SEAMUS LYNCH,
Sir, - Like many undecided Nice Treaty voters, I am all for Europe and all things European. But I am not sure what Europe I'm asked to vote for, and I'm uneasy about the definition of "European" in Ireland. Certainly, the evidence of what the word means to us after almost 30 years in the EEC/EU is not encouraging.
In my book, being European means learning a European language other than English from the age of four. It means watching quality, subtitled European films without complaining about having to read the text or about the lack of car chases, FBI agents and explosions.
Being European means choosing a trip to Rome or Paris ahead of an alcohol binge in Costa del Sol and calling Americans "foreign" and Portuguese "fellow members".
It means an awful lot more than jobs, handouts and money, as many who advocate a Yes vote seem to think. Until our politicians and business leaders show the rest of us they think otherwise, by "enlarging" their narrow concept of "European", and advancing the real, life-enriching, non-material benefits of Europe, "Don't know" will inevitably translate as "No". - Yours, etc.,
SEAMUS LYNCH, Seaview Park, Portrane, Co Dublin.
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Sir, - Having been involved for 60 years in Shannon Free Airport, Irish tourism and peace in Northern Ireland, I am very convinced that a strong Yes vote for the Nice Treaty is of vital importance. Garret FitzGerald has put it simply: "Voting No to punish the Government would be suicidal. Ireland's future would be gravely damaged by a second negative vote for this Treaty".
Apart from damaging our economy we would weaken the part we can play in Europe's primary role - the prevention of a third World War. - Yours, etc.,
BRENDAN O'REGAN, Grove Road, Malahide, Co Dublin.
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Sir, - Readers who would be concerned about the effect of a No vote on the desire of Eastern European states to become members of what is on offer in the Nice Treaty should reflect on the comment in John O'Hanlon's letter of August 22nd. He reminded us of the statement by Romano Prodi, when President of the European commission, that "enlargement is possible without Nice".
Is that the truth or was it one almighty gaffe?
If true, one must ask why we are being dragooned with such urgency and pressure by a political class in which so many of the public have lost confidence in recent times. If, on the other hand, Romano Prodi's statement was a monumental mistake, voters should be asking themselves just how properly are we being managed and informed by our European masters and whether there are not hidden agendas driving the process. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN ROBB, New Ireland Group, Ballymoney, Co Antrim.
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Sir, - Reading your Letters page this week, one could be forgiven for thinking that Young Fine Gael was the first organisation to use sex to sell a product or idea. These days, sex is used to sell everything from clothes to pharmaceuticals. In this context, is it any surprise that these young people have merely copied the same advertising techniques that have been used on them since puberty?
Far be it for me to stand up for political parties, but let's get this into perspective. At worst, they got people to talk about Nice who otherwise would not. - Yours, etc.,
DAVE DOLAN, Malahide Road, Dublin 3.
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A chara, - I am concerned that, increasingly, those who are for a Yes vote are being labelled as "pro-European", while those who are for a No vote are labelled "anti-European" - not just by Yes campaigners but also, more alarmingly, in some media reporting. In reality, most people who oppose Nice are pro-European and in favour of a better EU. They have misgivings about this treaty for a number of well documented reasons, and believe it is not good for Ireland, other small member-states, or the new nations that are to join. The argument by some that this is a bad treaty, but we should vote Yes because it is "the only treaty on the table" is also alarming.
If the treaty is rejected, the EU will have to find a new way forward. It is not Nice or nothing, and surely, if it were, everybody would condemn that.
Regardless of the outcome, though, the entire conduct of the debate must surely be of great concern to all fair- minded people. The labelling is often accompanied by insults such as "racist", "selfish" or "loony", and this should be condemned by the media, not encouraged. - Yours, etc.,
IAIN PRICE, Islandeady, Co Mayo.