Letter: Scotching myths

DAVID Stevenson while admitting that Braveheart (Letters, 19 April) departs from historical accuracy thinks it helps to remedy a lack of knowledge of Scots history. Agreed, but at some cost.

Granted, Wallace raised a rebellion against Edward I, was betrayed, captured and executed, and rightly became a national hero. But a blue-faced Wallace with a phony accent who inserted his own DNA into the blood-line of today's British monarchy by seducing a French princess? If that's the history we want to proclaim, it's enough to put people off voting SNP.

John Patterson

Scotland Street

Edinburgh

ACCORDING to David Stevenson (Letters, 19 April), the "British establishment'' is conniving to make us believe what it "would like us to believe'' about the Highland Clearances.

Does he really believe there are offices full of thousands of civil servants in London ignoring major crises, concentrating all their efforts and energies in making sure the Scots are fed the establishment view of the Clearances?

Mr Stevenson's premise is preposterous, a sad reflection of a mindset that makes Braveheart reality and locks the world out of their Brigadoon fantasies.

Alexander McKay

New Cut Rigg, Edinburgh