THE simple but effective ploy of divide and rule has always been a cornerstone of Westminster’s plan to first subjugate , then erase, the Scottish nation.
I therefore applauded when All Under One Banner was formed and I have attended the majority of their events, including Saturday’s rally in Dundee. However, for this attendee at least, a discordant note was struck by one speaker who apparently could not grasp the ethos of AUOB, and devoted much of his speech to slagging of the SNP and denigrating Nicola Sturgeon’s leadership abilities.
READ MORE: Attacks on All Under One Banner are completely self-defeating and divisive
At one point the speaker’s views resulted in him being mildly heckled by an audience member, which was slightly disconcerting at an indy rally.
Friends and I have already spoken about September’s planned event in Stirling but if even the hitherto inspirational unity of purpose of AUOB can be cracked by those who do not put independence first at all times, should we bother?
Malcolm Cordell
Dundee
JUST to clear things up, I see in the letters section of yesterday’s National a letter concerning AUOB and the Dundee event last weekend, accompanied by an image from the first static event at Holyrood with myself in the front.
I’m more than happy to have my photo taken at any of the events or marches and used in context to be positive and further our cause for independence, but when you drag out an old image and stick it to a negative letter I’m not so chuffed.
READ MORE: All Under One Banner? More like Only Some Under One Banner
I’m not, nor did I ever want to be, anything else but a guy who comes to the events alone and with no affiliation to any group, to stand for the people who can’t come along and to show my love for the indy movement and its followers. Seeing my image attached to a negative response to one of the events, as if I’m the poster boy for the group, makes me think am I really doing a good thing?
I have no affiliation to any of the groups, and like most of you attend because we want our country to be free from Westminster. So please, I urge you all, whatever your political party or views are, to come along and bring all your family because these days out are a most fantastic show of strength and companionship. We can show Scotland is definitely open for business.
The Silent Clansman
via email
MAY I, through your columns, ask Nicola Sturgeon not to apologise for the state of drug abuse in Scotland? As government head she’s apologising for a situation over which she has no control and I, as a member of her party, strongly disagree with her action.
Though it’s not the only reason for drug abuse, poverty is at the top of the list and after more than a decade of Westminster austerity there are other more important questions to be addressed.
Furthermore, there’s barely a day passes without the opposition saying “the SNP have been in power for 14 years and why haven’t they addressed this mess?” At this point the SNP’s accusers should be firmly reminded that they’ve been in power for 14 years because the whole of the opposition combined is of such low quality and have totally failed to defend their own constituents or Scotland.
RG Clark
Gorebridge
THERE is something pathetic about Johnson’s response to our First Minister’s invitation for a meeting. I find it entertaining that Johnson is to be father to yet another baby, yet at the same time he disnae seem tae have the baws tae meet the FM. By the time he grows figurative ones, we’ll be even further down the road to independence.
Ken Campbell
via email
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