LIKE many, I had great fun watching the annual Eurovision Song Contest over the weekend but ended the evening extremely puzzled. A restless night ensued. I felt as if I had watched one of those baffling reality-bending sci-fi movies which had left me with a lot more questions than answers.
I saw dozens of very entertaining song entries from small, independent countries, some of whom I am embarrassed to admit I had to look up on a map. However, when I used a famous internet search engine to dig a bit deeper on each country, I was bamboozled to discover that almost half of the 39 voting countries were bold enough to have their own currencies (outside of the euro and sterling).
READ MORE: Alyn Smith: Time to 'talk seriously' about Scotland entering Eurovision
How is this even possible? How are these countries, many with populations equal to or smaller than Scotland’s able not only to be independent but to have their own currencies? What is more, many of these countries do not belong to Nato and appear to trade relatively seamlessly across their borders with neighbouring EU nations. What kind of weird alchemy is this?
Befuddled, I have now resolved that, whenever one of those well-known Unionist media cheerleaders lecture us on how Scotland is the only nation from here to Azerbaijan not be able to be in charge of its own destiny, with its own currency, I am now going to invite them to explain this after watching a full dose of Eurovision; all three hours of it.
James Wilson
Edinburgh
I ENJOYED reading Dave Finlay’s long letter yesterday and agree with the general sentiments. I really hope, however that Mary Hopkin doesn’t get to see it.
READ MORE: Dismal Eurovision Song Contest result shows the UK’s standing in the world
I know Mary and her sister quite well and was a neighbour of theirs back in Pontardawe in the Swansea Valley. To describe her as “an English girl riding high in the charts” would go down with her like a lead balloon. Mary is a fluent Welsh speaker and is no more English than Dave, myself or most of your readers! Don’t forget that Wales is an oppressed nation still under the thumb of the British Empire as well as Scotland and the north of Ireland. The Welsh have political aspirations for freedom just like the Scots and Irish!
Rhodri Griffiths
Alford
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