I SEARCHED without success on Friday to find the number of our fellow Scots who have passed away from the Covid pandemic. I could not easily find that information as all the available news outlets and websites were entirely swamped with news of the death of Prince Philip.
His death at 99 is a tragedy for his friends and family. He lived a long, interesting, privileged and hopefully happy life. He will be missed.
On average around 150 people in Scotland sadly die every day, each one a personal tragedy for their own friends and family. Most die long before they reach the age of 99.
READ MORE: BBC and ITV viewing figures plummet during blanket Prince Philip coverage
It is almost 12 years to the day since my own father passed away. He grew up in relative poverty in the slums of 1920s Glasgow. He also served his country in the Second World War and came home to a land not quite fit for heroes. He spent the rest of his days, working until retirement in a factory, often working the then customary Tuesday and Thursday nights and the odd Sunday overtime to help pay the bills.
No doubt the nation as a whole will spend the next week or so repeatedly mulling over every detail of the life of Prince Philip before finally placing him to rest.
I was struck by the outpourings and tributes by politicians on almost every TV channel. I marvelled at the ability of news presenters to almost instantly change mid-programme to black clothing and the ease with which men found black ties.
I have no animosity towards the royal family. It, like many more ordinary families, has its ups and downs, but I cannot help but feel it is an organisation which now belongs firmly in the past.
Are we really living in 2021? Some days it just feels like 1621.
Dr Iain Evans
Edinburgh
I WAS deeply disappointed that on Saturday The National, together with every daily paper other than the Morning Star, put a photo of a 99-year-old man who had just died on its front page. What has happened to the republican tradition which has played such a vital role in the growth of Scots national self-awareness?
Some of us grew up with a correct understanding of history.
READ MORE: Scotland's political parties halt 2021 campaigns after Prince Philip's death
You devoted several pages of Saturday’s paper to this man’s death – which at the age of 99 was hardly notable. The first Scots postboxes bearing the historical untruth “EIIR” were blown up, and to this day nowhere in Scotland does the GPO dare to use this lying number … though it’s happy to do so everywhere else in our so-called “United Kingdom”. (In case any reader doesn’t know, she may be the second Liz of England, but is definitely the first of the nation in which we live.) Perhaps at some stage your paper could remind its younger readers of a few historical untruths which help support Scots incorporation into the “UK”.
Dougie Harrison
Milngavie
I AM a member of the Maryhill and Springburn branch of the SNP. On Saturday I received an email informing me that all leafleting and campaign activity was suspended on Friday afternoon following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh and that over the weekend this suspension would continue and there should be no outward campaigning – meaning no leafleting and no political social media posts.
As I’m bald, am I exempt from having to tug my forelock?
GM Stevenson
Glasgow
THE outpouring of support for the monarchy from among the Scottish independence movement on Friday and Saturday and today is a little concerning to me. Surely in a country that pursues reduction of inequalities there is no place for a monarchy that possesses an obscene amount of inherited wealth and privilege: wealth comes at the expense of others and creates poverty to a matching degree.
I do not celebrate the death of a 99-year-old man but nor will I mourn for a stranger who was alien to my way of life. Little more than that needed to have been said by key figures in our independence movement.
Ni Holmes
St Andrews
CONDOLENCES to the grieving family and friends, of course, but the idea that the nation is mourning? Please!!
Pausing the election campaign only serves to illustrates why monarchy and the way that the UK media and UK politicians react to it, is incompatible with principles of democracy, equality and fairness that should guide any modern society.
Only one Holyrood party is far enough removed from the British establishment to give voice to how millions of Scots feel: “A hereditary monarchy is incompatible with Green principles of democracy, equality and fairness. We favour an elected Head of State.”
Thom Muir
via thenational.scot
IT was interesting reading the Green statement, which is a masterclass of “we recognise we need to say something so here’s the absolute bare minimum that keeps us covered while tacitly acknowledging this pointless anachronism needs to go”.
Good for them.
JG McQuarrie
via thenational.scot
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