled threat to me and mine.

When Steve Bannon gets prime time on radio bigging up Tommy Robinson I fear the tilting towards right-wing absolutism is in full swing and worse, gaining traction. We cannot deny there are injustices across the world. But such injustices will not be addressed by the rhetoric of making one country great, when we ignore the reality of how that will impact negatively others.

We know that any benefits expected or promised from a global village or society have not been gained equally. Not when we see the likes of multinationals, conglomerates and tax evasion working for some, whilst all the while pushing up consumerism and the demand for “things” beyond belief.

Those benefits that have been achieved more often than not have been at the expense of the working poor, and unemployed; the victims of war, famine, environmental damage, climate change. “Unintended consequences, collateral damage” are easy get-out clauses used by those at the top of the pyramid. So, if leaders and governments can take complex problems such as poverty, hunger, mass migration and climatic catastrophes then reduce them into soundbites that deflect from their own shortcomings and failures, history tells us they’ve won a hollow, but frightening, populists’ victory. Even better if there is the creation of an “enemy” to blame.

When such a victory is combined with the philosophy of the right wing, when trade is a one-way benefit to the stronger, depleting the weaker, if we do not have the visible unity of belief and purpose, opposing those who misuse power whether that is locally, nationally or internationally, we are divided, we are weaker, and we have lost the message left by Niemoller.

Selma Rahman
Edinburgh

IF Ian McQueen (Letters, July 16) can identify for us when Nicola Sturgeon “snubbed” Donald Trump, I may read the rest of his letter.

Dave McEwan Hill
Sandbank, Argyll

IT was perhaps inevitable that Americans would elect someone like Donald Trump, who is presiding over the US as a CEO would over a global corporation.

Although a surprise to many, it should not have been when one considers that the electorate are culturally taught to aspire to be someone like him (the “American dream”): one who has overcome all competition to become extremely wealthy and powerful. In doing so, he may not have given much thought to those he has trodden underfoot. And, as previously with business competitors, now with countries (“foes”).

Britain is not far behind in its emulation, and it won’t be long before we too elect a PM who primarily governs, maybe not as a CEO, but certainly as the chief spokesperson for UK corporations.

Unless, of course, we decide that governments and corporations should be there to serve us, not we them.

Geoff Naylor
Winchester, Hampshire

I WATCH The Alex Salmond Show each week and enjoy it enormously. It does not surprise me that the British establishment in the form of Ofcom has responded to a non-existent complaint. The responses, which are charmingly read by Tasmina, are accurate and to the point.

This programme is an enjoyable and interesting look at European politics and history. It certainly beats the usual stuff about a PM dancing on a hot tin roof to stay in power. May it long continue, regardless of specious complaints from Ofcom or anyone else.

Alan Clayton
Argyll

REGARDING your story “Weight gain ‘only comes from fat’” (July 13). Is Professor John Speakman really suggesting that homo sapiens has the physiology of a herbivore? Moreover that humans can eat any amount of carbohydrate without getting obese? Surely the lessons of the last 60 years show unequivocally otherwise.

Mark Waters
East Lothian