Flawed theory on CalMac’s woes

As an islander, I was initially grateful to your correspondent Donald J Morrison for solving the unfathomable mystery of all the timetable problems and vessel failures CalMac has been experiencing of late.

As he alone realised, these difficulties might well have been caused by CalMac violating Mr Morrison’s God’s laws regarding something known as the ‘the Sabbath’.

Now, however, I am not so sure that The Oban Times did Mr Morrison a favour by publishing his very singular theory as it seems it might be faulty.

Inspired by Mr Morrison’s opinion, I did a little reading of the Bible myself only to find at Genesis 7 God telling Noah and his family to set to sea in the ark in which they were destined to sail for 378 days, including of course no fewer than 54 Sabbaths. Well, if sailing on the Sabbath is OK with the God that commanded Noah to do it, then surely it is good enough for Mr Morrison, CalMac, Old Uncle Tom Cobbly and all?

I am sure Mr Morrison will be aware that one may not in UK/Scottish law discriminate in favour of one belief over another these days and I suspect that if we were to respect every holy day of the week of every religion that has one by not allowing CalMac to sail on them, there would be no sailings at all.

It ought to be sufficient for those who wish to abstain from travelling by sea, from working, from enjoying recreation and so on in order to properly observe their preferred sacred days that they should get on and do so peacefully, modestly and certainly without seeking to impose their chosen religion’s strictures upon others who are on a different but equally valid path to enlightenment. Peter Isaacson, Coll.