Madam, - With reference to Tom Molyneux's letter of September 4th about the "good old days", perhaps it is worth observing that the moral and social fabric of Ireland (and England) that existed then has been excellently re-created in films such as Brief Encounter.
Although it was a time of petty snobbery, class distinction and strangled vowels with a certain dullness and monotony of life, yet those who lived through it must certainly look back with some nostalgia and longing for the general sense of decency, self-respect and common sense that characterised the approach to life then. It is also no exaggeration to say that anyone then could walk home safely and securely at night. Children could play safely in a carefree manner out of doors even into the evening.
Of course such considerations do not negate the points made by Mr Molyneux, but it is well to remember that the picture is not so black and white as he might wish and the issue is not clear-cut. - Yours, etc,
THOMAS P WALSH, Faussagh Road, Cabra, Dublin 7.