Letters: How do we tell our children that truth is no longer paramount in our society?

I understand the indignation and concern being expressed about the utterances of would-be presidential candidates and new heavyweight champions and their potential affect as role models for our children. Most children, I believe, will be quick-witted enough, however, to discount the rants of these publicity seekers even if they consider them at all.

In terms of role play I am much more concerned with how we will explain to our children the apparent totally diminished role that truth and lies now play in Scottish society and justice.

Douglas Martyn,

The Barn,

Sandilands,

Lanarkshire.

SOMETIMES it is necessary to take a step back and view the bigger picture in relation to our politicians. It is certainly not an edifying view.

In one corner we have Alistair Carmichael being found not guilty under the terms of the Representation of the People Act in spite of have leaked a memo knowing it to be untrue, denying any knowledge of it on television, admitting that he had lied and then trying to deceive a parliamentary committee. But then the act was drawn up by politicians so no surprise there.

If that stood alone it would be bad enough, but just last week we had Hilary Benn making a speech exhorting MPs to wage war in Syria a mere two weeks after he wrote an article opposing the bombing. What had changed? Could it be the politician’s unbridled and unprincipled attempt to push himself forward to replace Jeremy Corbyn? This in itself would be immoral but to see many of our elected representatives standing cheering and waving their order papers in support of an exhortation to take this country to war was truly disgusting. It seems that Tony Blair was not alone in feeling justified in using any means to wage war.

People who opposed the bombing were insulted by our current Prime Minister as "terrorist sympathisers" and those MPs who had the courage of their convictions to vote against the bombing were promptly accused of playing party politics. The words pot, kettle and black come to mind.

It really does seem that Alexis de Tocqueville was right when he said: “In a democracy people get the government they deserve".

David Stubley,

22 Templeton Crescent,

Prestwick.

ALISTAIR Carmichael has dodged a bullet, but he cannot dodge the fact that he told a “blatant lie”, and that lie may yet come back to haunt him, with a Parliamentary Standards investigation still ongoing. Mr Carmichael's lie could well have changed the course of last May's General Election, so toxic are the Tories in Scotland that the suggestion that Nicola Sturgeon would have preferred David Cameron for Prime Minister could have been damaging for Ms Sturgeon and her party. Fortunately, the discerning voters accepted the assurances of both Ms Sturgeon and the French Ambassador that at no time did Ms Sturgeon express a preference.

However, it was not so much the lie which I found deeply concerning, but the false sincerity with which, without so much as a blush, Mr Carmichael uttered his lie on national television. One can only wonder if Mr Carmichael may have told a “blatant lie” in the past.

In griping about his difficult, stressful and expensive few months, Mr Carmichael must accept that he brought it all upon himself, and in complaining that the court case was “politically motivated” he must remember that the court case was brought by four of his constituents. Whether the electors of Orkney and Shetland will be content to be represented by someone who lied before he invited them to vote for him is a question for another day.

Ruth Marr,

99 Grampian Road,

Stirling.

IF Alistair Carmichael had lied to Parliament he would have been required to resign. He has, by his own admission, lied to his constituents and to the Scottish people, so he should by any moral code resign.

The judgement made in Edinburgh. whilst no doubt legal, shows the weakness of those who draft our legalisation.

Dave Biggart,

Southcroft,

Knockbuckle Road,

Kilmacolm.

RE the Alistair Carmichael fiasco: Dwight D Eisenhower said: “The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office." One could add "politics" to that list.

Then again the logic of another famous personage springs to mind: "When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less."

G McCulloch,

47 Moffat Wynd,

Saltcoats.

I WONDER how long it will take before someone in the Commons has the bare-faced, brass-necked cheek to refer to Alistair Carmichael as his or her "Honourable" friend?

John S Milligan,

86 Irvine Road,

Kilmarnock.

HAVING consistently done the wrong thing, the disgraced MP for Orkney and Shetland should finally do the right thing and stand down. Let all his constituents judge him in a by-election, not just two judges in Edinburgh who seemed to be more concerned with the niceties of the law than the integrity of the “honourable member”.

Angus Ferguson,

120 Hutton,

Glasgow.

I WAS saddened but not surprised that Alistair Carmichael was more concerned about his financial losses than those to his reputation following his pyrrhic victory at the Court of Session. It reminded me of Thomas More's rebuke to the young man who lied to gain public office in the play A Man for all Seasons. “For Wales, Richard … it profits a man nought to lose his soul for the whole world … but for Wales!” Sadly for the Right Honourable Alistair Carmichael we could insert Orkney.

Roddy Mac Donald,

1 Glenmount Place,

Ayr.