Sir, - Brendan Howlin's article "Refugees and Racism" (Opinion, December 14th) is a welcome contribution to the debate. However, I take issue with some of the points he raises.
He states: "The majority of asylum-seekers are on the subsistence level of welfare and this makes them vulnerable to the taunts of bar-room racists who accuse them of being spongers". Firstly, a considerable section of Irish people are also existing on low welfare payments. Secondly, people who discuss refugees in bars are not necessarily racist. Most democratic discussion in Ireland goes on in bars. Thirdly, you don't have to be a refugee to be accused of "sponging" off the State. A former Minister of the left is on record as labelling Irish claimants as "dole cheats".
Poverty, unemployment and the shortage of decent housing are serious problems confronting Irish people also. These problems among the indigenous population can be used to fan the flames of racial hatred. Of course refugees didn't cause unemployment or housing shortages. These difficulties were here long before refugees arrived. But what is to stop politicians and others trying to gain popularity by exploiting these issues and stirring up animosity against a minority? All the difficulties facing Irish people will have to be confronted if we are to seriously combat racism.
Beliefs about race were used to justify sending six million Jews to gas chambers. They were used to justify taking millions of Africans from their homes and keeping them like animals. Race was also used as an excuse for the great Irish Famine.
The long-term solution to racial intolerance is education. The concept of racism, individual, cultural and institutional, must be explored in order to prepare future generations to live in harmony in a society which will be multicultural and multilingual as well as multiracial. Schools should encourage their students to write essays on race and refugees for the Junior and Leaving Certificates. Students should be encouraged to read and study the excellent articles featured recently in The Irish Times on asylum-seekers and refugees. Young people would then be in a position to make an informed opinion, which is a prerequisite in combating prejudice. It is the youth of today who will be living in the multicultural society of tomorrow. - Yours, etc.,
Michael O'Donnell, Old Youghal Road, Cork.