Don’t assume

In her Scottish Perspective contribution (February 19), Joyce Mcmillan expresses concerns about how tolerant a society we have in Scotland. Unfortunately, it appears that unless you agree with her in relation to the strategies to be used to challenge the racism undoubtedly endemic in our society, you are of the extreme right, illiberal and part of the problem.

Ms Mcmillan highlights responses to the fact that some players, on each side, did not “take the knee” prior to the recent England v Scotland Six Nations rugby international. Those who celebrated the lack of unity in the gesture are denounced by Joyce Mcmillan as being right wing, while denying “to a man and woman that they are racists”.

That is nothing short of offensive; it must be legitimate in a liberal democracy to debate the grounds for and effectiveness of this particular gesture, and it is not necessarily an indication that someone who does not agree with it is a racist, although they may be.

One of the reasons some people, who are no more or less racist than Ms Mcmillan, have doubts about taking the knee in particular is that it has become politicised and has lost its original focus. In addition, it could be argued that it is a superficial distraction and doesn’t even begin to tackle the endemic racism in our society.

I agree with Ms Mcmillan that societal attitudes in Scotland are less tolerant and society is becoming increasingly divided.

It’s ironic that the independence movement which Joyce Mcmillan espouses is actively fomenting intolerance towards England and the English people, at any and every opportunity, through mainstream media, social media, education and so on. This is as unacceptable as any other form of discrimination.

KEITH WILSON St Teresa Place, Edinburgh