John Chalmers: A respectful independence debate

THIS has not been a good period for those of us who promote Scotland’s referendum debate as a “respectful dialogue”, writes Rt Rev John Chalmers

Moderator of The Church of Scotland, Reverend John Chalmers. Picture: Andrew O'Brien

Indeed the last few days have heard the siren voices of disrespect dominate the headlines

The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland held an extremely successful public dialogue on the independence question which I, as Moderator, chaired. I have found this public profile comes at a cost.

If you take Twitter feeds or you have an accessible email address and people somehow think you might be influential, then you’ll get messages that you would rather not receive.

Apart from the distasteful remarks aimed at these who have donated big money to each of the campaigns, there are also other determined characters using dubious tactics to pressurise rather than persuade people over to their point of view.

I’ve been the recipient of such messages – they have come from both sides of the campaign – and if I was at all a sensitive chiel I would think I was being bullied.

Sometimes the writer purports to respect the fact that the Church of Scotland has declared its neutrality in the campaign, but they offer some other reason why it would be morally or theologically indefensible for me to maintain silence on one or another aspect of the public debate.

I will not yield to their pressure and I have sincere hopes that no-one else bows to such offensive approaches.

Of course, we have to put the influence of the cyberbullies into perspective. Modern communication methods are giving these people both a cloak of anonymity to hide behind and a profile far greater than they merit.

They are a tiny minority of people and if they really cared about Scotland’s future they would know that Scotland will never let such attitudes prevail.

The outcome of the referendum will not turn on their contribution to the discussion. The words on the mace in the Scottish Parliament – wisdom, justice, compassion and integrity will still be the words on the mace whether we are an independent nation, or still part of the United Kingdom and those who are tempted to use underhand tactics in this debate would do well to pause and measure themselves against these words. The fact of the matter is that for the most part the public debate is being conducted at a very high standard.

I would be deeply distressed to find a “dirty tricks” section at the heart of either campaign and while one or two individuals in the heat of the passions that are running high may have gone too far, I believe that both sides are trying to win the argument on principle and on substance.

With less than 100 days to go, however, it is a good time to turn down the volume on the rhetoric and refocus on the substance.

Trading in personal insults will not win votes, bullies are no part of Scotland’s future so we don’t need to encourage them now and since we have to live with one another whatever the outcome we need to treat each other with respect now.

I urge both sides of this debate to remember that “facts are chiels that winna ding” and facts are what we have to trade in from now until 18 September.

On 19 September there will be no “them and us”, only “us” so, now is the time to keep the dialogue respectful.

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