Madam, - In answer to Paul Bowler (October 4th) I can assure him my letter of October 1st was never intended to offer the ultimate solution to society's malaise. That would take much more than a shortish letter to the Letters page.
And now, since questions for him are important, may I ask Mr Bowler a few questions.
1. Why in Celtic Tiger Ireland, when they never had it so good, do young people - presumably Paul's generation - have to resort to over-indulgence in drink, drugs, debauchery and violence, in order to enjoy life?
2. Why do so many young people, with so much to live for, find life so painful, empty, and without hope, that in despair they end it?
3. Having deserted churches and religion, and experienced the greatest contempt for the sins of an amoral State, what do they propose to put in their place, to fill the need for spiritual and political order in their lives?
4. If children in school today are taught it is OK to have a feel good factor in their actions, where are the parameters for a morally healthy society?
5. If our print media, radio, TV, theatre, etc., present a totally amoral world, where adults behave like alley-cats in heat - somebody's ex hopping into bed with somebody else's ex and so on - or show gratuitous nudity, lewdness and vulgarity on stage, what are children to think but that this is the norm, this is family life?
Lack of self-discipline, and indulging in instant gratification in anything and everything, do not make for a morally healthy society, and my answer would be that people should have the courage to speak out and declare such behaviour not acceptable, because of course it will eventually rebound on society.
This has already happened, which is why serious questions are being asked, and Paul Bowler is honestly seeking an answer. Theologians, philosophers and thinkers down through the ages have wrestled with such questions. I do not have all the answers, and I am no paragon, but I do know we all need the help of a higher power in order to make sense of life. Was it not St Augustine (a one-time high-flier) who said in all humility, about the restlessness of the human heart:
"Thou hast created us for Thyself Lord, and our heart will not find rest until it rests in thee"? - Yours, etc.,
VERA HUGHES, Moate, Co Westmeath.