FOR most of us, our experience in life, and the observations and opinions of the people we most respect, are significant factors in helping us form our opinions of the world we live in.

That is one of the reasons why I buy The National every day, because I find in its letter pages views and opinions of people I respect, even people I do not know, which I find interesting and stimulating, and which help me to form my own opinions on a number of matters.

The letter in last Monday’s paper from Ian Stewart, someone do I know and respect, is one such example of this. Ian is a long-time SNP supporter, and a staunch advocate of Scottish independence.

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He is also a man with considerable banking experience and we are both members of the Scottish Currency Group, which is putting forward the idea of an independent Scottish domestic currency as an important plank of Scottish independence.

Ian is absolutely correct when he says that “the SNP leadership need to get a grip and shift their focus”. Many are writing off the SNP as a political force and are predicting political disaster at the General Election, and of course the Unionist media are delighted to play the background to that tune while the Greens, and now Alba, are happy to split the indy vote for petty party gains at the election, playing directly into the Unionists’ plan.

However, all is not yet lost, the SNP can make a political recovery and win back the support of the wider Yes movement which would give them the basis for a major victory at the General Election and enhance significantly the independence cause.

They have time to do this, they know how to do it, all the SNP leadership need is the political courage to take up the challenge and put forward a positive case for an economic and politically independent Scotland and they will pick up the Yes support and leave all the other political parties behind in their wake.

Andy Anderson
Ardrossan

TAKING Scotland out of the UK is a huge thing to do. It will not be simple or straightforward or speedy, and will cause ill-feeling for many.

Phrases such as “Cling to nurse for fear of something worse” and “better the devil you know than the one you don’t” come to my mind.

I was so influenced – and for a very long time – by such thinking. Clearly such a major move as independence requires a leap of faith. In addition, as a younger adult I was wary of what I reckoned, then, was the SNP’s chauvinistic attitude.

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It’s this “leap of faith” that I’m writing about today. What is the point of such a huge undertaking if it is only to live with more of the same, yet into a future that inevitably will be different?

Sadly, I feel several of The National’s correspondents reckon that indy Scots should avoid the risks of arguments that are progressive (helping combat climate chaos harm; tackling racists; sticking up for LGBT people who suffer attack, both physical and emotional).

So many letter writers don’t seem to have the vision to embrace that it’s a different, better Scotland that our efforts should be directed towards. There’s no point in going through inevitable turmoil to end up with same old, same old!

Continuing historical prejudice towards those who are different from most of us, without trying to understand what life actually feels like for them, would never tempt me to support indy. Being like that merely helps the other side!

Today, I’m Green because I see no future at all for the planet unless we pay attention to the Greens’ studied information and ideas. Unless we’re working towards a more enlightened world, I’m not on board!

Catriona de Voil
via email

I THOUGHT I had seen it all when I read John Baird’s letter (Apr 6), which roundly condemned the Scottish Government’s moves to improve animal welfare. Apparently animal welfare costs consumers money, and we can’t have that.

However, Mr Baird’s contribution on April 10, regarding the career of the redoubtable and charismatic Margo MacDonald, also contained a surprise or two. I refer to the writer’s description of events surrounding Margo’s decision to stand as independent for Holyrood, which lead to her expulsion from the SNP. Margo’s expulsion did not appear to sit too well with the writer but what other outcomes could there have been?

I was also surprised by the writer’s shock/horror response to a recent SNP video showing a glimpse of the legendary Margo. Perhaps Mr Baird feels the current custodians of the party should have erased Margo’s image. This, of course, would have given the anti-SNP scribe an opportunity to pen an angry epistle demanding to know the reason why.

Malcolm Cordell
Broughty Ferry

IT appears certain factions want to ban wood-burning stoves. Fine until there is a week-long power cut, not unknown in rural Scotland. How then are folk meant to heat their homes? I suppose it’s back to the old light your own fart.

M Ross
Aviemore