A chara, - F.G. O'Faolain (October 30th) predicts that our current "permissive" immigration situation will lead to social unrest in a polarised society and a dilution of our national identity. Specifically, he posits that the Irish language will be sacrificed for the sake of inclusiveness.
Interestingly, he insists that a "policy of uncontrolled immigration into this country" could lead to spiralling racism in the future. To which policy is he referring? Surely he is aware that the immigration policy in this country is already strict. In any event, of the 6 per cent of persons classified as such, the vast majority of immigrants residing in this country are returned Irish nationals from the United Kingdom and the United States.
In fact, fewer than 2 per cent of the persons residing in this State come from outside the European Union or the US. Does Mr O'Faolain fear that incoming Americans, English or even returning Irish people will be responsible for social unrest in the future?
Probably he does not. And yet he seconds Kevin Myers's assertion (An Irishman's Diary, October 22nd) that "foreigners" will be the cause of some shadowy, ill-defined trouble for Ireland: "social unrest", "social conflict" or "upheavals". Quite simply put, this is xenophobia, and it attempts to use our concerns about the unknowability of the future against us.
It is quite unlikely, for example, that "an emboldened minority" would ever demand a cessation of our cultural and religious expression; if it did, it would be recognised as a fascist, lunatic extreme, and its demands would be treated accordingly.
Mr O'Faolain's closing plea on behalf of future generations was in juxtaposition with Shalini Sinha's eloquent column on the opposite page. In it, she noted that "not being born in Ireland or having white skin, there's little I'm allowed say here about the Irish people's struggles and the future of the country. But Irish people are not the ones affected by the legacy of their history".
We should all try to keep in mind that we are making history as we speak, and that all children will be affected by our legacy. - Yours, etc.,
STEPHEN COLLINS, South Circular Road, Dublin 8.
Madam, - F. G. O'Faolain (October 30th) in his fearful comments on immigration should look at a calendar for a change; this is 2003, not 1903, Ireland is 30 years in the European Union, we depend on a globalised economy, asylum is a worldwide syndrome, and anyway we need immigrants to pay our pensions and do the jobs that our more refined characters spurn.
Harking back to a romanticised notion of old Ireland that never really existed anyway is strictly for the birds these days.
As for the fragile "cultural resurrection" he lauds, there is no such animal.
On the contrary I see what remains of Irish culture going down the tube at the hands of ruthless developers, clientelist politicians and a crony élite.
But if he really wants to do something to protect Irish culture he could write about the wholesale destruction of old landscapes and our heritage by ribbon development, one-off bungalows, unbridled pollution and dumping.
Hedonism, rampant materialism and naked greed add to the brew. These are the real threats to Irish culture, but they come from within. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL BAYNES, Swinford, Co Mayo.