Sir, – In an opinion piece on men’s maladies (“Enoch Burke is someone I’d like to hug”, November 11th), Joe Humphreys writes: “Ultimately, men just want to be loved – or, at least, to know they’re not completely unloved. They need a shoulder to cry on when they screw up, and they want reassurance that they’re not weird for being deeply insecure.”
Can you imagine the ruaille buaille that would ensue if somebody wrote this about women? Indeed, it would be fully justified, as it’s a deeply patronising analysis. There are many problems facing men today (as there are many problems facing women) and most of them can’t be solved by a shoulder to cry on, as important as that can be.
Regarding Enoch Burke, Joe Humphreys has this to say: “He reminds me of many young men who go through a phase of extreme religiosity before they eventually grow out of it.” This is a very dismissive attitude toward a man who (whatever your view of his opinions) has taken a very principled stand for the sake of his beliefs, entailing great personal sacrifice.
Your columnist writes: “I don’t know him from Adam but I’d like to give him a hug – I feel he could do with one.”
The welcome I received from Jennifer Johnston is something I will never forget
Oscars 2026: Will Hamnet with Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley get a best picture nomination?
‘My son is getting married in the summer, and the likelihood is that I’m going to be able to see that'
Ireland ‘actively hindering its citizens from building wealth and securing their future’
Somehow, I’m guessing that Enoch Burke isn’t too eager to be hugged by Irish Times opinion writers.
Hasn’t the man suffered enough? – Is mise,
MAOLSHEACHLANN Ó CEALLAIGH,
Dublin 4.
