Madam, - Liam Ó Géibheannaigh's letter (September 26th) perfectly illustrates my contention that much of the debate on multiculturalism is simplistic. I was not arguing for an unquestioning endorsement of multiculturalism, nor saying that it meant an "anything goes" philosophy; quite the contrary. We cannot have the acceptance of difference and diversity unless it takes place within an agreed framework of core values.
Mr Ó Géibheannaigh argues that "allowing a multicultural society to emerge, without having agreement and adherence to established core cultural habits and values, will result in the ghettoisation or segregation of Irish society". I agree fully with this. But then, bizarrely, he says that "in effect, foreigners must [my italics] adapt to our Irish way of life and should not be encouraged to flaunt their difference, as with women going about in disguise".
What is our "Irish way of life"? Binge-drinking on a Friday night? Gay-bashing? Racism towards Travellers? Patriarchy and sexism? Who is to decide and police what is acceptable as part of our "Irish way of life"? As for decreeing that foreigners should not be encouraged to "flaunt their differences", perhaps we should have a new Statutes of Kilkenny, with rules about what people can eat, how they may dress and which languages they may speak.
The "Irish way of life" espoused for much of the 20th century in Ireland, a long time before we had many immigrants, excluded a lot of people, or at least did not allow them openly to depart from a highly restrictive set of norms, except at the risk of forced departure, ostracism or violence. I do not want to return to this Ireland, as much for our own collective sake as from concern for any incomers. Of course we need common rules and core values, but these should not be decided and imposed by something resembling an Irish version of the Ku Klux Klan.
I don't think Mr McDowell's decision about the Garda Síochána has anything to do with multiculturalism. You cannot have effective community-based policing unless you can speak and listen to all the communities in any society.
The way in which the PSNI has engaged with all communities, as the RUC never did, illustrates this. This is just common sense. The question of the status of Irish, as far as I am concerned, is a red herring. We should be looking for ways of achieving meaningful support for those of us who are bilingual to use the Irish language as and when we wish, not trying to coerce those who don't speak it into doing so. Again, this has nothing to do with "tolerant liberalism". I don't think people living in Ireland, whether Irish-born or not, are "less Irish" if they don't speak Irish and indeed I think such attitudes have done incalculable damage to the Irish language.
Finally, I think Michael Gibbons (same date) makes valuable points about medieval Islam but they are not in disagreement with mine. There have indeed been many instances of intolerant Islam, in Europe and elsewhere but there have also been enlightened periods, as is well illustrated by Yale medieval historian Maria Rosa Menocal in her absorbing Ornament of the World, an account of Islamic Spain. Muslims arriving in Ireland today are not all fleeing intolerance and even if they are it does not mean that their religion is not central to many of them. Islam, Christianity and secularism are not monoliths, and they can learn to co-exist. - Yours, etc,
PIARAS MAC ÉINRÍ, Department of Geography, UCC, Cork.
Madam, - As I recall it was Kevin Myers a few years ago who railed against the censorship which prevented soft porn magazines such as Playboy from finding a place on the newsagents' shelves.
A neat symmetry comes into view when this championing of the full exposure of the female form for the titillation of men is juxtaposed with his recent arguments in favour of introducing a law to ban the wearing of the burka in Ireland.
I'm sure there is no hidden sexist agenda here, but it is quite clear that Mr Myers prefers his women with their kit off.
Whether the burka is seen as a symbol of oppression or empowerment depends on the context. If I were a woman I'd certainly entertain the notion of wearing one every now and again. I'd get a big kick out of subverting the male gaze, of seeing but not being seen, of having a more subtle means of exercising sexual power and control than simply emphasising the obvious.
If I was a fashion designer, I'd start a trend for headscarves, veils and burkas. I'd get rich very quick. - Yours, etc,
BILL SHEERAN, Rathkenny, Co Meath.