Juvenile jibes

Surely it’s not jealousy of First Minister Alex Salmond being awarded at least four Politician of the Year awards that has led to this outbreak of juvenile comments from letter writers (4 January)?

People, like football teams, do provide spurious outcomes at this time of year, but these comments from those who are anti-Salmond, anti-SNP and anti-Nationalist are proof, if it were needed, of the thin, brittle argument in favour of continuing the Union.

To respect the views of those you disagree with is not always easy, but there have been calls recently in your letters page for “honesty”, rationale and “maturity in political debate”.

I had hoped that some quality of argument, laced with a modicum of humour, would emerge. Wednesday’s offerings, with their name-calling and childish sporting reference, descend to a new low – this from people who would like us to agree with their vision, or lack of it, for Scotland’s future.

Bill McLean

Newmills

Dunfermline