DAMIEN FLINTER,
Sir, - The silence from Europe in face of the impending Chilefication of Venezuela, in Uncle Sam's "back yard", is tending to deepen my whinging Euro-scepticism.
The silence from Mr Cowen exposes the hollow theatricality of last year's solemn reinterral of men who were murdered in our own struggle for economic and political independence from a domineering neighbour.
Perhaps a more honest exercise, given Mr Ahern's preoccupation with the FAI's exercise in the new seam of Sky-mining, would have been to get the Tricolour hauled down for a decent burial, and have the Guinness logo-masseurs run us up a nice little hybrid of their harp and the already lyre-like Euro symbol.
Cheap sketches, anyone? - Yours, etc.,
DAMIEN FLINTER, Clifden, Co Galway.