We need more fire in our bellies if we are to take on Westminster

There are parallels between Russia’s attitude toward the Ukraine and England’s attitude toward Scotland. Putin sees no reason why the Ukraine should exist; it has always part of Russia, whether Tsarist, Soviet Union or now. The same can be said for how Scotland is seen in the eyes of many people in England. Why should an independent Scotland exist? It’s merely an appendage connected to England, an object of folklore, what else?

I’m afraid the niceness of a Michael Russell is not enough to convince Westminster. We’re simply not taken seriously. We need a lot more fire in our bellies. To counteract this British propaganda publication for primary schools we need to produce a publication showing Scottish achievements down the centuries of scientists, inventors and those of the medical profession who have contributed great benefits for humanity. More aggression is necessary. We can’t afford a second referendum defeat!

If we are going after independence we should strive for real independence and make a clean break with the so-called United Kingdom. Any thought of keeping the monarchy is nonsense! One model is across the Irish Sea, ie the Republic of Ireland or Finland. Both these countries have thrived as members of the EU. A century ago they belonged to the poor nations of Europe.

READ MORE: How to help Ukrainians: What Scots can do to help victims in Ukraine

My final question is, why are the Scots so lethargic? Why so many ditherers? What should be driven home again and again is that 62% of Scots voted to remain in the EU and this has simply been ignored.

James Dobbie
Bern, Switzerland

YOU reported that people in Ukraine were observing “a day of National Unity” (Feb 17). I think that many there may be observing it as a day of prayer. Ukraine has been traditionally a devoutly Christian country.

Your older readers may remember when in 1940, the British army was surrounded at Dunkirk, caught between the German army and a sea too shallow for naval ships to uplift them. At that point, the king, King George VI, asked the country to hold a day of prayer.

There followed an unaccountable local storm which grounded the German Luftwaffe and Hitler’s almost unaccountable refusal to attack immediately, to his own generals’ indignation. Then came the rescue made by the small ships which crossed the North Sea. The king then asked the country for a day of prayer in thanksgiving.

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Of course, faith in God has been suppressed in communist countries for at least three generations now. It is also sneered and jeered at in our liberal “democratic” West. Here our general attitude is hardly different from that of the teachers in the Russian orphanages: “Good morning children. Remember there is no God.” Nevertheless, though 150,000 Russian troops are not on our own border, I think we could join the Ukrainians in a prayer for peace.

Lesley J Findlay
Fort Augustus

IN his letter on the Russian perspective on Ukraine, Andrew M Fraser writes that “no British citizen was murdered in Salisbury” (Letters, Feb 23). That will come as a great surprise to the citizens of that city, as two known Russian intelligence agents were caught on CCTV in Salisbury on the same day that Novichok was sprayed on the door handle of Sergei Skripal’s home, causing him and his daughter and a local policeman to suffer near-fatal illness.

The Russian agents flew back to Moscow the same day and have since been hailed as heroes. They don’t deny they were in Salisbury that day and appeared on TV claiming they were only there to see the Cathedral. Unfortunately, as Mr Fraser seems to have forgotten that Dawn Sturgess found the discarded perfume bottle containing the Novichok and sprayed a little on her wrist. She died quickly and in convulsions. If that’s not the murder of a British citizen then what is?

The Russians certainly cruelly killed an innocent woman.

James Duncan
Edinburgh

XANDER Richards quotes Alex Salmond referring to “having the future of a television show dominate” PMs questions. Salmond seems to have picked up an odd perception of domination from his sponsor Mr Putin.

Interesting to note that the “show” is to be suspended until “peace can be secured” at which point, as far as Alba is concerned, all is forgiven and forgotten. Salmond won’t wait for the out come of possible war crimes trials or reparation. That would only delay the resumed flow of roubles into his account I suppose.

READ MORE: Alba MP booed while announcing suspension of Alex Salmond's RT show

Archie Drummond Tillicoultry WAR is here. As the West decides how to respond to Russia without escalating the conflict into the Third World War, people back in the UK have wasted no time in using the conflict to score political points.

Twitter is a bin fire at the best of times but over the last few days people who’d struggle to tell you which continent Ukraine is on, or indeed if it is a sovereign nation, are suddenly experts in geopolitics.

And as for comparisons with Scotland’s plight... do us all a favour and keep quiet.

Barrie McDonald
Dundee