WITH only a (new) few weeks until the next April deadline, we should remind ourselves of the significance of the 12 gold stars on the blue background of the European flag, representing solidarity and harmony between the people of Europe. There are 12 stars on the EU flag because the number 12 is traditionally the symbol of peace, freedom, solidarity, perfection, completeness and unity.
Similarly, although there are no words for the European anthem (it is in the universal language of music), we all know the vision it symbolises for both the European Union and Europe in the more geographical sense: “And all men shall become brothers”.
Regarding the divisions within society occasioned by Brexit, we should pay particular attention to the elephant in the room viz xenophobia, defined as “the morbid fear of or aversion to foreigners”, which sounds like a psychiatric diagnosis. To keep the lid tightly on this puzzle is counter-productive. The alternative is offered by the medical mantra “if there be pus, let it out”, usually nowadays translated in the media as “lance the boil”. Once the demons/divisions are out in the open we can proceed to find the ways to heal them.
I would probably concede that some of our politicians whom one would expect to know better are more culpable than the man or woman in the street. I mention no names.
The late, illustrious Mary Midgley expressed the view that, when she was at university, “it was clear that we all were more interested in understanding this deeply puzzling world than in putting each other down,’’ and: “What is wrong is a particular style of philosophising that results from encouraging a lot of clever young men to compete in winning arguments’’.
I hope she would understand and forgive me for borrowing her words and substituting politics for philosophising and adding women (for equality of course).
Millions of citizens signing petitions and marching in London suggest strongly that there is an appetite (more, a desire) for a European flag, anthem and a brotherhood of man.
Robert Mac Lachlan
Foulden, Bewickshire
AS each day passes the abject failure of the UK Government when it comes to Brexit has highlighted that the UK is not the superpower it anticipated to be in such negotiations.
In Brexiteer eyes the Germans and French would sacrifice the integrity of the single market, happy to capitulate as the former scrambled to sell their BMWs, while the latter did likewise with their wine and cheese. However, this is clearly not the case and never was. It simply epitomises Tory arrogance at its very worst.
The EU is in fact bigger than the UK. If we leave without an agreement, that is a nuisance for the EU — about 10 per cent of their trade is with us. But not as much as it is for us, as the UK represents 49 per cent of our trade and no deal risks being a catastrophe.
When you leave the club you lose the privileges – something Brexiteers never quite understood due to what they saw as the UK’s economic and political might. To them the rules would clearly be changed, allowing the UK to having its cake and eat it.
Not only are we paying the price for such arrogance, we are paying the price for having a British Parliament whose awareness of the EU and how it functions is appalling. In addition have been years of abject failure to explain the EU to the public and what it is for, in terms of the many economic, social and environmental benefits.
We are all the victims of collateral damage in a bitter Tory civil war which still continues, and whose participants pay little heed to what devastation it causes.
Alex Orr
Edinburgh
MRS May is now pitching parliament against the people, with her determination that there will be no second vote and that a hard Brexit is better than no Brexit. She is twisting all the arms she can to get her deal, which has been voted down in Parliament twice, approved. For every person who attended Nigel Farage’s rally in Nottinghamshire calling for Brexit, 5000 people attended the call for a People’s Vote in London. The online petition calling for an end to Article 50 has now exceeded five million votes.
My message for Mrs May is that she should stop putting her party interests before the needs of the nation. Democracy – government of, for and by the people – does not exist in a single moment in time.
Pete Rowberry
Duns
THAT Westminster and its Parliament is sovereign has been averred incessantly since the necessity of Scotland’s independence was first promoted. The government has now clarified what this means in practice. Only the Tory party, currently with a parliamentary majority bought from the DUP, is in fact sovereign. This shambles originated in Heath’s decision, was exacerbated by Cameron’s, has been and brought to its inevitable conclusion by a party which did not earn national support in the latest election and has not been favoured in Scotland for a generation.
Were Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales invited to Chequers on Sunday? It is clear Westminster arrogance determines the future of those, with or without their agreement. Scotland will not stand for this treatment indefinitely.
J Hamilton
Bearsden
LIKE Pete Wishart I have concerns over unconditional support for a people’s vote. My concern is that if England votes Leave again and Scotland votes Remain our interest will be once again undermined.
The SNP should be demanding written guarantees on protecting the Scottish interest before backing another vote. Independence is our goal – let’s not lose sight of it.
Bryan Auchterlonie
Perthshire
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here