Sir, - The extract from Declan Kiberd's essay on diversity (May 19th), is a welcome addition to the current debate on racial tolerance in our society, initiated by Amnesty International with its full-page advertisement (May 12th), and the article by the Director of Amnesty, Sean Love (May 10th).
In spite of Loughlin Deegan's defence of Bertie Ahern's record (May 17th), there is among a growing number of people a deep sense of the void among the country's leaders on the issue of the racism that is increasingly disfiguring our society. Official policy on immigration and asylum-seekers reinforces the perception among vulnerable ethnic groups that difference is not welcome, while giving the green light to the culturally and morally illiterate to indulge in abusive behaviour towards those manifesting difference.
But we need to go beyond the mere condemnation of the outrageous and xenophobic attacks on people who appear to have their origins outside this island, to a positive affirmation of the benefits of cultural and ethnic diversity.
It must be said our record is not good, given our inability to solve division on this island within a single faith, and the suspicion and even contempt with which the Travelling community has traditionally been held.
But this is perhaps the most urgent issue facing our society at the beginning of the 21st century, on its solution will depend our success or failure as a society in the years to come. An ethnically divided society characterised by hatred and conflict will simply dissipate the benefits of the Celtic Tiger phenomenon, as well as being a stain on our humanity. - Yours, etc.,
Pat Little, Clarinda Park West, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.