It’s time to get tough with the law-breakers
IT’S horrendous to think that during a time of such strife, young thugs are using the coronavirus as a weapon to attack members of An Garda Síochána, as well as those in the healthcare profession who are putting their own lives in danger by trying to protect us from sickness and death.
Louts who could be deemed the dregs of society, bereft of conscience or direction, think it serves a warped purpose to spit and cough in the faces of administrators of law and order, the gardaí, alongside the nurses and doctors who would treat these very same hoodlums with due care and attention if they were hospitalised. In these extraordinary times, the gloves should be taken off as far as powers to deal with undesirables is concerned.
I have watched on social media sites how Italian, Indian and Spanish police have dealt out rough, on-the-spot justice to those who have complete contempt for law and order. Gardaí should be issued with either long batons, a meter-long length of heavy gauge water hose or a traditional blackthorn stick (shillelaghs) to deal with these yobs. And gardaí should encourage anyone in proximity to use their mobile phones to record these examples of instant justice to share on social media. I can tell you now that those cretins would soon learn the meaning of respect and good manners.
Off with the kid-gloves and leave political correctness on the shelf. Sometimes in life you have to be cruel to be kind, and this is one time of emergency where that philosophy should be tested to the full.
JAMES WOODS, Gort an Choirce, Dún na nGall.
Hair-raising decision
AS THE coronavirus has spread around the world, we have seen a number of restrictions imposed and Australia is no different. We are at level 2 and likely to move to even more strict measures.
For us this means schools are closed, coffee shops can only sell take-away coffee and I have to do my music lessons by Skype. Depending on your beliefs, you can’t seek divine intervention as all churches, sports and horse racing meetings are cancelled for the moment.
Last night the Australian prime minister announced the easing of one restriction: the length of a hairdressing appointment was no longer limited to half an hour and you can now get a cut and colour. An odd restriction to ease and of no consequence to me, as I am bald. I just want my sit-down coffee and cake. DENNIS FITZGERALD,
Melbourne, Australia.
Think for yourselves
IN these times of mass fear and near hysteria, is there no room for critical thinking and analysis, even some optimism?
I only ask because my country is turning into a place of unspoken martial law, with medical issues being just a factor, and it has the effect of citizens becoming more and more afraid of the Government.
We ought to be well aware that free thinking and asking any questions of clarification of this current regime is frowned upon, even by neighbours who are afraid to do so lest they be accused of thinking for themselves.
Everywhere I hear the refrain: ‘We must do as we’re told’ – to the point that this response has lost all meaning.
George Orwell and Margaret Atwood knew of the dangers of increased military/police powers and subsequent political enforcement in the lives of citizens through harsh laws, not all of which will be dropped once this virus is gone.
Covid-19 is the reason (cause?) in these times of near dystopian levels. There will be other ‘reasons’ to consider when we slowly appear to have survived this panic.
These emergency measures will be counted a huge success internationally, when governments see how whole continents can be brought under severe control. The next crisis does not necessarily have to be what is called a pandemic. Humans are much more easily cowed when required to bend to the will of rulers. ROBERT SULLIVAN, Bantry, Co. Cork.