Sir, – Dublin is awash with references to the upcoming US NFL football game. Billboard ads, flags and bunting are everywhere. Bespoke “Welcome to Dublin” sculptures – with full-time paid guards – featuring the NFL logo, invite photo-ops.
A Guinness factory-style water/ light display on the Liffey projects bright-coloured Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers logos into the very air. I complained to a visiting American friend, who laughed: “You can’t fight commerce.” Certainly that’s the American viewpoint.
Initially, I assumed the street displays were paid for by the NFL. I hoped that at least they had compensated Dublin City Council for the privilege. To find that we have spent €10 million to provide advertising support for what is already one of the the richest sports league in the world is shocking.
Drawing on my own career in marketing, I can imagine the boardroom come-on. “Dublin will recoup these millions, commerce will thrive.” Cutting-edge PowerPoints would illustrate how funds would funnel to rival cities if we lost the “opportunity” to host the NFL.
READ MORE
Pushing our affinity with Americans would have been a savvy move. Whatever the presentation, it was evidently persuasive enough to convince the city council that Dublin had a €10 million need for more tourism.
Ireland and America enjoy strong connections, of course, but American football is an example of our differences. In that game, a highly paid group of men don armour in a punishing, yet slickly produced televised spectacle. Multiple billions flow into advertising, endorsements, and other marketing. I can’t imagine any game more at odds with the Irish concept of sport.
As an American living in Ireland, I have been struck by how calming it is, not to feel constantly “marketed to”, as if I were simply a walking wallet. Ireland has, so far, successfully resisted the creeping commercialisation that is seen everywhere in the US.
The Irish Government is regarded as a servant of the people, rather than an arm of business. We should not let our rapport with America and Americans lead us to repeat their mistakes. – Yours, etc,
JUDY MINOT,
Griffith Wood,
Dublin 9.
Threats to Gaza flotilla
Sir, – The concerns expressed by organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza that its participants face an imminent and grave threat from Israeli forces should be taken very seriously (“Gaza flotilla fears ‘violent attacks’ in next 48 hours,” September 26th).
Israel’s propensity to use lethal violence against innocent civilians, including children, can be seen daily in Gaza and the West Bank, but, more specifically, it should be remembered that nine civilian activists were killed – and another mortally wounded – by Israeli naval commandos when they attacked a previous aid flotilla in international waters in May 2010.
In that context, Israel’s current crude attempt to depict the Sumud flotilla as a “Hamas” endeavour can only be seen as setting the scene for a violent intervention.
Tánaiste Simon Harris has correctly voiced his solidarity with the Irish people involved. As a matter of urgency, the Government should now be looking at what else it can do to help to protect this unarmed flotilla.
Israel has repeatedly shown that it has no regard for international humanitarian law or for the lives of civilians. Doctors, nurses, journalists, ambulance drivers, humanitarian workers have all been among the dead in Gaza. – Yours, etc,
FINTAN LANE,
Sifnos,
Greece.
Sir, – I note with alarm the drone attacks on the international aid flotilla en route to Gaza. I predict there will be casualties and fatalities among those participating in the flotilla as Israel continues to ignore the rules of international law.
I also note that the Italian and Spanish governments have dispatched naval vessels to protect the flotilla and I am wondering why Ireland has not followed suit.
There are more than 20 Irish citizens travelling with the flotilla whose lives are now in grave danger and who deserve the protection of our navy while they are in international waters. It is time for the Naval Service to move from fishery protection to citizen protection. – Yours,etc,
GARY DOYLE,
Straffan,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – It would be very interesting to see the responses, if any, of governments, our own included, to any attacks taking place in international waters on the boats in the Sumud Gaza Flotilla which are carrying citizens of some 44 countries.
If it should happen that any of these crews were injured or killed by foreign forces, would we hear only words of condemnation (as in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza), a stony silence (as has persisted for the bulk of the time since the launch of the Israeli assault on Gaza), or would there be reactions that hurt the perpetrators (such as the sanctions that have been imposed on Russia)?
This is all theoretical of course, and hopefully the boats will fulfil their mission, including the delivery of baby food to save some babies from being starved to death (which is not theoretical).
The boats have already suffered attacks from unknown forces. Should there be serious consequences from further attacks we will see in plain light if the lives of those on board are of more significance than those of our fellow humans in Gaza by the reactions of those in power.
If no action were to be taken at all, we could only assume that even “our” lives don’t count in the face of aggression and bullying that emanates from certain sources in this increasingly unfathomable world. – Yours, etc,
MARY MORAN,
Shannon,
Co Clare.
This sporting life
Sir, – I used to attend golf’s Irish Open years ago. One of the things that always impressed me was the sporting behaviour of the crowds.
Even when Ian Woosnam was competing directly with Eamonn Darcy, the spectators applauded every great shot or putt, regardless of who made it. When Woosnam was victorious there was nothing but praise.
Now, in the Ryder Cup, we see missed putts and bad shots by the “other” side applauded and players from the opposition verbally abused, often by drunken spectators.
We hear the phrase “Get the crowd involved” – like it was a football match. On top of this there seems to be a media campaign over the last weeks to present the European team as the “good guys” and the Americans as the nasty “baddies” (I am sure the reverse is happening over there).
It may be good publicity but it is sad to see. – Yours, etc,
DAVE ROBBIE,
Co Dublin.
Presidential election fallout
Sir, – I have some sympathy for those Independent Oireachtas members who were canvassed to endorse the candidacy of Maria Steen. Should they give her the opportunity to stand for election even if they disagree with her policies – in the interests of democracy? Should they make room for a candidate with alternative views? (Alternative to what you might ask).
That all sounds altruistic and fair. The dilemma for each of those Oireachtas members is that if her subsequent campaign, supported by Aontú and others, were to be successful they would have to accept responsibility for giving us a president who represents a socially conservative Catholic institute, when they could have prevented it.
Those of us who are comfortable with a more inclusive society might never forgive them. – Yours, etc,
JIM HOLOHAN,
Stranorlar,
Co Donegal.
Sir, – I have no party affiliation, but fail to understand why you should support someone who opposes you and will continue to oppose you.
How is this logical and how can it be considered undemocratic? – Yours, etc,
MARTIN KRASA,
Cork.
Extending the voting franchise
Sir, – Justine McCarthy clearly and very pointedly criticises the continuing discrimination against our fellow citizens north of the Border (“If the North had a vote, Connolly would be our next president,” September 26th). This 26-county residential requirement is clearly a protectionist measure to favour the established parties, and the immediate beneficiary of extending the franchise would appear to be Sinn Féin.
But perhaps we should include Northern Ireland citizens other than Catholic and nationalist in this reckoning, given the trend of post-Brexit Northerners to adopt Irish citizenship for pragmatic reasons.
The Fine Gael candidate would undoubtedly gain a significant Protestant vote, and even the GAA vote could split between Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil. Food for thought. Perhaps it is quite likely that the Northern electorate would turn out to break down similar to the rest of the country. – Yours, etc,
WILLIAM KELLY,
Dublin 5.
Sir, – I for one do not agree that electing the president of Ireland be afforded to people in Northern Ireland, until, if ever, we have a united country. Whether we like it or not, Northern Ireland is part of the UK, and a huge number of its citizens have no interest in becoming part of the Republic. The tribal politics that predominate in the North would, I believe, use the election as referendum for a united Ireland, not for choosing a suitable candidate for the office. – Yours, etc,
MARY BARRETT,
Dublin 5.
Home truths and home births
Sir – In response to Brian Hayes (Letters, September 25th), the matter of the percentage of obstetricians being either male or female is irrelevant: the system is inherently paternalistic and so the gender of the practitioners is of little consequence.
Hospital birth comes with the sometimes unnecessary interventions due to time constraints, fear of litigation, and hospital policy. This system implies that women’s bodies are incapable of producing a healthy baby without being monitored and controlled. Of course, many babies owe their lives to appropriate medical intervention.
However, the decrease in neonatal mortality is significantly due more to better maternal health than place of birth.
In Ireland, women have few options around place of birth. A few midwifery-led units, home birth, or hospital birth, and that choice is limited by where they live.
As I said, hospital birth is inherently paternalistic regardless of the gender of the practitioners. The system is the problem not the practitioners. – Yours, etc,
MARGARET CONDRON,
(midwife),
Dublin.
No fear here of Shakespeare
Sir, – Finn McRedmond omits the main attraction of Shakespeare for teenagers (“I’m sorry if reading Shakespeare is getting in the way of your kayaking lessons, ”September 25th).
Where else can they find gratuitous violence, racism, revenge, cross-dressing, hate speech and gender fluidity interspersed with puns, stabbings and double entendres? – Yours, etc,
Dr JOHN DOHERTY,
Stratford-upon-Avon,
Warwickshire,
England.
Sir, – As a retired teacher I would have to disagree with Conor Murphy (“To be or not to be? Why it is time to drop Shakespeare’s compulsory status in Leaving Cert,” September 23rd).
When I was in secondary school, each year performed their current Shakespeare play before the entire school, students and staff.
There were four classes of second-year students and so on, throughout the school. We each chose a different part of the play to portray and as a result we got to know all the texts quite quickly and easily. It was known as Shakespeare week.
We were in a working class/ middle class catchment area so it wasn’t a high-brow notion. It was wonderful and left us with a fantastic understanding of the Bard. – Yours, etc,
MARIAN QUINN,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal
Jimmy Kimmel’s return
Sir, – While certainly a positive development in the modern free speech crisis engulfing the United States, Jimmy Kimmel’s return to television should not dissuade a soul of the dangers posed by the Trump administration’s recent actions.
First, there’s no telling where the Kimmel saga will end. In a week’s time – even in a day or so – he could very well be back off the air. Second, Kimmel’s return has further incensed the American right.
Conservative leaders and podcasters have been vocal about the “hypocrisy” they see on the left. Many conservatives have come out and said how they believe the left has viewed Kimmel’s temporary suspension as more of an assault on free speech than the murder of Charlie Kirk, a killing that many on the right have attributed (without evidence) to a violent, radical left bent on terrorising the right.
The growing prevalence of this kind of rhetoric on the right is deeply troubling.
Finally, the fact that the administration’s scare tactics worked in the first place – even temporarily – should scare anyone.
It is not normal for the US government to intimidate media outlets simply because they don’t like their tune, and such behaviour shouldn’t be normalised just because Disney suddenly discovered their backbone.
I am an American, and I remain deeply fearful for my country. – Yours, etc,
DYLAN FOX-ARNOLD,
The Liberties,
Dublin 8.
