Sir, - I am intrigued by the number of Irish people so intolerant of refugees. Our fellow brothers and sisters worldwide are innocently caught up in oppressive situations. They seek refuge in our country only to find their situation worsens.
Do we Irish forget our history - one million of our people starved by famine and an estimated two million fleeing our island as refugees and immigrants to the new lands of Europe, America and Australasia? As a nation of refugees shouldn't we open our arms to our fellow brothers and sisters in strife? Shouldn't we give them a chance and a quality of life that surely every human being is entitled to?
Sure, jobs might be scarce and there might be high costs involved in processing refugees and immigrants, but what is the price of a human life and what would our ancestors say if they had a voice?
Put yourself in the shoes of a lonely refugee, far away from home, loved ones, friends and family. Shouldn't we treat people as we would treat our own, not with detention centres, denial of basic rights, alienation, racism and deportation?
Tens of thousands of illegal Irish immigrants are living and working illegally all over the world. Do we want all these people to be treated as badly as illegal immigrants here?
I think we should all have a serious think about our history as a nation of immigrants and refugees before condemning the already condemned. Don't be afraid of the unknown. Open your arms, your heart and your mind! - Yours, etc.,
From Joel Conroy
Elmwood Avenue, Dublin 6.