We have our own kind of extremists in the Dáil
MANY in the media seem to be getting quite carried away by the fact that a gang of extremists are now the third-largest party in the German parliament. But before everyone gets too carried away by the threat to the future of German democracy, maybe we should take a look closer to home, at the thirdlargest party in our own Dáil: Sinn Féin.
Sinn Féin had for decades been the political wing of a criminal, paramilitary organisation committed to the violent overthrow of the State.
For those who say this is all in the past I would point out that a convicted IRA gun runner, Martin Ferris, is currently a TD.
Or the fact that only a matter of weeks ago, the party leader, Gerry Adams, excused the murder of Co. Louth farmer Tom Oliver, claiming that it was ‘politically motivated’ and that punishing the murders would be ‘counterproductive’.
Or take the current situation in Northern Ireland, where Sinn Féin claim that if the Executive is not returned, along with meeting their list of demands, then ‘the peace process could be under threat’. In other words, give us absolutely everything we want, or we’ll return to violence.
So, before the media get too excited about the Alternative for Deutschland, maybe they should spend more time holding to account our own, home-grown extremists. PETER COSGROVE, Wellington Bridge, Co. Wexford.
Parents under pressure
RESEARCH carried out by Catherine Hakim, of the London School of Economics, over ten years ago in relation to mothers’ wishes and who cared for their babies, 80% responded by stating that they would like to spend way more time with their children while the remaining 20% wished to return to work as soon as they could.
She came to the same conclusion as reported in your paper’s editorial ‘Give mothers what they really want’ (Thursday), that most of the State resources went into looking after the 20% of women who wished to return to work.
Leaving that aside, rarely if ever does the needs or voice of children contribute to the debate. Why would it? Obviously, they don’t have a vote and adult society does not see this a major election issue. Since the 1950s, when John Bowlby and others initiated research into babies’ attachment to their mothers plus many major other studies carried out world wide, they all have come to the same conclusion, children under three need attachment and are too emotionally vulnerable to be left with strangers.
I have been banging on about this for years but very few want to hear this truth. Parents are under so much financial pressure that they have no choice but to work.
Other European countries are more enlightened and make it easier for babies to be with their mums and dads.
To add emphasis to my argument, about eight years ago I addressed a letter to each board member of the ISPCC outlining concerns about how young children were being minded, I included references to major research carried out over the years. I did not get an acknowledgement from the board.
What chance has a ‘stressed baby’ in a poorly run crèche got, of being listened to?
JIM JACKMAN, Castleknock, Dublin 15.
Pets must be exercised
A PET dog is isolated at the end of a garden with no company of any kind. It is fed and watered and has a kennel of sorts.
Never brought for a walk or given the opportunity to mix with people or with other dogs. This situation persists from day to day, year to year until the end of its life.
This is a situation of the worst kind of cruelty to any animal and especially to a pack animal. However when situations like this are brought to the attention of DSPCA this is the answer: ‘Has the dog got a kennel, is it fed?.’
If the answer is yes to both those questions the conversation ends. But the cruelty does not.
A new approach is needed by this organisation.
HARRY MULHERN, Dublin.
Virgin on the immoral
CURRENTLY airing on TV is an advertisement for Virgin Media, promoting its 30-day no-strings TV and broadband contracts. Part of the dialogue of the advert states: ‘The age of promiscuity is here.’
What sort of message is this advert sending out to our young people? Promiscuity has never been acceptable as part of our culture. If we are to succeed as a society you have to have acceptable moral standards, and promiscuity is not acceptable as a standard.
I am not a dinosaur, even though I am 70; I want what is best for our children, and future generations.
I tried complaining to the Irish and British broadcasting authorities, but didn’t get anywhere. As for the producers of this particular advert, I would suggest they find other employment.
Which brings me to the standards and quality of advertisements on TV. I am very broadminded, but I think most of the adverts on TV currently are not very good, a lot are rubbish, but there are rare exceptions. I have a policy, if the advert is rubbish and poor quality, then the same must apply to its products, so I will avoid them.
JOHN FAIR, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.