The Sunday Herald Online

Sunday Herald, The, Jan 30, 2000

Following recent events in the private office of the First Minister, it is becoming clear that the Scottish Executive's early difficulties are not merely the teething problems of a new political institution. Questions are now being asked of the Executive's leadership, and blame is being placed, to varying extents by both the media and the opposition, at the door of Donald Dewar.

Even Tony Blair appears to think the plight of the Executive is serious enough to warrant a visit, and other senior Labour sources in London are privately dismayed at what is being termed "the Dewar debacle". But to what extent is Dewar the author of his own misfortune? He has clearly not chosen his special advisers well, but is he responsible for the furore surrounding the repeal of Section 28? How is our First Minister doing? Please let us know your views at www.sundayherald.com The launch of the Sega Dreamcast, a gaming console that incorporates a DVD player and internet access alongside more conventional gaming functions, has sent shockwaves throughout the new media, television and interactive entertainment industries. Available in the UK for around #200, it is already being enjoyed by a demographic formerly excluded from more conventional internet usage.

The Scottish Executive has talked with the Scottish Council on Education Technology to see what measures, if any, should be taken to ensure that this new audience of primarily young people has the option to use material of a "more educational" nature. The assumption here is that pure, unadulterated, adrenaline-packed gaming action is bad for you. What do you think? Is it important to ensure that children and concerned parents can access "edutainment" material for use on these hybrid machines, or should we stop trying to turn something fun into something educational?

Last week we asked for your comments on the results of the Sunday Herald Mori Poll on Section 28 - which you can still see in full on the website. One reader wrote: "My experience while attending Roman Catholic high school in the 1980s was one of absolute confusion, fear, isolation and ultimately suicidal fantasy. Sex education lessons were entirely heterosexual, with no mention of homosexuality whatsoever. Yet despite my daily prayers, I remained gay, and no amount of heterosexual promotion or praying to God could change that."

Gordon Purvis, mailing from Belgium, wrote: "From a distance, it seems Scotland is going crazy. A kind of bigotry seems to be creeping out, and it is ugly. 'Promotion' - the word itself shows how much the legislation was framed in a narrow way. Repeal, for heaven's sake."

The debate continues, and the Sunday Herald continues its coverage. Please let us know what you think about this - and any other issues - at www.sundayherald.com Tim Abrahams Online Journalist