Madam, - Kevin Myers's Irishman's Diary of February 8th about unmarried motherhood should be part of a serious debate about the long-term consquences of this phenomenon. Mr Myers is entitled to his opinions but instead clouds the issue with his continuous and gratuitous use of the the term "bastard".
I have known a number of children born out of wedlock and they are all good kids. None of them deserves the plain nasty, attention-seeking namecalling to which Mr Myers has subjected them.
This isn't about political correctness gone mad - just a basic level of civility in public life and debate. - Yours, etc.,
DARA HOGAN,
Dublin 8.
Madam, - The socio-political analysis of the average cab driver delivered with a teenager's hysterical desire to offend - for sheer entertainment you just can't beat Kevin Myers.
His rant on single mothers was possibly his finest hour. Please tell him to keep up the good work. We all need a laugh. - Yours, etc.,
LENNY ABRAHAMSON,
Leinster Road West,
Dublin 6.
Madam, - Kevin Myers, in his latest attempt to reduce his taxes and wage war on political correctness, has turned on single mothers and their offspring (or "bastards", as he heroically calls them), so that our society might be saved from "the unmotivated, the confused, the backward, the lazy. . ."
According to the Oxford Dictionary the noun "bastard" means either "person born of an unmarried mother" or "unpleasant or despicable person".
In light of this definition (and Mr Myers's article), it would appear that one can be the latter without necessarily having to be the former. - Yours, etc.,
ENDA KILROY,
Whitehall,
Dublin 9.
Madam, - Dr Edward Walsh's views on lone mothers have received wide coverage. He is undoubtedly an exceptional man, whose vision in creating the University of Limerick was extraordinary, and who made a remarkable contribution during his presidency. He is, of course, entitled to his views on any topic. However, the issue of lone motherhood is widely seen as far more complex than his comments suggest - not least by those currently researching and teaching on the topic in the University of Limerick. - Yours, etc.,
PAT O'CONNOR,
Professor of Sociology and Social Policy, and Dean,
University of Limerick.