Madam, - In your CV column (Education & Parenting, May 6th), the broadcaster Dave Fanning was asked if Irish should be dropped as a compulsory subject in the Leaving Cert. His expert answer was a resounding "Yes". And the reason? "Let's all be European now."
Who would have guessed that proficiency in Irish was a barrier to being European? Are the 40 million people in Europe who speak a minority language as their first choice - when allowed - less European than their neighbours?
"Let's all be European now." What does it mean, if anything? Does Dave Fanning think he is more European than the rest of us? In what way? Are we replacing one shibboleth for another, changing "more Irish than the Irish themselves" to "more European than the Europeans themselves"?
Perhaps Mr Fanning's lofty statement means that he intends to forsake Anglo-American cultural values and to radically Europeanise his broadcasting output. Will his studio soon ring out with such treasures as the music and poetry of Lapland, Estonia, Catalonia, Macedonia, Croatia, Corsica. . ? If this is the real import of his statement, then his broad, cultural vision must be warmly applauded. - Yours, etc.,
GABRIEL ROSENSTOCK,
Gleann na gCaorach,
Co Átha Cliath.