HOW dare you, Stephen Paton (This election is now more than ever a choice of future or past, March 29)!
Youngsters seem to think they have a monopoly on foresight suggesting that I am one of “just a group of people whose relevance has faded and who pine for the glory of the first referendum.”
Firstly, we lost that one. Secondly, we old folk foresaw the independence cause from a more distant future than you. In 1965 me and a few brave predictors set up an SNP branch in the Eagle Inn in Broughty Ferry in Dundee East. This was before Winnie Ewing’s win in Hamilton.
READ MORE: Stephen Paton: This election is now more than ever a choice of future or past
Thirdly, any move that takes us closer to INDEPENDENCE is to be grasped.
And while I am in full flow, you must not call the Hamilton inquiry the “Salmond inquiry” – it was, as I recall, about Sturgeon and the civil service ... nomenclature!
At the age of 78 and with the benefit of hindsight I can help to engineer the future of the Scottish dreams without being told that I am of no further value and someone whose relevance has faded.
I would follow follow THE DEIL if he took me to freedom and INDEPENDENCE (easy for me, an atheist, to say, although he is currently to be found with others of his ilk in Westminster).
Alba – however you pronounce it! – gives us an option to allow the dreaded list to stop Unionists from “sneaking” into Scottish politics.
Doug Drever
Dundee
I’M forced quite often, these days, to refer to my dictionary when reading the letters page. Being on the other side of my three score years and ten, I’m wondering if it’s an age thing, or if its down to the high level of intellect of National readers?
Well, I’m not that old!
Ann Leitch
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