We must re-learn our history to recognise the impact of racism

The last thing we need to see happen again is for interest to die down, anger to evaporate and for society to move on to the next eye-catching, headline grabbing “issue”. As a society we have an obligation to highlight and respond to continued structural racism, since racism impacts victims and perpetrators alike and demeans all of society.

But equally, we cannot afford to be led up blind alleys that conflate knee-jerk reactions with anti-racist practice. That would once again result in short-term change and a false feeling of “sorted”.

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Individually, yes, let’s do what we can we can. If it’s a case of calling it out when we see it or hear it, then that is solidarity. If we support an anti-racist organisation, that is recognition of the need for anti-racist structures on our political and societal landscape.

But to create a better future we need collective action. Could I gently point out, then, that positive action is great but not positive discrimination, since the latter is self-defeating and illegal under the Equality Act 2010?

Even before then, it was widely acknowledged that positive action was required since discrimination was so entrenched that merely prohibiting it was unproductive.

We have a need, then, to explore our past, and in Scotland that must include a relearning of our history, examining and recognising the cause and effect of generational racism.

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As someone born here, believe me I’ve had to find, negotiate and frequently defend my space ( as a woman, mother, worker, and committed anti-racist), so I find the furore over statues and named spaces ironic. I believe that by removing statues, renaming spaces, there could be the potential of removing altogether the memory of evil that has been perpetrated.

As a personal observation then, far better to retain, but add the updated information, calling out, naming and identifying connections to and participation in that which we abhor. Education doesn’t begin and end in school, universities and from books. It should be all around us. Whilst it is imperative we fight for justice for the likes of Surjit Singh Chhokar and Sheku Bayoh, let’s remember too we are not solely victims, but survivors with voices, stories, celebrations. So let’s begin to use names, recognise people away from victimhood and with pride and honour.

We know that individuals, communities and populations will continue to fight against racism, but it requires the political agenda to be engaged and informed in a way that is reflective of Scotland, not directed by misconceptions of what has passed as the “norm”.

Once employed, that agenda has to be held up for scrutiny. Without accountability and action undertaken, we won’t have change beyond subtractions and additions to street landscapes.

Selma Rahman
Edinburgh

IF anyone wants to feel and understand the full impact of a memorial to human barbarity, they could do worse than take a trip to France and visit Oradour sur Glane.

There they will find the remains of a whole village, where the Nazis took every living soul from their homes, locked the women and children in the church and set fire to it, and shot the men in small groups against the walls of the houses, in retaliation for a Resistance attack they believed had come from there. Unfortunately, they chose the wrong village called Oradour.

I defy anyone to visit and be untouched by the sight of a rusting Singer sewing machine on the shelf of a roofless house, or the heap of rusting bicycles beside the church, cleared before it was realised that retaining the ruins intact was the most powerful memorial possible. Plaques at intervals on the walls ensure that the accurate story is there for all to learn.

A memorial to barbarity it may be, but no other means of disseminating history could have more impact than this concrete, visual one.

P Davidson
Falkirk

THERE has been some discussion recently regarding sending our MPs down to Westminster. Some have suggested that we should have had our Members of Parliament remain in Scotland. Others think we are in a “damned if we do and damned if we don’t” situation. I think that perhaps we missed a trick here.

My idea is that we could have sent one very healthy individual only. A suitable title for this individual would be Scotland’s “Secretary of State for England”. His/her remit being that of Principal Minister of the Scottish Government to represent our position regarding English affairs in this United Kingdom.

After all, whatever they say about Westminster – it’s all about England. It’s just a thought.

Douglas Stanley
Ayr

THERE is only one question that Jackson Carlaw should ask, and that is: “First Minister, How do you suggest that Scottish Tories can make a positive, helpful and constructive contribution towards ending the current coronovirus troubles?” Perhaps the same question might be put by Richard Leonard and Scottish Labour? Genuine and kindly co-operation would surely stand his party in better stead with the public, even of their own party, than does its current policy of shameless battering.

Valerie Waters
East Lothian

I AM writing to say “thanks” for your daily paper. I have a print subscription but may try the digital subscription.

Some of those I know take the line that we should not support The National because it is not controlled by The SNP. My response is that we should encourage discussion, debate and dialogue. We have enough publicity material from SNP HQ without turning The National into a party organ.

Hamish Kirk
Rothesay