Scotland is ‘still enslaved’ to the union

Sir, – The pro-union Neil Oliver thinks removal of controversial statues is the road to the reintroduction of ‘Madame Guillotine’.

Being a broadcaster, historian and archaeologist, he knows how to get attention, and he has managed it.

Why is it a surprise to us that we benefited directly or indirectly from the exploitation of African and other countries?

Personally, during my education in the late ‘50s and ‘60s, I was exposed to very little of the detail of Britain’s exploitation.

The Black Hole of Calcutta and the slave ships were taught, but it was not discussed at home. There was little outrage in public, at home or at school.

America and South Africa on the other hand were bad, because they had segregation, not like us in the UK or Scotland – after all, we outlawed slavery in 1833.

By the way, slavery still exists in 21st Century Britain and, probably Scotland.

A typical counter argument regarding slavery and exploitation is, ‘it happened’ and many strong-willed folks, including women (note this language), and William Wilberforce sorted it, well done them.

Good old Britain, this is what makes us ‘great’ recognising wrong and correcting it.

Also look at what we gave ‘them’, the colonised nations of Empire – we gave them railways, we introduced parliamentary democracy based on the UK model, a proper legal system and medicines that corrected many of their illnesses.

Let’s take apart this justification of injustice and brutality to subjugated nations.

The parliamentary democracy Great Britain delivered to its Empire states is questionable, that’s why the majority of these states have left the Empire.

We can still see the results in Scotland.

In Scotland? Why?

Because Scotland is still a nation enslaved.

We actually have to ask for permission from another state of the union to have a referendum on our continued membership of this union.

We are not in charge of our own finances.

The union is not a club we pay fees to, but it is like getting pocket money from your mum, from funds that buy those sensible Weapons of Mass Destruction, rather than allowing you to squander it on a ludicrous thing like a Universal Citizens Income. Alistair Ballantyne. Birkhill, Angus.