Sir, - I was rather taken aback by Mrs Debra Cunningham Kelly's diatribe against the people of Ireland of Ireland who have the effrontery to be critical of her country (February 11th). She appears to think that, because so many Irish people emigrated to the US over the last 150 years and more (and made a new and better life for themselves), the rest of the Irish people owe the Americans something.
Talk about snobbery, haughtiness and attitude - they have kept the heritage and traditions of Ireland alive! In isolation, of course. What about the "native" Irish? They have a battle on their hands to defend Irish heritage and traditions against the deadly tide of commercialised American culture in arts, music, sports, etc.
We will all gather, cap in hand at the airport, Debra, to thank you for the lots of Irish American money that went to the North to finance the "armed struggle". And as for the Celtic Tiger, the money that came from the US was meant to create profit for the shareholders, and it's the Irish who work for it, and produce the goods.
Wake up, Debra. I was born in Belgium, but that doesn't mean I am obliged to admire Leopold II for what he did to the people of Congo, nor are they to be thankful to him, his family and Belgium for robbing them of their natural resources, and leaving them in the mess they are in today. On the contrary, I am ashamed, and want to apologise.
I have also many namesakes who emigrated to the US or Canada. Should I therefore have to agree with the policies of the governments of their chosen countries? I live in Ireland now, and though I too want to hold on to my heritage, I respect and obey the laws of my new chosen home, and don't have the arrogance to berate the people I left behind me in the old country.
You live in a different country. You have no call to lay down the law here.- Yours, etc., Frans L. Frison,
Avondale Crescent, Killiney, Co Dublin.