Sir, – As thousands of Irish living in the US prepare to travel home for Christmas, many are travelling as bewildered observers to the new landscape emerging out of the ashes of a strange and toxic election.
While some of the returning souls may be happy with the outcome, I’d hazard a guess that the majority are not.
The country we made a conscious choice to belong to has been taken away from us and replaced with a reality few of us recognise. From cabinet nominations that assail the foundations of government and threaten environmental health and personal wellbeing, to an attitude of dangerous disregard for the norms, traditions and rules of governing, the future does not look bright.
So bear with us this year, we may not be the life and soul of the party. Forgive us as we may not be ready for jokes about the next US president. Welcome us as we come, as always, bearing gifts, greetings and duty-free gin, and looking forward to a respite from our world turned upside down. – Yours, etc,
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MARGARET O’GORMAN,
Washington, DC.