7 hours Ago
There has been much debate over election posters in recent years. They are viewed by some as part of our democratic process, one where any citizen over 18 can vote and run for elected office in a local authority, the European Parliament and Dáil Éireann. Others clearly view these posters as unnecessary in this era of social media and nothing short of litter.
Indeed, many communities no longer welcome them. A court in Hong Kong has this week handed down sentences ranging from four years to 10 years to activists, former legislators, councillors and academics who made up a group known as the Hong Kong 47. Their crime? Participation in an unofficial primary election that was held in July 2020, weeks after the National Security Law had been imposed by Beijing in response to months of pro-democracy protests.
More than 600,000 people had participated in this unofficial vote. We should not be “grateful” for or consider ourselves “lucky” to live in a society where we have the sanctity of the ballot box, the secret ballot and an open and transparent vote-counting system. But look at the jurisdictions that do not have democracy.
I think citizens in those jurisdictions would consider election posters a normal part of the cut and thrust of election campaigning. Larry Dunne, Rosslare Harbour, Co Wexford Other world leaders must follow Pope Francis’s call for genocide investigation In a just-published book of papal interviews by Hernan Reyes Alcaide, Hope Never Disappoints: Pilgrims Toward a Better World , Pope Francis has finally nailed his colours to the mast by suggesting Israel’s daily murderous attacks against civilians in Gaza might be termed genocide and has called for an international investigation. While cynics may write off such a call as inconsequential, the fact remains that as the leader of the largest religious group in the world, Pope Francis’s genocide call will help to break the silence of the leaders of the international community as they either arm Israel or sit on the fence to avoid ruffling Israel’s bloody feathers.
As ruler of the Vatican state, the Pope should take a further step and join South Africa’s petition to the International Court of Justice for Israel’s attack on the people of Gaza to be officially declared a genocide. Brendan Butler, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 We will all carry the heavy burden of guilt if we do not act to sanction Israel now Having just listened to Dr Nabeel Rana of MedGlobal talking to Cormac Ó hEadhra on RTÉ’s Drivetime , I am astonished that any Irish politician can still oppose unilateral sanctions against Israel. The terms “genocide” and “crimes against humanity” do not begin to describe the horror happening in Gaza.
By our failure to intervene, we are all complicit. The EU, the US and the UK have a heavy burden of guilt and shame to carry into the future. Art Ó Laoghaire, Bray, Co Wicklow When we see the threat of US election promises, our own don’t seem bad at all I’m perfectly OK with as many promises as those vying for election can come up with.
And now as I stare, transfixed, across the Atlantic, observing the chilling preparations being made by the incoming Trump presidency to uphold its election promises, I will not be at all despondent if such promises are broken. Michael Gannon, Saint Thomas’s Square, Kilkenny EU needs to get ready to stand on its own feet as Trump presidency looms Europe must come to terms with the fact it has to defend itself. It can’t shelter under the American umbrella any more.
In terms of planning, one has to assume Donald Trump is serious about his distaste of Nato and his desire to get countries to pay for their own defence. This has implications for Ireland, and as a member of the EU it could even raise questions about Irish neutrality. The political ramifications of a lot of what Trump is going to do during his presidency will affect Europe, both militarily and economically.
We are now going to have to fend for ourselves going forward. I am acutely aware that Europe has had a long history of muddling through crises, whereby the union eventually comes out the other end, often by the skin of its teeth. It could be argued that the wait-and-see and hope for the best approach must stop.
We now have to start planning. We must have serious plans to pay for our own defence. We are also going to have to prepare for a trade war.
European growth is going to be seriously challenged by Trump’s economic policies. In the final analysis, I am not sure Europe is up to it. John O’Brien, Clonmel, Tipperary Unifil has failed – it’s time to recall Irish soldiers and recruit for our own navy In withdrawing its three senior officers from Unifil in Lebanon, Argentina is simply recognising reality (‘Ceasefire now within grasp, US envoy says, but some details still need work’, Irish independent , November 20).
Unifil has failed to safeguard peace in southern Lebanon, mainly because its would-be partner, the Lebanese Army, is so weak and divided. Sweden, Finland and Germany are just three of the European states boosting their defence capabilities because of the threat of a war with Russia. It’s time Ireland took sensible precautions to protect our strategic resources, including our undersea gas pipelines and data cables.
Given how depleted our defence forces are, it’s surely wise to immediately withdraw our 341 soldiers from Lebanon and boost recruitment for the Naval Service. Karl Martin, Bayside, Dublin 13 Mescal proves it’s not just poor hearing that triggers nod-and-smile deflection As a man of mature vintage, I’m comforted to know it’s not just me who struggles to hear in a crowded room. Paul Mescal, in the prime of his youth, seems to have mastered the same art of nodding and smiling through the royal mumble (‘I’m Irish, so it’s not on the list of priorities’ – Mescal on meeting king at film premiere’, Irish Independent , November 20).
It seems some skills truly transcend age. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh.
