Sir, - The Fine Gael TD Gay Mitchell warns of "ugly" racist confrontations in inner-city areas unless the Government deals with the immigration "problem" (The Irish Times, November 25th).
Recent months have seen a growth in racism in some areas of Dublin. It is the development of this racism - which has included graffiti, leaflets and even physical assaults on people - which is the "problem" which must be faced up to by Irish society. Blaming refugees and asylum seekers for the growth in racism - as Mr Mitchell certainly implies - is akin to saying there would be no poverty if there weren't so many poor people in the world or blaming the number of homeless people for the housing crisis.
There has indeed been an increase in the number of refugees coming to Ireland in recent months. Having been used to exporting people for so long this has come as a bit of a culture shock for some people. The Anti Racism Campaign has been formed to campaign against this growing incidence of racism. Unlike Mr Mitchell, however we do not want the Government to "take the situation in hand". Rather we recognise that racism is not a natural phenomenon. No child is born racist. Hatred of a person with a different colour skin is a behaviour which must be taught.
Many politicians and sections of the media have, over the past six months or so, been guilty of propagating racist lies such as that there has been a "flood" of refugees coming to Ireland, that immigrants are causing a housing crisis and indeed that people are coming here to milk the social welfare system. These sort of lies are designed to turn working class people against refugees and to divert public attention from the real scandals in Irish society - scandals such as tax amnesties, land rezoning deals, offshore accounts, golden circles, beef tribunals etc. They will not be successful. The working-class people of Dublin and the rest of Ireland know only too well what it is like to be an "economic refugee". The economic policies of successive governments have forced many of us, our families or friends to go abroad in search of a decent standard of living.
People will not be fooled. What is needed is to break the cycle of golden circles and corruption and free up the necessary resources to provide housing, jobs and a decent life for all - Irish, refugee and immigrant. Then there will be no danger of "ugly racist confrontations". - Yours, etc.,
Gregor Kerr,
for Anti Racism Campaign, Upr Camden Street, Dublin 2.