IT was uplifting to read another excellent Yessay, this time by Iain Bruce (What skateboarding can teach us about voting for Scottish independence, The National, October 18).
His reference to skateboarding is a most apt simile applied to the first steps of independence and it strikes me that Westminster’s resistance to this is one of two things. England, has not yet found the courage to set foot in the sports shop let alone set feet on a skateboard or it is bare-faced lying about the ability of Scotland to stand on its own two feet, knowing that Westminster has relied throughout history on exploitation of the resources of whoever’s borders they dare to cross. Scotland, being the nearest and most conveniently resourceful of them all, has had more than 20 years of rationing within a tight budgeting regime.
READ MORE: What skateboarding can teach us about voting for Scottish independence
It is not simply a matter of Scotland needing to be independent but that Westminster needs to follow suit, get on its skateboard, realise its limits and fend for itself without reliance on any other sovereign nation.
Tom Gray
Braco
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here