Villagers: Letters to the Editor 2006-09-21

I refer to the 'Thinking Anew' column in the Irish Times on Saturday 9 September. I am a regularly mass-attendee in Clondalkin, where we have a wonderful mass as gaeilge each Sunday morning. The answer to the above question – whether the Church is really on the side of the poor – is a resounding NO. The Church didn't back the worker lock-out in 1913 and it has demonised workers' representatives ever since. The Church has tried hide the scandal of child sexual abuse for so many years. There are examples all over the world where the Church has failed the poor and marginilised, to the relief of the business and wealthy elite. But, as someone who still believes, I am eternally optimistic that the Church will find its true path and return to represent the under-privileged.

Paul Doran, Clondalkin, Dublin 22

Middle East: Muslim Holocaust denied

This week the US September 11 commemoration was broadcast all over the western mainstream media. And yet so far, there has been no such commemoration for the Muslim Holocaust that continues to this day. This Holocaust is committed mainly by the US, the UK and Israel to further their capitalist ideology, an ideology based on social injustice, greed and absolute geopolitical power. It is a continuation of what was initiated by the Christopher Columbus in 1492.

This week in Afghanistan, the Canadian Commander of the NATO force boasted of their annhilation of so-called "jihadist" or "Islamic terrorists." NATO is being exploited by the US, the UK and Israel, and their allies to continue colonising Afghanistan and Iraq, under the false guise of bringing civilisation and democracy to defeat these supposedly "primitive" and "barbaric" Islamic nations. And yet they have committed and are still committing international war crimes of great barbarity mostly against innocent Muslim civilians. John Pilger in his recent book, Freedom Next Time, interviewed the relatives of the Afghan indigenous population in remote rural villages who were killed by NATO 'precision' bombs.

On top of this Israel continues its decades long suppression and genocide of indigenous Palestinian Muslims faith. Since June 2006 alone, 262 Palestinians civilians have been murdered, of which 64 were children and 26 were women. Furthermore, 10,000 Palestinians are incarcerated in Israeli camps. These actions are a continuation of the attitude displayed by former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir when he said, "there was no such thing as Palestinians; they never existed".

Likewise in Lebanon, the capture of two soldiers has led to the collective terrorist punishment of thousands of Lebanonese civilians, and the wholesale destruction of infrastructure and the spillage of four million gallons of oil into the Mediterranean Sea. Isn't it strange that international environmental organisations such as Greenpeace or Friends of the Earth have been relatively quiet on this massive environmental disaster?

Muslim leaders must demand that the Western forces in Afghanistan and Iraq be replaced by UN peacekeeping forces from Muslim nations, and not just those from puppet Muslim allies such as Pakistan and Turkey.

Noor Aza Othman, Rathfarnham, Dublin16

Leaders' apologies: Sorry seems to be the hardest word

Why does it seem impossible nowadays for senior politicians, business executives, religious leaders (ie the Pope), just to say 'sorry' instead of it being couched with an indecipherable apology from a spokesperson or other similar obfuscation?

Keith Nolan, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim

Weapons amnesty: Amnesty no solution to violent crime

Like many people up and down the country, I had a rummage in my own house to see if there was anything worth handing in under the weapons amnesty. I'd wager a good many households have a set of ornamental samurai swords or the odd air-gun hanging around, and the website set up to deal with the amnesty seems to indicate they'd all be welcome.

But while a seemingly noble idea, it is highly unlikely to have any effect on the use of weapons in violent crimes. There has been only a single case as far as I know where a samurai sword was used in a fracas, and I have yet to hear of anyone being maimed, let alone killed, by a 'throwing star' outside of a Jackie Chan movie.

Indeed, reading coverage of stabbings over the last few years, the most common weapon of choice seems to have been the humble steak knife or carving knife. Perhaps we should empty out our cutlery drawers as well.

Sure, it is better to have unwanted guns out of circulation, but most criminals already seem to have a ready supply of the most modern firearms drug money can buy. John Curran TD (Village 7-13 September) agrees that gangs will not "surrender their guns overnight". What planet is he on? Gangs involved in that level of crime will never surrender their guns. To do so would be to risk getting shot dead by their rivals, whom they fear more than the gardaí. And since you have to leave your name and address and are liable to prosecution if the gun has been used in a crime, only the most feeble-minded criminal will hand in a weapon.

Will the amnesty make our streets safer? John seems to think so and does make an interesting point but fails to explore it fully. He says "many of these attacks are drink fuelled and removing the knives will undoubtedly make our streets safer". But if many of these attacks are drink-fuelled, surely an equally obvious solution is to have a drinks amnesty. Come on, John, why not have an alcohol ban?

The fact is, while lethal, weapons are only the tip of a social problem iceberg. There have been but several gun amnesties in the UK, and it hasn't done much to reduce the level of weapons used in crimes. Will the amnesty make us safer? While I have done my bit to help, I very much doubt it. It will certainly remove some weapons from the homes of generally law-abiding citizens. Above all it is a good piece of easy PR work. Fianna Fáil can look tough on crime and Michael McDowell can recover some of his tarnished image of not being on top of violent crime. All handy with impending elections. But the creation of a safer society will entail meaures far beyond tougher laws or gun amnesties. You cannot simply legislate people into respecting life and limb. It will mean trying to recreate some of the society we've been busily tearing down for the last 20 years.

Nick Folley, Carrigaline, Co Cork

Reaction to Eoin Ó Murchú: Sargent must tackle international issues too

Eoin Ó Murchú quotes Trevor Sargent as wanting to change "the country's political culture" and lists his priorities as Kyoto compliance and social and affordable housing (Village 14-20 September).

So far, so commendable.

But if we don't tweak the culture of celtic complacency regarding the collaboration by ocular aversion to the expanding mess in Iraq and beyond, we may just be hit by a different express train than the environmental blowback the scientific consensus prognosticates.

It's a dirty job, Mr Sargent, but stop beating around the bush about the Bush. Is a reassessment of the conditions of use of our airspace by military adventurers to be a condition of any negotiations to support a government? Or is that the road to the dead microphone?

Damien Flinter, Galway

Advice for the government: Public information: how to do it right

The following is a set of guidelines setting out how government information to the public should be laid out:

1. Structure your information as if you are talking to a child. A very stupid child.

2. Tell the public what they already know. Never give them too much information. The less they know, the better.

3. Use the word "responsibility" as often as possible. Examples: "Waste is your responsibility." "Water is a valuable resource – treat it responsibly." "Road deaths are your Responsibility." Nothing, however, is the government's responsibility.

4.Whatever you do, do not give out any useful information – it might set a bad example. The public should never feel they are being given anything by the government, even useful information. Especially useful information.

5. Finally, use as much public money as you like to pay for your campaign. We can guarantee that you will never cease to be entertained by making the public pay for something they don't want and probably don't need.

This has been a public service broadcast.

John Hanamy, Dublin 6

STATEMENT: Irish can be an asset to non-nationals

The article on Femi Daniyan's views towards the requirement to complete an Irish-language exam in King's Inns to become a barrister throws up some interesting yet familiar points.

I am a non-EU citizen who learnt Irish in adulthood with no background in the language, and incidentally, also one of apparently some 60 or so foreigners who have successfully completed the King's Inns Irish language exam to date. A large number of those in the network of fluent Irish-speaking immigrants, iMeasc, have found Irish to be both an opportunity and an advantage. Fluency in Irish can be a significant tool for immigrants in disempowering xenophobia and bringing new ideas and approaches to contributing to Irish culture.

By learning and interacting with Irish, and bringing our international experience and multiplicity of skills to this area of Irish culture, we not only help to expand the concept of Irish identity to be more inclusive of ourselves and our children, we also help to make our immigration to Ireland more sustainable.

While those who would decry Irish as useless, irrelevant and even dead are numerous and highly vocal in Irish society, repeated surveys suggest that a large proportion of Irish people, whether they speak Irish or not, still hold a strong regard for the language. This is where immigrants need to be cautious that they are not engaged as unwitting weapons against the Irish language by those who seek to use a pseudo-concern for immigrant welfare to further their own, sometimes hidden, anti-Irish language agendas. This ultimately sets immigrants up as scapegoats for the dissipation of the Irish language/culture, and can directly feed into the growth of anti-immigrant feeling where immigrant needs are perceived to be better served in some areas than those of Irish-born citizens.

iMeasc is currently working on a project of tri-lingual phrasebooks (Chinese-Gaeilge-English etc) as an introductory taster in Irish for immigrants in Ireland. Whilst iMeasc counts nearly 20 languages amongst its members, from Japanese and Arabic, to Polish, Swahili and Bahasa Indonesia, Immigrant Irish-speakers and Irish-speakers of mixed cultural background are always welcome to join.

More imeasc@eircom.net, Ariel Killick, Co-founder, iMeasc. 5/609 South Circular Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8