Category Archives: Comment

Brexit Revisited

Posted on November 14, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

The Democratic Case for Pooling Sovereignty Although I voted to remain in the European Union in the 2016 referendum, this did not reflect an entirely uncritical view of the European project and, in particular, its democratic structures. I was interested … Continue reading →

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In Search of Better Ways to End Our Lives

Posted on November 3, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

There was  a time when a person who had become mortally ill or who had reached their high old age could expect to die at home amongst family and not far from friends.  In the current era this may yet … Continue reading →

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Language Problems

Posted on October 19, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

Cultural Extinctions or Digital Revival: The Future of Language Learning Mandana Seyfeddinipur, Director of the Endangered Languages Archive, has issued a stark warning: “Of the 7,000 languages estimated to exist, half will have disappeared by the end of this century.” … Continue reading →

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Questioning Identity

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

Two Tales from Wigtown In his book,  Against Identity, Alexander Douglas quotes Upton Sinclair: “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”  Douglas goes on to say: “Well, try … Continue reading →

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The Case in Favour of Open Borders

Posted on October 1, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

Opening the national border to all who wish to come is an unfashionable idea. The  last person  I can recall advocating such a policy was Angela Merkel.  “Wir schaffen das” she said with the confidence of a true leader. We … Continue reading →

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Great Lives, The Lisbon Lions, Scottish Landscape and Bohemia in a Small Scottish Town

Posted on September 24, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

I’d never heard of the  improvisational guitarist Derek Bailey until I encountered his story on BBC Radio’s Great Lives programme. Amongst other things, the programme was memorable for a short and fractious exchange between the presenter Matthew Parris, and comedian … Continue reading →

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An American Tragedy

Posted on September 20, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk I listened to an edition of BBC Radio’s Americast which included a number of clips of Charlie Kirk in action. In one of these he was addressed by a young man who introduced himself … Continue reading →

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Kirkcudbright Fringe 2025

Posted on September 8, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

Three Stories from This Year’s Festival of Art and Culture Story 1: Home Truths for Home Rule: Scotland After 25 Years of Devolution Lesley Riddoch and Henry McLeish in Conversation Kirkcudbright Fringe has once again presented us with a fine array … Continue reading →

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Beatle Blethers

Posted on August 24, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

I really enjoyed the first episode of  the Beatle Blethers podcast with Alan McClure and Gerry Hassan. It was a lively conversation, yet Alan and Gerry managed to avoid that excess of bonhomie, weak jokes, and loud laughter which can … Continue reading →

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The Curse of Small Political Parties

Posted on August 16, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

How Fringe Factions Fuel Dysfunction in Israel and Beyond [1,097 words, 6 minutes read time]  When Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th 2023, they massacred 1,195 people, 736 Israeli civilians (including 38 children), 79 foreign nationals, and 379 members of … Continue reading →

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