Respect needed

I visited Germany as a 15-year-old in 1960 on an exchange scheme and was surprised to meet people exactly the same as at home. It has made me realise that what happened there could happen anywhere. We have friends in Belfast; she from Northern Ireland and he is from Eire.

We agonised for them as they lived through the Troubles.

I am sure if I visited the people of Ukraine I would feel kinship with people on both sides on a personal level.

I do hope this political turmoil in Scotland isn’t turning us all into temporary monsters. I have heard of falling out between people who had been friends since childhood.

Try to think back a few years and keep that sense of who you are personally and not be swept along to anyone else’s political tune. Life will not end on 18 September. We will all need one another in order to live in harmony as we have done for generations, whatever the outcome of the referendum.

Don’t burn bridges. Your integrity and personal life are what is most important.

Celia Hobbs

Peebles Road

Penicuik