Sir, – When Fintan O'Toole tells us that "we" misled our offspring and forced them abroad, he is indulging in the usual we-are-all-to-blame mantra that is used to shift responsibility for the bankrupting of this country ("Emigration – was ever a generation so misled?", Opinion & Analysis, December 22nd.
This country was bankrupted by the boomtime decisions of a small number of its own most powerful citizens. Those decisions were not challenged, and in a lot of cases were applauded, by many in the media.
“We” did not mislead. “We” were misled. – Yours, etc,
A LEAVY,
Sutton,
Dublin 13.
Sir, – Fintan O’Toole urges us to “celebrate the offspring we misled and forced abroad”. However, I suggest that he should be in the first rank of those who owe them an apology.
How many educated young emigrants were influenced by his dystopian predictions of an Ireland mired for decades in economic decline, with nothing to offer them but intergenerational unemployment and grinding poverty?
Naturally, Fintan O’Toole has no word of praise for those who remained and whose brave efforts in the face of great adversity have confounded his dire prognostications.
Your columnist routinely refers back to promises and predictions of politicians to demonstrate what an unreliable bunch they can be.
An honest self-review of his own output might not go amiss. – Yours, etc,
PETER MOLLOY,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin.