View across the Outer Harbour of Stornoway

Monday 10 January 2011

Monday 10 January

An overcast and chilly day, although the mercury is slowly creeping up. The pavements in this town are in a hazardous state, but as the thaw progresses, this should steadily improve. Whether the weather contributed to an accident involving a school bus at Galson is not known. Nobody was injured when the vehicle went into the ditch on its way to town.

I am very pleased to hear that the harsh rhetoric in American politics is finally being called to account. Since Barack Obama came into office, two years ago this month, I have been quite frankly disturbed by the highly charged tone of political debate in the States in that time. It is a good thing that there is an open debate, and that politicians are criticised, where criticism is due. But people like Glenn Beck and the Teaparty Movement should really examine their consciences as to whether the tone of their criticism could have contributed to pushing the murderer of the six at Tucson over the edge. Jared Loughner is accountable for his own actions - if his mental state is deemed to be such that he can stand trial. I hope we will see some change in tone from here on.