"Good" Friday?

Racism and Xenophobia

Ta ceist an-tabhachtach le reiteach ag pobal na tire seo ar an t-aonu la deag den mhi seo se sin ceist na saoranchais. Agus sinn ag votail ar an reifrean seo caithfimid smaoineamh or na milte daoine a d’fhag an tir seo blianta fada o shin chun beatha a shaothru thar lear agus a bhi cinnte de rud amhain go mbeadh saoranachais ag aon clan a rugadh doibh san tir in a raibh said lonnaithe.

Freisin, i mo thuairim, nil se ceart na coir idirdealu a dheanamh idir paisti.

5 Anglesea Terrace
Greenore
Co Louth


6 June 2004


The Editor
The Dundalk Democrat


A Chara

A troubled look passes across a person’s face when you ask them if they have made their mind up about how they are going to vote in the “citizenship” referendum. This issue touches a deep moral chord within them and, generally, they avoid answering the question. I noticed this reaction when I was canvassing with Leonard Hatrick (for the “local” election) in Castlebellingham and Kilsaran on Saturday. Innocently I was trying to broaden the discussion at an odd house here and there but after a while I laid off because I could see I was touching a tender spot.

Judging by your editorial last week (as far as I can remember it) the referendum is a relatively anodyne issue and your view on it was in line with all the material issued on the Government side and I think, unworriedly, you recommended a yes vote. From my own limited experience I think your stance is more than slightly blasé and I think that a lot of people with the highest moral motivation will, eventually, make their minds up and will be voting “no” on Friday.

Perhaps I am being over sensitive but do I detect an element of fear among the public? Are ordinary citizens becoming afraid or in awe of their own government? Are we being subjected to undue pressure to discriminate in an unhealthy way between infants in the country and subject some of them to a provision that will endow them with inferior status and a life of inequality for as long as they stay in Ireland – “Ireland of the Welcomes”?

Mise le meas

Sean Crudden