A Chara, - Reading the letters from Americans which you have published in recent weeks I find it curious how sensitive they are to criticism. This is understandable in light of recent events, but Richard H. Mc Caffrey's letter of November 14th really takes the biscuit in terms of arrogance and ignorance. Firstly, to put all Americans at rest: when somebody criticises your country's foreign policy it does not mean they are anti-American. I think it's what you call freedom of speech.
Secondly, while the US and the UK were "saving democracy" during the second World War, we were busy trying to create a democracy and also forge a national identity.(I sincerely believe our neutral stance helped define us as a nation.)
Your friend the UK, it has been revealed recently, was willing to take over this country by force to safeguard its own security, in order to save "world democracy" . Mr McCaffrey, if he has read his history books, would also know that during the second World War we were a "friendly" neutral towards the US and the UK and that many Irish volunteered to fight with the Allied cause.
As for the present campaign, I have reservations about the bombing of Afghanistan. That's just my opinion; it doesn't mean I'm anti-American. Isn't the fundamental right to freedom of expression what the US and our friend the UK are trying to rescue. -Yours, etc.,
Patrick O Donnell, Synge Street, Dublin 8.