Trump’s Taiwan call deserves the world’s applause

Though not a fan of Donald Trump, I am intrigued by the howls of indignation from his country’s political establishment in response to his taking a call from the president of Taiwan.

How dreadful that he spoke to the leader of a State that America severed diplomatic relations with 37 years ago! And China’s government is shocked to the core.

I think it is entirely fitting that the leaders of the Free World should be on good terms with the one part of China where free and democratic elections are held. President Tasi Ing-wen was chosen by the people of Taiwan.

The regime in Beijing has no democratic mandate. It rules by terror and suppresses any hint of dissent. Millions are imprisoned for opposing the dictatorship, including members and supporters of religious groups who espouse peaceful alternatives to the present authoritarian system.

Far from avoiding contact with Taiwan, I hope the incoming US administration will rally to the aid of both that fragile democracy and the long suffering people of occupied Tibet. John Fitzgerald, Callan, Co. Kilkenny.

Gerry’s the victim

By any standards the relentless personalised attacks on Sinn Féin, and in particular its leader Gerry Adams, regarding the killings of prison officer Brian Stack in 1983 and Jean McConville in 1972, and the alleged rape of Máiría Cahill in 1997, are bitter attacks on democracy.

The sheer level of malice and bile that has been hurled at Mr Adams in regard to these issues goes far beyond accepted parliamentary discourse.

Whereas I unequivocally support demands from the families of all these victims for justice and their right to speak, the alacrity with which some politicians have exploited these horrific crimes, while ignoring other appalling killings, leaves me thinking these events are being played out for their full political value.

There appears to be a steely determination by opponents of Sinn Féin in Dáil Éireann to create a political atmosphere where Sinn Féin is rendered politically toxic and impotent. Opponents of Sinn Féin seem to have forgotten something about the electorate. We may be sometimes gullible, but we are not all stupid. Tom Cooper, Templeogue, Dublin 6w.

Know-nothings

There was widespread regret at the recent passing of actor Andrew Sachs, best known for his portrayal of waiter Manuel in Fawlty Towers. Manuel’s most famous line was: ‘I know nothing.’

A well-known Irish political leader has been repeatedly adopting the ‘I know nothing’ slogan over the last few months. While many of us suspect otherwise, Gerry Adams continuously pleads ignorance.

The difference between Sachs and Adams is that lovers of natural comedy will never tire of the humour of the former while the repetitive utterings of the latter are becoming much less palatable. Liz Lawless, Navan, Co. Meath.

Gubu politics

Maureen O’Sullivan’s decision to write to the judiciary regarding a man who pleaded guilty to IRA membership and was found to have explosive device components, was, in the acronym coined by the late Conor Cruise O’Brien, Gubu. One wonders what letters she would have written to the innocent victims, possibly her own constituents, had the bombs been used. John Naylor, Walkinstown, Dublin 12.

Fidel and Michael

There has been a lot of criticism in the media of our President for going to the Cuban consulate in Dublin to sign the book of condolence for Fidel Castro.

Michael D Higgins did no wrong in his actions and it is totally unfair for anyone to speak out against our head of state when he is not allowed to speak back, as our Constitution forbids him to do so.

No-one is perfect and in revolutions and civil wars, bad things happen. Fidel Castro did his best in the situation he found himself in. In the revolution and civil war here in Ireland, Irish people did bad things to one another and over the years since, Irish governments have locked up people without trial. In the Forties, De Valera’s government had people shot, so let’s not lecture the Castro socialist government. Martin Ford, Sligo.

Water’s worth it

I was walking up the stairs last night, with a glass of water in my hand (we had just had a lovely romantic evening singing along to the Christmas carols and songs on YouTube).

The landing light shone into my glass of water, giving it a beautiful crystal experience. That proved to me that water is the most important commodity in the World.

I am happy to say that we paid all our water charges.

I know people will be in convulsions of laughter reading this, telling me what a fool I am, but the way I look at it, water is precious so I don’t mind paying.

If you like gardening, as I do, you will know that water is the lifeline of vegetables and flowers.