Forget labels and talk love not hate

ALEXANDER McKay interprets George Orwell as saying that patriotism is love of one’s country and nationalism hatred of other countries (Christianity and human values, Letters, March 12).

If he wishes to use this as an argument against proponents of Scottish independence he was partly answered in advance by Angela Haggerty: “While I still hesitate to self-label as a nationalist I’m less bothered about others slapping the label on me” (The pond life who bully don’t care about Yes or No, Comment, March 5). Personally, I joined the SNP as the “Scottish National Party” in 1950. There was not then and there is not now any “ist” in its title but, like Angela Haggerty, I have stopped worrying about others slapping the label on.

As for hating other countries, like many other SNP members and supporters I have lived and worked in other countries, have sought to serve and wish them well. A big motive for Scottish independence is so that Scotland may play a constructive role in world affairs, seeking to use Scottish resources and ingenuity to help others as well as to better ourselves. David Stevenson Edinburgh EACH week, the combined writing of Angela Haggerty, Hardeep Singh Kohli and the admirable Val Burns brighten my weekend. I believe love is the main ingredient of the accrued wisdom of these excellent and entertaining columnists and can maybe be summed up as learning to live in love with life.

I was sickened to read of the online abuse directed at Scottish women politicians. In a world littered with lies and uncertainty, truth and honesty must be upheld and supported to avert a downward path to anarchy. Such abuse is from a tiny minority and such ignorant behaviour will sadly always be there, but it should never detract from the reasoned discussion of the vast majority. Grant Frazer, Newtonmore