Two issues of absolutely paramount importance confront us today in Scotland. The frustrating thing is that so few people seem to understand that they are deeply and vitally connected.
The first is the question of political independence; the second is the struggle against Trident and its replacement. A majority of Scots want both, but do they realise that the first goal will inevitably bring the second?
It is hugely significant that the only countries in the world ever to get rid of a substantial nuclear arsenal were Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Both achieved this as part of the struggle for political independence. The Ukrainians hit on the brilliant wheeze of selling their lot to the Americans, the Kazakhs sent theirs back to Moscow.
All the pro-independence parties in Scotland are anti-Trident. Thus, independence also means freedom from this criminal and illegal WMD. And not only for us in Scotland, but for our cousins south of the Border, too. Because Trident is not like a taxi; it cannot simply be shunted down to England. The four submarines can not be transferred to Portsmouth or Plymouth. They do not have the technical resources to house the beast. The 200 nuclear bombs that are at present hidden in the mountains around Coulport can not be taken south and buried, say, in the Mendip Hills. The people of England would not like this.
When the election to the Scottish Parliament takes place next month it will be against the background of the UK parliament's agreed decision to inflict Son of Trident on Scotland. The Tories will cling religiously to their nuclear comfort blanket; along with the Blairites and Brownites these will ensure that we in Scotland are condemned to a nuclear future - in perpetuity. All this in blatant violation of Article VI of the non-proliferation treaty, whereby the signatory countries - the UK signed 36 years ago - promised to take steps to achieve the elimination of nuclear weapons.
This means that the May election will be of incalculable importance in the world-wide struggle against state nuclear terrorism. Because an independent, nuclear-free Scotland will not only deliver a nuclear-free UK, it will mark a significant step in global nuclear disarmament. A nuclear-free UK will be in a strong position to pressure France into getting rid of her nuclear bombs, too, and thus make Europe a nuclear-free zone. Europe can then join Africa, South America, and the Pacific area which are already internationally recognised nuclear-free zones. It will also break the US stranglehold on UK foreign policy.
Far from being an "independent" nuclear weapon, Trident is de facto an addition to the American arsenal.
The leaders of Scotland's Christian Churches are supported by the other faith communities, and by people of no religious persuasion, in their utter rejection of Trident. The plain fact is, nobody in Scotland wants Trident, apart from a diminutive and dwindling band of nuclear die-hards - and, of course, Jackie Bailey, with her mickey-mouse figures about job losses.
Come May we will have a historic chance both to gain political independence, and to free our children, and the children of the world, from the hellish threat of Trident. I hope and pray that we, as a people, will find the the courage and the moral will to seize this unique historical opportunity.
Brian M Quail, 2 Hyndland Avenue, Glasgow.
According to New Labour, the Scots would make an expensive hash of independence - a view sustained by recent polls indicating that some 50% of voters here remain undecided or don't intend to vote at all.
This suggests that, given the chance, we couldn't improve upon Westminster's inability to balance a budget within £40bn, in spite of our oil revenues and stealing another £5bn a year off our impoverished pensions funds. It implies approval of that pathetic diplomacy over 15 captured sailors and the nonsense of selling their stories. It bestows our blessing upon the bombing of civilians in Belgrade; murderous and immoral attacks upon Iraq and Afghanistan, and it assumes similar acquiescence to stoking up terrorism with further Middle East adventures in the near future. It endorses our obsequious political marriage to American neo-cons demonstrated by renewing Trident but leaving the ignition keys with the Washington hawks. It affirms our consent to PFI and the financial manipulation of public services leading to eventual privatisation - the list is as long as you like to make it.
Not so long ago it was still good to be British, but the attractions have steadily disappeared these past 40 years. If we are too spineless to speak out against such incompetence and injustice, too timid, too wedded to the intrigues of the City of London, the Bank of England, big business and the Whitehall establishment, then indeed, we shall not have deserved this opportunity.
Perhaps it's just possible we couldn't do a better job of running a country, but I doubt it, provided the English don't insist upon repatriating Blair's gang of Scottish numpty ministers - another embarrassing list as long as you like. How on earth they've put up with them all these years beats me.
Holyrood gives us a choice here - something our English friends don't have, but for which I hope they will be very grateful in the near future.
And yes, it would be remarkable if independence didn't come with a few coughs and splutters. We might even catch a mild cold in the early days - so what? We'd soon be over it and on the way to a better and more principled future.
Seldom does self-respect come at so small a price.
R F Morrison, 29 Colquhoun Street, Helensburgh.
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