Madam, - In regard to the current debate about whether criticism or not of US policy is "anti-American", I would agree with your previous correspondents - some of them American citizens resident in Ireland - who argue that an open airing of views is essential.
However, I would like to venture a further comment. I suspect that the vast majority of Yanks like myself who have moved here (and oppose the Bush ideology), fit a certain demographic profile. We are third-level graduates with an urban background, having grown up in Boston, New York or Chicago.
In other words, we're Blue State dwellers, habitual (if not heartfelt) supporters of the Democratic Party.
Because of this, our views can be fairly predictable. What I would argue for in future is a more balanced portrayal of the US in the Irish media. Yes, half of American voters disapprove of Bush and his policies, but who makes up the other half? Or the growing number of people who have no preference at all, owing to their understandable abandonment of the political process?
We won't know the true extent of Bush's accomplishments or dire misdeeds for some years to come. And without doubt his administration needs to be watched (as does every government). But I'd also like to see less caricature of the US in your reports - which results when the news media simply feeds on itself for coverage - and more of an even-handed approach that attempts to paint the US in all its complexity. - Yours, etc,
STEVE CORONELLA,
Shankill,
Co Dublin.
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Madam, - Niall O'Dowd (Opinion & Analysis, September 20th) speculates on what might happen if generous US citizens became tired of our alleged anti-American attitudes, and decided that we Irish were rich enough to look after ourselves. But in his list of examples he fails to mention certain benefactors of Irish political parties - perhaps because the blessings resulting from their gifts are less obvious.
In the US itself foreign donations to political movements are unlawful, being considered subversive of democracy. Indeed, foreign political interference of any sort is unwelcome there. Is not this one of those many wise US positions which we would do well to emulate? - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL PURSER,
Strand Road,
Killiney,
Co Dublin.