Sir, - I read with interest Fintan O'Toole's view of the events of last week (Opinion, September 12th). I am studying here in the US and for the past week I have been fascinated by the response at all levels of American society.
Far from being "deranged", the US that I see has shown what I would describe as an appropriate level of grief and anger, with no visceral reaction. I feel I can make a reasonably considered judgement, having lived in Ireland at the time of Bloody Sunday and the Omagh bombing, and also because I am here as a graduate psychology student.
Civilised societies recognise the concepts of both crime and punishment. What I see here, so far, is a very balanced debate on both these issues. The media have given prominence to the wrong done to Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbour. This is not what one would expect in a deranged society. - Yours, etc.,
Gerry Fahey, Urbana, Illinois, USA.