Sir, - I was amazed and appalled to read in your Education and Living supplement of February 15th an article extolling the advantages of living and working as an illegal alien in the United States. One major feature mentioned was that one need not pay taxes. It is clear that a large fraction of our population believes that cheating the state, especially by evading taxes, is not really stealing. Is this the view of The Irish Times? Or have you the slightly more sophisticated attitude that, while stealing from the Irish state is bad, stealing from the US is fine?
Would you be happy to print an article discussing, in positive tones, shoplifting as a summer job? You could give a list of shops that are easy to steal from, discuss the low risk of being caught (as long as one stays sober!), the need to start early when the pickings are better and round it all off with a pious declaration that you are not recommending this for everyone, while pointing out that one can return to the same job next year. This was the tone and message of your article.
This article was nothing less than an incitement to criminal behaviour. It also reflects the very strange set of views that The Irish Times, in common with much of the Irish media, has towards the US. One attitude is that since the US is the Evil Empire, despoiler of land, sea, and air, the playground bully of the late 20th century, one is actually doing good by stealing from them. Another is that since the US "was built on the back of the Irish labourers" of the 19th century, they owe us something. In particular, when we Irish go across there and steal from them, all we are really doing is reclaiming a long outstanding debt. - Yours, etc.,
Niall O Murchu, Bothar Baile an Easpaig, Corcaigh.