Scoundrel’s refuge

In his latest contribution to the Scotsman (Letters 16 April) Alexander Mckay, who thinks there’s only one kind of Nationalist, says he is not a nationalist but a patriot. He then quotes a gross distortion of George Orwell’s comments on nationalism, presumably referencing Orwell’s essay written 73 years ago in 1945.

He calls it “paraphrasing’ when he uses the phrase which suits his purpose, but never appeared in Orwell’s writing – “hatred of other countries”. However, maybe this is apt for Mr Mckay’s version of patriotism, remembering that Samuel Johnston described patriotism as “the last refuge of the scoundrel”.

GILL TURNER Derby Street , Edinburgh