The recent news of a statue to Nelson Mandela in Glasgow ("Statue of Nelson Mandela unveiled in Glasgow", heraldscotland, October 9) prompted me to consider my own collection. I have no busts or statues in my home yet, and I have been pondering who they will be when I get the project under way. Here's my starting list of candidates.
Socrates, for teaching us how to think; Robert Burns, for teaching us how to feel; Karl Marx for being right; Napoleon Bonaparte, for being the first great European; Charles de Gaulle (a personal favourite) for being bloody-minded, and the second great European; and now Volodymyr Zelenskyy for being courageous in the face of perfidy, cowardice, thuggery and deceit.
I'm sure that there will be those who will hate my list (in which case, start your own collection) and also point out that there are no women on it. (I'll have no difficulty finding a few once I get under way). In the meantime I hope to live long enough to see a civic welcome for President Zelenskyy in George Square, and perhaps eventually a statue beside Nelson Mandela in Glasgow.
John Jamieson, Ayr.
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Today's young not rejecting religion
In your article on Catholic Church closures on Saturday (“Devastating day Glasgow’s Irish Catholic heart was told half its churches must go”, The Herald, October 10) it is stated that Latin Mass was "outlawed after Vatican II". It was not. Rather priests must petition their Bishop for permission to celebrate it and must follow strict rules set by the Vatican and their own Diocese. A point to be noted is that these are a feature across Scotland and happen to be very well attended.
Also, the Catholic Church is having a resurrection of sorts among young people – a record 549 adults were received into the Catholic Church across Scotland during the Easter Vigil, marking a 41% increase compared to the previous year (up from 390 in 2025, 384 in 2024, and 325 in 2023). These are comparable to rising rates across France. The youth of today, far from rejecting religion, are seeking out that which provides boundaries and guidance, in a rejection of the chaos of modern life.
It is heartening to see... of course you only witness it if you are at Mass.
Deirdre McAuley, Wishaw.
We must make our own choices
In his letter (October 9) dismissing Christian faith, Steve Brennan posits the theory that if there were a God, then He (or she in some religions) would surely intervene to prevent disaster or hurt of any kind.
Loving and devoted parents or guardians will teach, nurture and guide any child in their care, but true love means that ultimately, children have to be granted freedom, to live out their own lives and make their own choices.
Yes, an adult could choose never to teach their children how to cross a road, to swim, ride a bike or drive a car, and keep them secure in the house without access to friendships, thereby minimising risks, but that kind of approach is one of control, not love. Our God does not try to manipulate or control us.
Jesus Himself told His followers that, in Him, they will know the truth, and the truth "will set (them) free" (John 8:32).
Yes, we should indeed pick carefully as to what choices we make for ourselves and for others.
Sheila Wallace, Blair Atholl.
Universal Basic Income a must
With the advent of spreading Artificial Intelligence about to tsunami us all in the relentless drive to maximise profits for the super-rich, at the expense of everyone else, we need to prepare to meet their challenge head on.
Jobs are under threat and it's not just helpdesks or back-office positions. Architectural roles, lawyers, surgeons, lorry drivers, bankers, scientists, journalists, agricultural workers and more all have their livelihoods in the cross-hairs of the IT monoliths. The only jobs that will remain are for manual workers and carers, whose work cannot be easily replicated by a mega computer.
Whilst the idea of most of us carrying out care services for the elderly and the wider community is attractive, how do we fund the transition?
The only realistic solution should be Universal Basic Income, largely removing the need for tedious personal assessments on who qualifies for all the various state "benefits". This could be funded by taxing all the massive profits made by the very people foisting AI upon us all. Just follow the money.
Failure to address this issue will mean few having the money to spend in the market place. Where would that leave society? To hell in a handcart, that's where.
Sandy Reid, Prestwick.
Why not ask the young?
I'm 19 years old, and I believe people with recent experience of school should be part of education decision-making. Young people are the most affected, yet the least consulted. I'm writing to ask why this is still the case.
Casey Smith, Johnstone.
Pothole poser
I read that £36 million has been spent on cycle lanes in Glasgow since 2020 ("Glasgow spend on cycle routes", The Herald, November 12). I wonder how much has been spent on fixing potholes over the same period which would have prevented damage to vehicles as well as injury to cyclists.
Douglas Jardine, Bishopbriggs.
Pronoun problem for teachers
Anent the Green Party MSP, you report that Q Manivannan "has been at the centre of a number of controversies, including claims they sought to portray themselves as being disadvantaged” ("Green MSP’S visa extended to 2029", The Herald, October 10).
As we are now ordered to misuse our pronouns and thus abuse their centuries-long objective linguistic consistency, in order to comply with the subjective, illogical, ugly, ungrammatical and often ambiguous preferences demanded by a very small minority, one wonders how school teachers are expected to educate their pupils in the beauty and elegance of the English language and the importance of clarity in its use?
John Birkett, St Andrews.
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