Sir, - I share John Waters's misgivings about the "commemoration" of the Great Famine of the 1840s with a rock concert in Millstreet. That it should be given official recognition by a Government grant makes one wonder if you wasted your time printing the excellent series "Famine Times".
On October 12th, 1992, the governments of Central and South America celebrated the 500th anniversary of the conquest of Latin America. Mr Darcy Ribeiro, former minister of education and culture in Brazil, referred to the "detestable tone of celebration and glorification" in commemorating an event that had resulted in the deaths of 75 million people. The descendants of the victims spoiled the party by protesting throughout Latin America.
If this trend of "celebration" continues can we expect the ultimate rock concert next century in Israel? Yours, etc.,
Braemor Road,
Dublin 14