Sir, - Was the publication of Harold Evans's piece on the American Century (Features, September 20th) some kind of Orwellian joke? His article was so heavy on spurious opinion dressed up as fact, and so light on historical realities, that it is hard to know where to begin criticism.
According to Evans, the worst US legacy would seem to be Al Capone, Big Macs and Friendstype TV shows. He glosses over the bloody realities of American imperialism which, contrary to his assertion, is not about defending freedom, but rather defending the interests of international capitalism (always a minority interest).
Millions of people have been and continue to be sacrificed for this objective, including at least a million Indonesians who were slaughtered when the US (and Britain) installed the Suharto regime in that country in 1965 - a bloody fate which is to this day shared by the people of East Timor.
As a matter of public interest I refer your readers to Deterring Democracy by Noam Chomsky for a better understanding of what the "American Century" means for the world's poor majority.
A worrying aspect of your publication of Evans's claptrap/mysticism/propaganda is that it is presented, with scholarly gravitas, as authentic history.
George Orwell once wrote: "Who controls the past, controls the future." If The Irish Times thinks that Evans's version of history merits such prominence, then it is indeed serious for - as your advertising slogan goes - "the times we live in". - Yours, etc.,
Finian Cunningham, Rostrevor, Co Down.