Madam, - In recent times you have hired the North American columnist Mark Steyn to treat us to his tendentious views which frequently border on bratishness. His frank prejudice and logical jumps in pursuit of his various King Charles's heads are moderately entertaining but on November 10th he excelled himself.
He plainly disagrees with the Euro survey showing that most Europeans regard the situation in the Middle East, especially Israel, as exceptionally dangerous and likely to lead to world conflict. In particular he appears to resent the 74 per cent of the Dutch population who think so - "Not bad for a country that at its narrowest point is barely wider than my rural township in New Hampshire".
This seems to me a strange way to gauge the validity of an argument. Perhaps he wishes that the inhabitants of the Low Countries were as narrow in outlook as his own little patch in the "Land of the Free".
To judge from his photograph Mr Steyn does not suffer from anorexia nervosa. Does this explain the unwavering certitude with which he propounds his views? Perhaps he is under the impression that plump people are always right. - Yours, etc.,
Senator DAVID NORRIS, Seanad Éireann, Baile Átha Cliath 2.