Galway Advertiser 2006/2006_05_25/GA_2505_E1_030.pdf 

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LETTERS

May 25 2006

The fate of Dan Brown
Dear Editor, The success in book and surely in film of the Da Vinci Code is one more proof of the power that the media welds in forming society's opinions and even education. For here is an ordinary fictional story that with the help of clever advertising has for many people replaced a historical truth with that of a fictional claptrap. Although Dan Brown has been invited to many discussions on television and campuses concerning his book he has refused to accept any as such and rightly so as he has nothing to say nor can he defend his imaginary truth with any kind of evidence. I can only think of hundreds of thousands of early Christians, starting with the Apostles, before the Vatican even existed in any form or shape, who died on the cross, stoned to death, burned alive, and still refused to deny the truth which they had lived and knew first hand. The same truth that they passed down through the ages, and even today Christians in many parts of the world die for the sake of the same truth like their predecessors. I suspect that Dan Brown would not accept to lose a minute of sleep, let alone his life for his own so claimed truth. So the question why authors like Dan Brown write books against Christianity and fifth rate comedians make jokes against Christ and his followers remains. I suggest that one possible answer is that Christians don't issue fatwas. Mise le meas Basilis Nikolakos Photofix 2 William St West, Galway

Fond memories of Kylemore Abbey
Dear Editor, I was dismayed to see the front page coverage of The Advertiser May 18 about alleged misconduct in Kylemore Abbey. I am sorry that the order must cope with another crisis so soon after the announcement earlier this year that they must close the school. I went to Kylemore Abbey school in the late sixties. The recent news about the school closure prompted me to write to the Abbey because I wanted the nuns to know that what they stood for had given me much to treasure. What I experienced in Kylemore was in total contrast to that culture of meanness sewn into the Irish Catholic education system, which has reaped such a bitter harvest since. Kylemore was different because of its Benedictine tradition which nurtured an environment that was openminded and genuinely free. My recollection of the sisters was of kindness. We were no angels either, as children of the sixities we pushed out boundries, challenged norms and were often defiant. I wonder now how they put up with us! Yet I remember only gentleness. We used to join the sisters in the evening for vespers sung in the chapel. I am always moved when I think of their fragile voices marking the end of the day. I never felt that when they turned away from the altar they saw us in lesser light. Such blessings you do not forget. The motto of the Benedictines is simply `PAX' (Peace). I hope it is not long before the peace they have given to others will be returned to them. Yours sincerely Marese Walsh 65 Rockfield Pk Rahoon Galway.

Galway hospital problem
Dear Sir, Your two letter writers of the May 11 edition address matters relating to Galway hospitals. The first writer comments on the facilities, food, the bed linen, the grounds, spatial arrangements, lap tops, and the sartorial elegance of the nursing staff - in the Galway Clinic it omits to proffer comment on the quality of patient care. The second letter purports to offer a solution to the trolley situation in A&E but, having read the letter repeatedly, I can find no such solution in the text other than the invitation to set up a charitable organisation to purchase a few beds and employ a few nurses. Have we become too blind or too cynical - or too blind to be cynical or too cynical, and too blind to care or to see the elephants in the room? Surely it matters only that we recognise and accept that under this administration the unfortunate patient is confronted with a gnawing obscurantism at every level from admission through hospitalisation to discharge; that of our two major hospitals one is daily overstretched in terms of expertise and resources (NUIG) while the other is daily complaining of an under use of its services and equipment particularly the area of purchased patient treatment (Galway Clinic). There are two other points; the hospital system nationally is under sourced by 3,000 beds and has been so since the mid eighties. The hierarchal system which has bedevilled our hospitals is such that nurses are less concerned about nursing and more concerned about being team leaders; and the most junior doctors will be the first to see the most critical patients. Finally our teaching hospitals are undoubtedly centres of excellence from Monday to Friday, but revert to the quaint but inadequate 1950 models at weekends. We need sufficient beds, rosters which are appropriate to all the hours patients are sick, and which are applicable to a proportionate measure of senior and junior doctors, and we need an overseer who will insist on joined up thinking across the various disciplines throughout the patient's entire encounter with our hospital services. With so many vulnerable people now living in dread of the prospect of having to go to hospital can we say that this administration subscribes to and contemptuously observes the first Hippocratic principal "first, do no harm"? D Mac Namara, 29 Aras na Tra Cois Cuain,, Lwr Salthill, Galway.

Where is the Christian way of life gone
Dear Editor, With the peaceful resolution of the Afghan asylum-seekers crisis in St Patrick's Cathedral secured, it is time for reflection on two of the cornerstones of Irish identity.We claim to be Christians and Irish republicans, andas such, duty bound to assist the less forunate. We claim to also be an immigrant nation, sensitive to the needs of the dispossessed. This is, it would seem to be, a case of a `mistaken identity,' for several reasons. At a time when our political leader's representatives are in the United States of America, attempting to secure the rights of Irish immigrants, we remain indifferent to the plight of others, others who wish to consider Ireland as their home. What has become of "the light in the window"? We live in the best of times, as we have a Taoiseach who is both a socialist, and a republican. But, as usual, he has only been noticeable by his lack of enthusiasm for difficult social dilemmas. The Christian churches, similarly, have chosen to deny the right of sanctuary, for reasons of fiscal expediency. They are concerned at the loss of revenue, brought on by the `unlawful' occupation of their property, by the dispossessed. Currently, the dispossessed; I refer to the folly of the protests regarding `The Da Vinci Code". The philosopher, Nietzsche, believed that "the last Christian died on the Cross," and the `Christians' condemned him for such an assertion, and they await the return of the Christ, to offer `leadership.' It is possible Christ will be an immigrant and, if so, will he suffer the fate of his Afgan brothers? Will he be subject to the `Law,' should he seek sanctuary here? Perhaps we should reflect upon the words W B Yeats, words composed to reflect his fears for the Irish Republic, after the events of 1916, and the emergence of a `blinkered' form of Christianity, accompanied by a sterile `version' of republicanism. "I balanced all, brought all to mind, The years to come seem waste of breath, A waste of breath the years behind In balance with this life, this death." Yours sincerely, Patrick Mc Donagh, Ballinfoyle Park Galway

Cruelty to circus animals needs to end
Dear Editor, We, like many others, were shocked at the recent chance discovery of a monkey abandoned by a travelling show in a van without water, light, or adequate food for over a weeek. Luckily this particular story seems to have had a relatively happy ending. However, we feel that as long as Galway continues to welcome circuses that use animals, we are all complicit on this and many undiscovered similar horrors that are happening every day. To accept that it is somehow all right to treat sentient fellow creatures as objects for our entertainment in the 21st century is depressing beyond belief. By allowing such acst to continue without our city boundaries makes us as responsible for that monkey's fate as if we'd locked her in there ourselves. Yours, Amanda Lacy Midge Coffey Angela Hynes Emily O Flaterty Olivia Lally Roschaill Co Galway

A green prosperous country
Dear Editor, I was surprised to read in the front page of your paper on May 11 that the business community has some concerns about my party's stance towards business. I had long since thought those fears had been put to rest, but it appears that the stereotypical view of the Greens remains in some quarters. The following points should clear up any confusion there might be: The Greens have no ideological opposition to profit. We feel, however, that recent government policy has placed it on an equal footing to the environment and social cohesion. To that end, we have proposed reforming the EPA, tougher planning laws and the provision of better services for communities. Good economics and social cohesion are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, one complements the other quite well. A strong economy is needed to fund vital social programmes, and sustainable development and social cohesion is at the bedrock of a truly strong economy. At present, the greatest threat to our economic competitiveness comes in the form of rising energy prices. By being one of the most energy dependent countries in the world, Ireland is at a severe disadvantage. The Greens have proposed a major expansion of renewable energy, from bio fuels to wind farms, and from energy conservation to wave energy. Not only would this protect our current jobs, but it would create thousands of new ones. It is in both our interests for this problem to be tackled. Traffic congestion, caused by this Government's obsession with motorways at the expense of a decent public transport system, equally concerns both of us. Countless working hours are lost in traffic, the stress of two-hour daily commutes hurts productivity, and the expansion of the number of cars is pushing us well beyond greenhouse gas emissions allowed under Kyoto. Energy and transport are areas where our interests are in sync. Furthermore, eco-industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. It is the fourth largest industry in North America, and the production of renewable energy accounted for the largest increase in jobs in Germany. It provides jobs in R&D, construction, training, and maintenance. The Greens have a different approach to taxation, but it's not the stereotypical 'tax and spend' approach that many fear. In some sectors we wish to lower taxes, not raise them. This can be done by increasing taxes on the bad pollution, inefficient industries, and lowering taxes on the good work, investment. Overall we do not see a need for an increase in taxation for the foreseeable future. This policy was passed overwhelmingly at our last national convention. Galway businessmen and women can rest assured that the Greens are determined to protect local business. We have fought against policies proposed by PD councillors that are destroying indigenous commerce and replacing it with faceless Eurotrash industry. We are determined to protect the culture and heritage that can be found across Galway, and firmly believe that stronger local government and a reformed tax system can do this. Our record in government is strong. While in government in Finland that economy retained its status as the most competitive in the world, whereas under FF/PD we are becoming less competitive. Business and Green policies to not need to be in conflict, and whether we're involved in local or national governance, we look forward to working with the business community to create a green, prosperous, country. Regards, Andrew Murphy Secretary, Galway West Greens

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
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