A chara, - In his column of November 19th, John Waters launched a predictably vitriolic criticism of Fintan O'Toole and his article entitled "Rise in family violence needs analysis" (Opinion, November 13th). This, given Mr Waters's track record as the champion of the "men's rights movement" was to be expected.
Fintan O'Toole, while giving cognisance to the many good arguments propounded by the movement, had lamented that these can come wrapped in a "hateful rhetoric".
In championing the male cause, Mr Waters shrouds some worthy arguments in a fog of paranoia and downright inaccuracy. He would have us believe that the feminist dominatrix is not only abroad but is pulling the very puppet strings of State power. This is patently untrue. Women are thin on the ground in the higher echelons of the State. The judiciary, Government and important business positions remain predominantly male.
Fintan O'Toole, in dealing with the fraught area of gender politics, has acknowledged its many nuances and formulated a positive and well-balanced opinion. His statement that "if there is a man-hating Θlite it is overwhelmingly male" is countered by John Waters's baseless argument that "the social policy of the State is formulated and implemented largely by men who think like Fintan O'Toole".
To this I would have to say: dream on, John; were that the case, we might be approaching something close to utopia. - Is mise,
Nicola Sheehan, Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2.