Sir, - I wish to commend, with one caveat, the humanity and decency shown by your diarist Kevin Myers in the days since the atrocities in the United States. May I assure him that he is far from the only Irish citizen appalled at the hypocrisy shown by our Taoiseach in his response to the clarion call against terrorism? I find myself staring at his column in amazement, experiencing the strange sensation of agreeing with everything he writes.
With one exception: In his column of September 18th, Mr Myers linked the "No" voters in the recent Nice referendum to anti-Americanism. This writer, as well as a wider group of friends and acquaintances, was moved by no such feeling. Rather, our votes were inspired by the very state Mr Myers accuses us of demeaning and the democratic principles enshrined in that nation's constitution.
In ensuring that each state, regardless of numbers, has equal representation in the Senate, the United States propounds a belief in unity and diversity. The European Union can have no such boast, as the populations of smaller states, with all their diversity, are steadily reduced to the status of vassals in the interests of the larger ones.
The unity of response shown by those United States to this threat to their freedom and way of life is in stark contrast to the moral miasma of mealy-mouthed equivocation emanating from the power palaces of Paris, Brussels and Berlin. Caught, as we keep being told, 'twixt Boston and Berlin, it is past time for the people of this State to take control of their destiny and move off this precarious perch. - Yours, etc.,
Aiden D. Desmond, Dunbar Street, Cork.