IT was troubling to read Alyn Smith’s column (We must be wary of China’s bid to spread its influence, December 9).
He cites some examples, mostly accusations rather than specific evidence, of how China’s educational centres – the Confucius Institutes – may threaten the West. Much of the article is an unsupported stream of prejudice and insinuation, peppered with scare words like censorship, propaganda and apologists.
As China becomes the world’s largest economy and as its economic, political and cultural significance rises – a process which, post-pandemic, seems likely to accelerate – it’s vital that we at least keep an open mind and try to understand more about China’s civilisation state. We might even learn something from their smart statecraft, as distinct from the overbearing, bellicose approach of the West.
Smith’s Sinophobic style simply can’t work in the years ahead. How will a newly independent Scotland move forward internationally if it merely adopts the old Cold War rhetoric, just as the world pivots towards the east?
Paul Bassett
Glasgow
WHY the hit piece on China from Alyn Smith? Surely critical writing on the US/UK’s “official enemies” is a reserved matter for any UK Government.
Would Alyn Smith devote the same amount of time and energy casting a critical eye over the “special relationship”? A relationship that could see our cherished NHS fully privatised as US big pharma and insurance are salivating over the billions of pounds up for grabs, post deal or No-Deal Brexit. Should this not be the leading indy argument? Imagine the reaction from Scots waking up realising that health is no longer free at the point of access!
Incidentally, since 1945, the US have overthrown or attempted to overthrow a foreign government in about 60 countries – now that’s unparalleled “spreading influence” that would be worth writing about!
JC
Fife
ANENT the recent discussion about Gaelic. The school I went to had pupils from all over the world, most of whom arrived able to speak English. One year, nine Pakistani youngsters arrived, all from one family, and none could speak a word of English, not even “yes” or “no”. But within weeks were able to converse with us fluently.
I am useless at languages (I leave the talking to my wife!) but during three weeks in France I learned more French than I did in seven years away at school.
My son lives in Italy and also learned the language very quickly, and now teaches English to individuals and company staff. My grandson is fluent in three languages and he is only three years old.
What has all this got to do with Gaelic? All the people mentioned above were immersed in the language, and I’m sure this is the route to take to preserve and increase Gaelic speakers. If people interested in the language could learn in settings where no English was allowed, say with Gaelic-speaking families or more formal settings, wouldn’t this grow the number of Gaelic speakers and eventually make others keen to learn?
Richard Walthew
Duns
LESLEY Riddoch is right to point out the folly of the royal couple’s recent “morale-boosting” trip to Edinburgh (December 10).
Visiting Scotland by breaking our Covid rules was bad enough, but worse still was their visit to a food bank in the north of England to thank volunteer staff.
Unbelievable that a privileged royal couple could be so badly advised.
Their attendance endorses the normalisation of the very existence of the Tory-imposed austerity that has created this phenomenon of food banks in 21st-century Brexit Britain.
Is this the vision of their UK that they believe is acceptable?
If so, then it’s beyond contempt and an incredible insight into their lack of real compassion for the poorest in society.
There should be no food banks in what we are told is the world’s fifth wealthiest “country” of which you are the heirs in waiting.
My advice to the young royal couple, in all sincerity, is don’t visit food banks, do something meaningful to eradicate the blight of their very existence.
Ian Stewart
Uig, Isle of Skye
WHEN Joanna Cherry had some legal success recently I understand that Nicola Sturgeon was gracious enough to recognise and compliment her on that. It would do Joanna no harm at all to reciprocate and acknowledge Nicola’s efforts, particularly in recent months. We need both of these talented ladies. Gracious acknowledgement is in short supply in the sports field as well but we expect better of our politicians.
RG Clark
Gorebridge
I RECEIVED a Christmas card this week from a cousin in New Zealand with Scotland after my address with no mention of the UK. Kind of says it all, really, that Scotland is known all over the world.
Fiona Lennard
via email
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 hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel