Sir, - Dick Walsh's column of November 1st was biased and confused. His snide remarks about Mary McAleese's "Faith of Our Fathers" and Dana's "Traditional Values" were most lamentable and disappointing and his worries that the "people of Ireland" were in favour of "rolling back" the progress of the liberal agenda of the past few years were indeed laughable. We presume he means the old liberal agenda of abortion, contraception, anti-clericalism, legalised prostitution, lessening of many moral values, et al.
We live in times of very rapid change in this country, and we feel that perhaps Mr Walsh has been unable to keep up to date. There is now a new liberal agenda in progress which probably started with the disclosure and publication of the recent series of scandals and the belated drive to eradicate serious crime.
It was evident in the results of the presidential election that the people of Ireland now wish and are determined to build on this new liberal agenda, the aims of which are:
First, to promote tolerance and respect for the beliefs held by all religious denominations, North and South.
Second, to promote toleration and respect for the different political aspirations of all the Irish people North and South, hopefully resulting in a new common understanding.
Third, to revere and stand up for the ordinary decent family values without apology to anyone.
Truly, a liberal agenda in the best sense of the word. There are many excellent, broad-minded and fair members of the media today and we are sure they will have the perception to recognise, accept and help to roll forward this new agenda into a brighter and more hopeful future for our country.
We owe a big debt of gratitude to Mary McAleese and Dana for highlighting this new perception of our society's future. - Yours, etc.,
From Patrick Carey
Kinsealy, Co Dublin.