Madam, - In times of crisis, Irish people have rallied to many causes worldwide. Why, then, the egregious outpourings of certain segments of the broadcast and print media in relation to the devastation of the Gulf Coast of the United States?
They have used a natural disaster to escalate to new heights the never ending personal attacks on President Bush, who, despite a lamentably weak and late start on the rescue operation, did not actually cause the hurricane. Nor did he preside over the descent of New Orleans into a cesspit of corruption, crime, incompetence and degradation for generations past.
There were many local, state and federal levels which failed miserably before you got to the White House. The problems highlighted by Katrina's aftermath should be a warning to all democracies to put their social, civil and infrastructural houses in order.
In the meantime, let us offer what help we can to the people of America, to whom we owe so much. Their suffering is as real as that endured by south-east Asia, or that being perpetrated on the people of Zimbabwe by their despotic ruler. Politics will never be perfect, but compassion is - or should be - universal.
Sadly, Ireland has been poisoned by the anti-American virus, spread by the champions of the liberal left and arch-appeasers of the enemy within. Wake up, people. - Yours, etc,
JG LACEY, Renmore, Galway.
Madam, - Is it not somewhat ironic that on the same day as your correspondent in New Orleans, Denis Staunton, describes the horrendous conditions in New Orleans under the headline "Greatest horrors are yet to come", US ambassador James Kenny (Opinion & Analysis, September 9th) staunchly defends President Bush and all around him and even states: "One week later, the situation is well on its way to being under control and the worst is behind us."
Behind us, Mr Kenny? Or more importantly, behind the millions now suffering? How convenient that would be, but perhaps we are watching different channels. - Yours, etc,
JUDY DITTMANN, Philadelphia, USA.
Madam, - I commend Newton Emerson on his excellent and acerbic article (Opinion, September 8th), "Ill wind blows all the way to Washington, or does it?"
I am not going to defend George W. Bush (he has done himself no favours by not cutting short his vacation, for example), and there are many many questions as to how the rescue effort for an anticipated disaster was so poor.
However, the media stampede here to pin all of the misfortune of Katrina on Bush is symptomatic of the half-baked anti-US rhetoric that sadly passes for debate in this part of the world.
Louisiana, Mississippi and surrounding states have been hit by a shattering catastrophe; I doubt if we would do any better. The common human response should be to row in behind the rescue effort and ask sensible questions later. - Yours, etc,
JOHN O'CONNOR, Moira, Co Down.
Madam, - As Newton Emerson satirically answers the questions of thousands of imaginary newspaper columnists, one is struck by the pointless nature of his derision.
Who cares about the questions of thousands of desperate columnists? Who cares whether George Bush's minimal popularity is finally wavering towards death?
Who cares whether Bill Clinton had the same flaws but managed to hide them better? Who cares whether John Kerry would have put America and in turn the rest of the world in the exact same position?
It is common knowledge that journalists ask questions to sell newspapers. It is common knowledge that rich America keeps poor America poor. It is common knowledge that unsustainable growth will exacerbate global warming, and that there is no real effort to curb this warming. It is common knowledge that people are dying across the world because of the greed of others. It is common knowledge that we are not as "developed" as we'd like to think.
This is all common knowledge; yet we still argue over who is the lesser of two evils. - Yours, etc,
DAVID MANNING, Sandymount, Dublin 4.