Sir, - Am I the only one of your readers to find the current wave of xenophobia directed at John Hume's possible presidential candidature profoundly disheartening? It is bad enough that we have Irish police turning back visitors to this country because of the colour of their skins, but to see John Hume described as not being a citizen of the State plumbs new depths. Quite apart from the fact that this most grandiose of little states lays claims to legal jurisdiction over every citizen of Northern Ireland, from Dana to the Shankill Butchers, the naked prejudice that glowers through such resentment makes shameful viewing. Instead of droning on, let me make a few points:
John Hume is a citizen of the Republic. Read your Constitution.
Dev was a citizen of another state (and that saved his neck in 1916).
On just about every world stage (apart from pop music) John Hume represents and even defines what an Irishman is.
The good people of Peru were cosmopolitan enough to elect a Japanese president. The Argentinians picked a Syrian. God help us, the Brits prefer monarchs of foreign extraction.
The people of Israel even chose an Irishman. Then again, they know a thing or two about the dangers of prejudice.
On behalf of everyone who ever had a cousin in America or a nephew on the building sites of England I cry shame on your tinyminded parochialism.
You have disgraced yourselves yet again. - Yours, etc., ARTHUR J. DEENY,
Cowper Downs,
Dublin 6.