Sir, – How deeply ironic that US President Obama was permitted to speak at the commemorative ceremony for Nelson Mandela, a man who spent 27 years behind bars on so-called treason charges.
Obama is currently presiding over the continuing detention of men in Guantánamo Bay and their ongoing torture via force-feeding of those protesting at their wholly illegal imprisonment and treatment.
He is also presiding over an unprecedented murder campaign with his drone programme in Asia and Africa in pursuit of his illegal so-called “ war on terror”.
The fact he was joined at this ceremony by a legion of corrupt, murderous dictators and hypocrites does not in any way lend legitimacy to his presence or his speech (which was self-serving and at odds with his behaviour and policies) as he is the only world leader who sets himself and his country up as “leader of the free world” and upholder of democracy.
What is equally disappointing is the uncritical reaction of the media, which, in acres of newsprint and hours of coverage failed to bring this contradiction to the attention of the public. – Yours, etc,
HUGH PIERCE,
Newtown Road,
Celbridge, Co Kildare.
Sir, – To understand why Nelson Mandela has become a demi-god and Gerry Adams is still demonised (Patrick Doyle, December 9th) one need look no further than Gerry Adams’s crass remarks last week. – Yours, etc,
IAN KAVANAGH,
Suir Road,
Kilmainham, Dublin 8.
Sir, – We are informed that the Taoiseach made a spelling mistake in the book of condolences for Nelson Mandela. At least he did not record a “selfie ” of himself playing the spoons and doing a reel on the back of his chair, at the memorial service.
That the passing of this great man turned into a puerile cynical and grandiose epithet competition among the great and the good, is also a sad endorsement of the fact that very little has changed, despite his sacrifice, for the poor of the world. The saying goes, “eaten bread is soon forgotten”, and what better place to demonstrate this characteristic than on the world stage. – Yours, etc,
EUGENE TANNAM,
Monalea Park,
Firhouse, Dublin 24.