Sir, - The American investigative journalist Carl Bernstein stated in 2016 that “good journalism should challenge people, not just mindlessly amuse them”. I was reminded of this quote this past week while reading and watching the media coverage of the visit of the US president to these shores.
Mr Biden and his entourage waltzed around the country without a single challenge from journalists to US foreign policy or the president’s record. Mr Biden, while correctly preaching peace and opposition to war, was not once challenged by the Irish media corps on his vote for the illegal and criminal war in Iraq, the 20th anniversary of which has just passed; the escalation of drone strikes by the Obama administrations in which he served that left hundreds of civilians including children dead in Somalia, Yemen and Pakistan; the political cover his administration continues to give to the Israeli government as they duly ignore UN resolutions condemning their activities against the Palestinian people; his administration’s incarceration of the journalist Julian Assange; and, of course, the ongoing human catastrophe in Yemen where the US continue to support the Saudi Arabia-led offensive there. Was it too much to expect some of these important geopolitical concerns would be raised?
I’ve no doubt that Mr Biden and the Irish Government will count themselves as winners from the last week as they bask in the positive glow from the visit, but there is no question that the big loser from the past week is critical, objective and good journalism! – Yours, etc.
MICHAEL MURPHY
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Dromahair,
Co Leitrim.
Sir, As a nation we regularly “punch above our weight” internationally in scenarios such as sport, literature and most certainly politics.
Even to the hardened cynics, the words of President Joe Biden in his Oireachtas address resonated with sincerity and reassurance.
Let’s push aside any notion of criticism and embrace the moment and the day, when the proud son of Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden came home. – Yours, etc
NEVILLE SCARGILL,
Bray,
Co Wicklow
Sir, – It was nauseating to watch and listen to the TV media coverage at the State dinner for Joe Biden.
The American president, a guest of our State and here on our invitation, was two hours late for a State dinner, where dignatories waited three-and-a-half hours in Dublin Castle for his arrival.
Earlier in the day he kept our president waiting an hour while staying three minutes away in the American Ambassador’s residence.
What would happen if the Taoiseach was late to meet an American president for an hour or was two hours late for a state dinner? Nothing would happen, because the Irish wouldn’t be as rude to the Americans as they are to us. – Yours, etc.
JONATHAN ROTH (Dr.),
Castlecourt,
Limerick.
Sir, – As someone who, as a child, was in the crowd on the balcony in Dublin Airport that greeted President John F Kennedy 60 years ago, I never expected to be as excited again about the visit to Ireland of an Irish-American president. But Joe Biden has surpassed all our expectations.
His positivity, his relaxed manner, his religious faith and, perhaps most of all, his pride in his Irish heritage, has struck a chord with people across the country.
As a nation we had become too accustomed to a narrative of self-criticism and negativity. Like Kennedy was in 1963 so Biden has, in 2023, proved to be a real breath of fresh air. – Yours, etc.
JOHN GLENNON,
Hollywood,
Co Wicklow
Sir, – I have lost count of how many times I have heard, over the past few days, that “President Joe Biden doesn’t drink”! The poor man must be terribly dehydrated! – Yours, etc.
LAURA O’MARA,
Stillorgan,
Co. Dublin.
Sir, - Congratulations to Miriam Lord for capturing in spades President Biden’s infectious and wonderful visit to Dublin (“Biden butters up TDs and Senators and delivers extra cheese”, April 14th).
It was Joe time from the moment he arrived at the Áras to meet our beaming President Michael D.
As Miriam writes “Joe Biden’s Big Day Out in Dublin was a joy”.
It truly was for the ages. - Yours, etc,
AIDAN RODDY,
Lambourne Wood,
Cabinteely,
Dublin 18.