Noises off… debate in Scotland has been ordered to wheesht

Furthermore, after staff complained, the National Library of Scotland made the spineless decision to withdraw from an exhibition a gender critical book titled The Women Who Wouldn’t Wheesht.

Our great Scottish nation was once a country that looked out into the world and welcomed differing views and opinions.

It is very regretful that we have become so parochial, insular and narrow-minded, as we defer to every ‘Tom, Dick and Harry’ minority pressure group.

It seems things will only get worse.

Richard Allison, Edinburgh.

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Agree to disagree

I read Andrew Learmonth’s article (“How my interview with Kate Forbes became the Fringe’s latest censorship storm”, The Herald, August 15)  with growing disbelief.

My great grandfather was a famous preacher in the Free Church , and I am an elder in the Church of Scotland.

I have a great respect for the Free Church, and although I do not share Kate Forbes’ opinions on various hot topics, I would love to know her, and share an evening’s conversation with such a principled young woman, who clearly also has a good sense of humour.

I feel that some people have become very small-minded and can’t tolerate any opinions but their own. Surely we should be able to live and let live and appreciate our differences.

Dorothy Dennis, Port Ellen.

Theory of knowledge

I am in full agreement with the sentiments expressed in recent letters regarding the apparent banning of what is referred to as a "gender-critical book".

My question is, who gave the staff at the National Library of Scotland the right to decide what books we can, or cannot, read.

After all, we are the taxpayers who pay their wages and contribute to the upkeep of the handsome building that they work in. 

A public library is a precious resource where all citizens have access to knowledge and learning.

In any democratic society the concept of a small group of unelected idealogues dictating what people must read (and thus know) is an obscenity.

I would like to find out who sanctioned the banning of this book.

How sad that this has happened in a country that gave the world the philosopher, poet and champion of free thinking and the Enlightenment, Robert Burns.

We are shamed by the actions of a clique who think that they can dictate what I, and my fellow Scots, can read.

Billy Gold, Glasgow.

Can you dig it?

In 1997 Prime Minister Tony Blair said the way forward was: "Education, education, education.”

Now, 28 years on, and the UK has far more university graduates than the job market needs.

Graduate unemployment is high, and those in work are in jobs paying far less than they thought that their qualification would provide them with.

But do not despair.

There are numerous jobs all over the UK offering well paid, guaranteed work until retirement, and then an eye-watering defined benefit pension scheme, far more generous than in the private sector.

The work involves the filling of hundreds of millions of potholes (and growing) in our roads and motorways.

Go get a shovel.

Clark Cross,  Linlithgow.

Slob’s law

The latest brainwave to help the environment is a regurgitated DRS (Deposit Return Scheme), as explained in Scott Wright’s article (“Boss of Scotland’s scrapped deposit return scheme leading new venture”, The Herald, August 16).

As a guy who keeps his garden tidy, takes responsibility for clearing the kerb weeds outside my house, never throws rubbish out my car window, faithfully puts my household rubbish in the correct bin, pays £50 for the privilege of the council collecting my brown bin, and generally just behaves as any decent person should, I’m sick of yet another scheme, or idea, that will actually cost me more cash.

The latest nonsense is to increase the cost of packaging to ensure the relevant companies are paying for the clear ups.

So, in effect, I’m paying more because some selfish, irresponsible, lazy disrespectful slob can’t behave properly?

John Gilligan, Ayr.

Water good idea

Surely it is high time that we started constructing desalination plants all along the coast of Britain.

The current droughts are an indication that action is needed now.

A state run company should be set up and the plants should be ready for next summer.

We do not need endless committees to do this job. The technology is there.

All that is needed is the political will, and the employment of people competent to take this project forward.

Ed Archer, Lanark.

RSNO Music Director Thomas Sondergard conducting a classic tune  (Image: Sally Jubb Photography)

Facing the music

A recent missive in The Herald (Letters, August 12) expressed dismay at the contrast between present-day Scots' philistinism and Berliners' urbanity.

Meanwhile, Mark Smith mentions in his article about electric buses (“There’s a down side to electric buses, and I am living with it every day”, The Herald, August 11) the anti-social behaviour of some young people.

Both pieces of writing prompted my recollection of being greatly enlightened one morning at breakfast.

I had remarked that somebody cultivated seemed to be in charge at the office in the Sheffield Transport interchange. 

The previous night, while I was waiting for the last bus at about midnight, the whole of Mozart's E minor Sonata for Piano and Violin was played over the PA system.

"Don't be daft," said my wife. "That wasn't for you - that's teenager repellent."

Well, there you are. 

It might seem too bad that K 304 is less widely known in 21st-century Britain that it deserves to be.

But we can take some comfort from the fact that it is highly esteemed as teenager repellent.

Robin Dow, Rothesay.