Sir, – The European energy commissioner Günther Oettinger’s request that debt-ridden countries fly their flags at half-mast is a good one (World News, September 14th).
However, I suggest we should go further.
How about any country that has had a poor colonial record? Or a country that was recently communist? Or what about those countries whose main revenue is tourism? Or ones that didn’t qualify for the last round of Eurovision? Or what about any country that started a world war within the last 100 years? That would save on a lot of flag-rope. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – If and when the euro bites the dust, wouldn’t it be entirely fitting if the national flags of all the countries that currently make up the moribund eurozone were to fly at half-mast in front of a defunct ECB in Frankfurt for, say, a generation? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Germany’s European commissioner has lent his voice to demands that the national flags of all “bailed-out” European Union member states be flown at half-mast at EU buildings as a sign of the shame they should all feel.
Through the pages of your newspaper, may I remind the good Mr Oettinger that Germany’s financial strength comes from its exports? It’s their European neighbours who have been buying their Mercedes Benzes and BMWs, which pays the workers who make them. They in turn saved their money, with German banks and expected a good interest on their savings. To give them their return, their German banks lent the money with interest to Irish banks.
Now the Greek and Irish banks cannot pay it back and, under pressure, our Government insists that the ordinary citizen must do so. But to do this, it needs to borrow even more money from those self-same German banks at an even higher interest rate to pay German citizens even more interest on their savings.
And Mr Oettinger thinks that we are the ones who should be ashamed? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – We should be grateful to Mr Oettinger for his recent comments suggesting that Ireland’s flag should be flown at half-mast around EU institutions for what they tell us about the reality of our political situation.
Having been bullied into bailing out German banks for their reckless and irresponsible investments, both the previous and current governments have been operating on the false premise that the bullies would respect us for handing over our wealth. Indeed, our current Taoiseach actually boasts when the IMF and ECB pat him on the head for successfully impoverishing our citizens to the benefit and profit of said institutions.
It is time political commentators and members of our Government stopped using terms like “our European partners”; there are no partners, just the self-interest of the strong being imposed on the weak. It’s time to fight back. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I suspect Mr Oettinger might find there would be more support throughout Europe for hanging profligate bankers at half-mast rather than flags. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Mr Oettinger’s proposal has some sinister echoes from history. The “Mark of Cain” and badges of shame come to mind.
I suggest the commissioner should consider his position and resign. – Yours, etc,