Olympic ceremony as Unionist fantasy

I ignored the Olympic Games opening ceremony, as I will the Games themselves, but I confidently expected some of your letters correspondents to complain about the cost of £27 million, with the closing ceremony still to come.

Instead I find a fantasy reaction whereby some connection is identified with the Scottish independence campaign.

John Milne (Letters, 31 July) leads the way, describing the event as an “inspired narrative portrayal of Britain”.
What was portrayed was apparently various scenes from British life and history, but to depict that as strengthening the case for preserving the UK would suggest that they wouldn’t have happened
otherwise.

Mr Milne went on to describe the happening as “quintessentially British” – such Britishness presumably being regarded as grounds for supporting the national status quo.

It’s a bit unfortunate that he also regards as appropriate descriptions of UK quintessence the words “bizarre”, “eccentric” and “surreal”.

All three certainly apply to the farcical hijacking of a worldwide sporting event to counter independence, but any suggestion of having them applied to Scotland would surely have the opposite effect.

Robert Dow

Ormiston Road

Tranent, East Lothian

After reading his latest 
anti-SNP diatribe (Perspective 1 August), I’d love to know which world Brian Wilson lives in.

He states that “any rational person could have seen that the Olympics would be as great for Scotland as any other part of the UK”.

Well, for the record, Mr Wilson, I know many rational people, myself included, who would take exception to that statement.

In your next column would you please itemise the vast benefits the Olympics have brought to Scotland and compare them with the 
benefits London has gained in reality. One of those lists will be very short indeed.

C Murphy

West Calder

West Lothian

When was it decided that the success of the London 
Olympics would be judged on numbers of UK medals won? We have opened our doors to the world. The opening ceremony was brilliant. There is a real buzz. Let’s leave the naysayers to themselves.

Bring in Leonard Cohen for a a rendition of the Anthem:

“Ring the bells that still 
 can ring

Forget your perfect 
 offering

There is a crack, a crack 
 in everything

That’s how the light 
 gets in.”

Gavin Cargill

Edinburgh Road

Linlithgow