Negative thinking

I agree with Andrew HN Gray that Scotland could benefit from a "can do" attitude (Letters, 19 August). However, to me it is unionist rather than nationalist attitudes that stand in the way. I offer two examples.

The first is in the vast resource of oil lying off our shores.

Most countries would regard this as a once in a lifetime opportunity, yet the most common opinion stated about North Sea oil is simply that "it's running out". Thus something positive is turned into a negative.

Secondly, one need look no further than the annual reporting of GERS figures on Scotland's economic performance.

Each year Labour politicians use them as an opportunity to claim that their own country is little more than an economic basket-case which could not possibly survive as a nation state in the way that most other nations take for granted.

Worse still, they take a perverse pleasure in doing so.

To me, such behaviour suggests a "can't do" state of mind rather than the proactive spirit advocated by Mr Gray.

Gavin Fleming

Grassmarket

Edinburgh

Visions of George Orwell's Ministry of Truth are invoked by R Mill Irving's letter (20 August).

He suggests that those wishing to study Scottish history should only attend a university presumably approved by him and teaching history through his Scottish nationalist prism.

Objective truth and an unbiased presentation and study of past events apparently do not come into it. Nationalist dogma, it would seem, is what is needed for our young.

It is rather disturbing that people could be thinking in this manner early in the 21st century.

Alexander McKay

New Cut Rigg

Edinburgh

The letter by David Roche (20 August) dismayed me; positive discrimination for top jobs in Scotland is a crazy idea. Surely top jobs should go to the best qualified and most talented. What has nationality got to do with it? And what about Scots in top jobs in England?

Heaven help Scotland if this ever comes to pass.

William Ballantine

Dean Road

Bo'ness, West Lothian