Sir, – I greatly enjoyed your Fintan O’Toole supplement (November 20th). He has upheld the proud journalistic tradition of voicing views that challenge those who hold power, the politicians, and those who grant them that power, the people. Having recently become involved in student journalism I have learnt that this role is important at all levels as it in effect puts a much needed check on power. This role challenges the culture of impunity and other societal failures. I know that like Fintan O’Toole, student journalists across the country have the same zeal for challenging such failures and championing fundamental democratic principles. – Yours, etc,
SEAN CASSIDY,
Opinions Editor,
The College View,
DCU, Dublin 9.
Sir, – Thanks Fintan O’Toole. You said it all! – Yours, etc,
DERMOT FAGAN,
Llewellyn Grove,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – As I face into my 60s, I share Fintan O’Toole’s sense of frustration (Supplement, November 20th) that after a quarter century and more of struggle, we may have altered many things (particularly on the social front) but failed to change the fundamentals, eg the economic system.
For sustenance I frequently recall the words an elderly woman comrade spoke to me during the 1980s: “You may lose many battles but you will only be defeated when you give up!”
Personally, I would like to express my appreciation to Fintan O’Toole for his contribution to the gay rights cause. In particular, I recall that after GLEN (Gay & Lesbian Equality Network) was founded in 1988 we wanted to raise the profile of the issue; one of the ways we did so was by organising public meetings with prominent speakers. Fintan O’Toole accepted our invitation to participate in one such meeting sharing a platform with his colleagues Mary Holland and Emily O’Reilly; all three gave freely of their time.
I remember well how important and vital to us then was the sense of uplift and energy their contributions gave us gay activists that winter’s night in the Clarence Hotel. – Yours, etc,
CATHAL KERRIGAN,
Convent View,
Strawberry Hill,
Cork.