FRANCISCA RIBEIRO,
Sir, - I am writing this letter today mostly to try and vent some of the anger and frustration I am feeling at the moment. I am in my early twenties and have lived most of my life in Dublin, having been born in Portugal. I consider myself Portuguese, but also like to consider Ireland as my adopted home. However, some people don't see it that way.
My family and I were victims of constant racist attacks, both physical and verbal, for the first few years we lived in Dublin, but as people got used to us they slowly started to be more accepting. My brother bore the brunt of the physical attacks, having his nose broken twice, while the attacker called him "nigger". The irony is, my brother has a fair complexion, with hazel eyes and dark blonde hair. My poor mother was called every name under the sun and told to go "back to Pakistan". We were at our wits end, but my mother decided to stay.
I moved out of my home last year, but stayed around the same area as before. But now the children around my neighbourhood have decided that I am a lovely target. Yesterday, as I walked home, they kept on saying hello over and over again. When I returned the greeting, they would just laugh. Then they started to imitate me, bowing as if I was Chinese. One of them was even wearing a Portuguese Figo football jersey.
Why are children so ignorant? Even my next-door neighbour's child makes sly comments. I live with my fiancé who is Irish, but I really can't see myself raising any children in Dublin if this is what they will be subjected to. Please just give me some peace, that is all I ask. - Yours, etc.,
FRANCISCA RIBEIRO,
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22