Sir, - Before we all complain too much about traffic, teachers, train strikes, corrupt politicians, banks, and all the hundred and one other little problems that assail our nation, perhaps we should first consider that there are places on this planet where people are a little less fortunate.
In parts of Colombia, for example, paramilitary death squads may arrive in your village and shoot dead all the males. In China, you can get imprisoned and tortured for showing any kind of political dissent. In sub-Saharan Africa, large swathes of the population are infected with HIV.
On the whole, I think we should count our blessings, and take little things like the traffic in Donnybrook in our stride. - Yours, etc.,
M. Peiler, Clooneen, Ballymote, Co Sligo.