Letters to the Editor 2005-11-24
US Hegemony
United States to go nuclear
"The problem for the United States is that the occupation of Iraq, the permanent military bases and wished-for client regime in Baghdad are primarily about the wider control of the region's energy resources," wrote Paul Rogers (Village, 10 November).
And, of course, Iran dominates the major reservoir of the Caspian oil, a resource drawing considerable Chinese interest and investment as, with its vast population, extraordinary growth rates, deep poverty and arrested development, they can provide the power to modernise and emerge to a fuller role on the global stage.
But, a central plank of the neo-conservative "ideal of the New American Century" is the securing of the entire global supply of oil to ensure the standards of home consumption are not threatened over the short, medium and long term.
Would it be too outlandish to suggest weapons of mass destruction (WMD) style noises about Iran's nuclear industry are no more than a stalking horse for the real threat to US hegemony: Chinese pipelines draining the lifeblood away from the cushioned luxury of US profligacy?
When you consider the record of irresponsibility and downright recklessness of the Cheney/Rumsfeld regime since they first came to power, and if you know about the backgrounds of their back-room staff (throw in Paul Rogers' bleak conclusion that war becomes ever more likely), then it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that these men are willing to gamble on the ultimate nightmare, the chance of a winnable nuclear confrontation before China gets up off its economic knees and demands its rightful share of world energy.
Dr Strangelove was not unadulterated fiction.
Damien Flinter
Clifden, Co Galway
Fergal Keane's comments
In defence of New Zealanders
When reading Fergal Keane's column (Village, 10 November), I was appalled by the absurd generalisation that he made about the fine people of New Zealand.
Keane wrote that New Zealanders are "a dour and unimaginative lot". Later on, he asks: "Do New Zealanders suffer from a massive national inferiority complex which makes cheating acceptable?" Both of these statements are ludicrous and are very insulting to New Zealanders, who were all tarred with the same brush by Keane's thoughtless comments.
New Zealanders are a very proud people, proud of their heritage, culture and country. While many indigenous cultures have been killed off by colonisation, this has not happened in New Zealand. Proof of this is the fact that their rugby team's pre-match ritual is the Haka.
If someone wrote the same about another nationality with a significant minority resident in Ireland, there would be outrage, calls for resignations and allegations of racism. With good reason as well.
Philip Nulty
Ardee, Co Louth
Response to Pierce Martin – again
1916 and World War One
When Pierce Martin says that the "'rights of small nations' was a rhetorical slogan used in pro-war propaganda"(Village, 17 November) he states a fact for a change. It was a slogan designed to attract Irish nationalists into the British Army as canon fodder in an Imperial war, and not a principle for which the war was being fought. Conor Cruise O'Brien told us 30 years ago that it was naïve to suppose that Britain, having won its war, would put the slogan into effect in its relationship with Irish nationality. But if people had seen that it was only rhetoric, why on earth would they have offered themselves up to the British killing machine in response to it? If people were not deceived by propaganda rhetoric, it would be pointless. It is designed to be believed. It was widely believed in nationalist Ireland and people flooded into the recruiting stations and took part in a war in which over 10 million died. When it was revealed to them that it was only rhetoric, perhaps they should have taken it with good humour, as a good practical joke.
When Pierce says that Tom Kettle and Willie Redmond "rationalised their participation in the war" that suggests that they did not actually believe what they said about it. But Kettle was a true believer in the war propaganda for a while. He was one of the chief writers of propaganda for the British press in the autumn of 1914. He held that Britain went to war for the rights of small nations, against the barbaric Hun who was out to destroy civilisation, and he was even of the opinion that Tsarist Russia had undergone a conversion to the principle of nationality. He didn't seem to be "rationalising". He seemed to be a true believer. When the "black-hearted Irish", who had never believed the propaganda, rebelled in 1916, his belief broke down and he insisted on being sent back to the front to be killed.
The foreign minister tells us that the Volunteer Army of the Easter Rising and the British Army on the Somme were somehow united by a common purpose and that we should add on 1916 to the Somme celebrations, which he is intent on establishing as a national event. Beside that gigantic confidence trick, Pierce Martin's incoherence seems almost sensible. So carry on the good work Pierce.
Jack Lane
Millstreet, Co Cork
Crime correspondents
Living off crime
On 15 November I had the misfortune to listen to Pat Kenny and Paul Williams discussing the gangland war going on in Dublin at the moment. To my horror, Williams declared that Pat Rabbitte should not be raising the issue in the Dáil, and should leave the gardaí to get on with their business and not be generating public fear.
Williams is the one who makes his livelihood by selling us stories of the violence he chooses to report. He not only generates unnecessary fear, but profits from it.
Angela Fox
Co Leitrim
Village reporting
Village's pioneering innovation
Congratulations to Village on its first year in existence. To have found a niche with all the competition is admirable.
However, this may not be all that unexpected, when one sees what's happening elsewhere in the media in Ireland. The Sunday Independent ended up, at long last, where it was heading for a long time with the recent Liam Lawlor debacle. A recent article in Village referred to the move to the right in the Irish Times. There have been massive takeovers of rural newspapers by non-national, large organisations, and there have been the recent free morning papers in Dublin city.
Even so, Village should avoid becoming complacent. The engine of its success is partly due to its pioneering innovation and unusual and sometimes unexpected reader's contributions – so rigidly controlled by its conservative competitors.
Peter Kennedy
Sutton, Co Dublin
Irish Politics
Ideology lacking in Irish politics
Finding feasible and equitable resolutions to "mutually beneficial" aspects of public/social policy (cost of living, health service, childcare etc.) within the political arena has never, nor will ever be easy.
It is my assessment that the issues of the day ie the aspects of policy that directly affect the "standard of living" of individuals within society, should be resolved in political committee and removed from the veil of spurious political electioneering.
The interchangeability of Irish government alliances over the years serves only to show that there is no true ideology left in Irish politics and the merging of these shades of grey mean that "politics" has, for a long time now, been reduced merely to a debate on issues rather than ideas.
The opposition parties and the government should then recognise that using a framework of political consensus to resolve social/public issues would in itself be "mutually beneficial". (No scapegoats as many divisive issues would be agreed upon)
By all means let an ideological perspective argue for a new and uncharted path and let it canvass public support. But if this fails or indeed fails to materialise, then let us harness the potential we have, be it through the use of consultants or specialists, for example, but always within the framework of political consensus.
Let not the best and brightest be stymied by the smoke and mirrors of non-existent political ideology and let the public finally get the public policy that they deserve.
Shaun Gavigan
Harolds Cross, Dublin 6
Dún Laoghaire Housing Action Group
'Housing a right not a privilege'
The second public meeting of the newly-formed Dún Laoghaire Housing Action Group took place on 16 November.
More than 50 members of the public attended the meeting to listen to speakers, which included Fr Peter Mc Verry of the Arrupe Society, Phil Kenny and John Dunne of the Dún Laoghaire Housing Action Group and Richard Boyd Barrett of the SWP.
"Since the protests of two women outside council offices, we have been inundated with calls from members of the public who have problems with housing," Chairperson Chris Potts said in his opening speech. "These range from mothers with babies in B&B accommodation to homeless people living in metal containers. We realised that there is a serious need for an action group in the borough and have set up this committee to answer this need."
Fr Peter Mc Verry, a Jesuit priest, who has worked in inner-city Dublin with young homeless men since 1974 came to offer his support to the action group on behalf of homeless people. He said that whilst homeless people were homeless by choice it was not their choice, but the choice of politicians, who through their lack of policies allow the situation to continue.
"What is the message we are giving out to homeless people, when we allow them to sleep in corrugated containers like here in Dún Laoghaire?" asked Fr McVerry. "This is the appalling reality of homelessness: the denial of dignity and the loss of self-respect that we impose is a lack of basic human rights. Once you take away a person's dignity, it is very difficult to replace."
A charter of resolutions for the Action Group was put to the audience, all of whom voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking action on these issues. These included:
• The immediate implementation of the 20 per cent social and affordable element in all private development.
• Affordable homes to be truly affordable.
• A housing policy based on inclusion rather than exclusion.
• Fair rents for council and other tenants.
• Good quality emergency shelters for the homeless, including shelter for the under-30s and for people with specific problems like drug or alcohol dependency.
• Decent temporary emergency accommodation in the borough with no restrictions and curfews.
• An independent appeals procedure on housing issues.
• A code of conduct to ensure respectful treatment of the public when dealing with the council on housing matters.
"Last year there were 1,770 houses built in Dún Laoghaire," said Richard Boyd Barrett. "Out of this number only 50 were council houses and 20 social and affordable. The council expects to build 200 houses over the next two years – with 3,800 people currently waiting to be housed it will take 38 years to accommodate them. The council are facilitating the robbery of public land by developers – there is building everywhere yet there are more people homeless and on the housing list than ever – housing policy is operating on the basis of money first, people later."
While all the councillors in Dún Laoghaire were invited to attend the meeting, only two attended, but left before the meeting was opened to the floor.
"This in itself gives out a clear message to the people of Dún Laoghaire," says Phil Kenny of the Housing Action Group. "I did receive some emails apologising for non-attendance, but in general councillors and TDs have shown themselves to be completely indifferent to what the people of the borough want and need. I have it on good authority that the council's Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) has nothing in place for the next four years. It is time for change – people need to stand up and be heard – we are not going away."
Despite the no-show of councillors and officials, the meeting was a great success and further action is planned in the near future.
Phil Kenny, Chris Potts, Jennifer May, Richard Boyd Barrett
On behalf of Dún Laoghaire Housing Action Group
Contact: 087 6329511