Sir, - Finian Cunningham's damning view (September 23rd) of "The American Century" accuses the author, Harold Evans, of grossly misconstruing important historical facts so as to paint a rosy picture of America's contributions during this century (The Irish Times, September 20th). According to Mr Cunningham the reality of America's deeds was to defend imperialism and drain the meagre resources of impoverished nations.
Although Mr Cunningham's anti-American incantations do smack of a modicum of truth, he fails to address the realities and implications of how the socio-idealist might combat the imperialist virus and metamorphose this very imperfect world into a society ne plus ultra.
I challenge Mr Cunningham and his ilk to propose a legitimate and realistic global administrative architecture that would eliminate those economic inequalities which he attributes to American imperialism. Perhaps no better place to implement this plan of earthly nirvana would be the country whose ruling elite has ardently embraced the ideals of American individual materialism with utter disregard for the socially disadvantaged: Ireland. - Yours, etc.,
Edward D. Rafferty, Grogans Road, Wexford Town.