Over to You column. Just send us a 200-word piece on a media-related topic.
Darren Hogan, Collinstown Park Community College, Clondalkin, Dublin
Is the Celtic Tiger really as beneficial to our country as we all believe? Or is it a glorified way of saying "we'll let the rich get richer and the poor get poorer"?
It seems that in our materialistically driven society, physical wealth is one of the main attributes that a person looks for in a partner, friend, etc, as opposed to internal wealth, such as an interesting personality or caring nature. One must wear Nike, Adidas or Reebok to "fit in" with his/her peers.
So parents buy their children's favour with expensive toys and treats to compensate for their hectic work schedules. A partner or friend's intimacy is measured by how much they spend on you for your birthday or Christmas. The Celtic Tiger boasts great business opportunities, a higher standard of living and better communications. All our advanced communications, such as the Internet, make life easier as one doesn't have to deal with people physically. But is this impeding how we communicate with people on a daily basis? Have our souls been replaced by the roar of our own native tiger?
Cormac Styles, Colaiste Eanna, Ballyroan, Dublin
On January 8th it was ruled that Jon Venables and Robert Thompson would be granted a life of anonymity. Lady Justice Butler-Sloss said their lives were "genuinely at risk" and that they deserved the right to life - even though they took away the life of a helpless two-year-old.
The killers are expected to be released before their 19th birthdays in August. It's almost eight years since the public were outraged and shocked at the ruthless and pointless killing of Jamie Bulger. The boys were sentenced to juvenile prison, where they received lots of hate mail. One of the letters read: "To the vermin who killed Jamie Bulger, we don't forget, we will get the job done."
The boy's lives probably are in danger - but do these boys really deserve their lives? Shouldn't it be up to them to ensure their own safety?
It costs money and effort to get new identities. Do these boys deserve that money and effort? They do not, in my opinion.
Are the right people being protected? Surely it's the public that needs protection from the murderers.
If I had a young child I certainly wouldn't want two killers living next door without me knowing it. It seems to me that it's the criminals being protected rather than the innocent.
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