I WAS very sorry to read the statement from the women who took Alex Salmond to court.
My initial thoughts on hearing that it was the intention of a group of women to take this action were that it was a Unionist ploy to kill off Salmond politically. I was surprised to learn the women were influential in the SNP.
I am old enough to recognise the problems women have faced even during my lifetime and for many centuries before that. Where a group of people come together to further their own ends, they work against the rest of us. It does not matter whether they are male, female, gay, straight or anything else. If they see themselves as of more importance than others, like the current UK Government, then they see no wrong in abusing those who are not like them.
I do not know where this will lead, but I am very fearful. I recall the phrase “all men are rapists”, or more properly “all men are potential rapists”. This may be true, but then one could say “all women are potential murderers”. Most men and women are appalled by violence and abuse in whatever form, whoever uses it and against whomever.
We must listen to people who feel they have a case against somebody, but we cannot simply accept what they say without proper interrogation just because in the current climate we are expected to assume “victims” must be right. What if I am with one of these women and she decides that my behaviour is inappropriate and makes a complaint to the police? Her anonymity allows her to do as she wishes and I could suffer the consequences. Also my wife, like Moira Salmond, would suffer. These women claim to be standing up for women, but are they too obsessed with an idea that they cannot see the hurt they do to innocent members of their own sex?
Robert Mitchell
Dunblane
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article