Madam, - They say one should not kick a man when he is down but there are times when the temptation is too strong and the pleasure is just too sweet. So it is with John Howard.
His achievement in being the second-longest-serving prime minister in Australian history is negated by his crushing humiliation in not only losing power but also losing his seat - only the second prime minister in Australian history to suffer this fate. Should we feel sorry for him?
The answer must be a resounding "no!". The man was a rabble-rouser, a racist, an environmental bigot and a toady of George W Bush.
He played to the worst instincts of the mob with his racism and his crassness; he pandered to the greed of big business; he irresponsibly refused to endorse the Kyoto Protocol; and he put the lives of his countrymen at risk in an unjust war.
He won some praise for Australia's intervention in East Timor and the Solomon Islands but what prime minister of any credibility could have done anything else - especially after Australia's shameful record in shoring up the illegal regime in East Timor for over 20 years?
Let us rejoice in his humiliation; he will not be missed. - Yours, etc,
(Dr) COLMÁN Ó CRÍODÁIN,
Ardcollum Avenue,
Artane,
Dublin 5.