FREQUENTLY we are reminded of slavery and our country's history in its deployment (Letters, July 31, and “Better to feel guilty than remain in ignorance”, Agenda, The Herald, August 3). The matter is important historically and rightly condemned by the standards of today. However, when will there be an article published to show similar or more severe criticism of the slave trading operations? Surely there must be an attempt at transferring guilt to today's local populations about the then people in power in those countries who provided the slaves for the Caribbean and the southern states of America. They are the ones who sold their own people and presumably reaped their reward for their part in this trade and who certainly have their share of the condemnation to accept.

Such an article would help to square this circle and show that slavery was not a one-way situation and that it is not all about home improvements in Edinburgh's New Town and statues in Glasgow and elsewhere.

Ian W Gray,

Low Cottage, Croftamie.