Sir, - Many people were horrified by the video footage shown on the 9 p.m. RTE news last Tuesday of South African policemen setting their dogs on black teenagers. Also horrified, as well as sickened and frightened, was my 11-year-old daughter. While the short introductory piece in the first half of the programme allowed me to protect her from the full report in the second half, the very fact that I refused to allow her to see the full report worried her. She had already seen enough to keep her awake that night and to prompt many frightened questions about what happened to those young men and why.
I believe that young people should be aware of the sufferings of others so that they develop compassion and an appreciation of their future political responsibility. I also believe, however, that fear weighs children down. It distracts them from their proper business of growing up happy, healthy and strong enough to take care of others in the future.
Awareness and realisation are two different things. Let's not rush our children into the harsh realities of life; they will impose themselves soon enough. - Is mise,
Laura O Broin, Orlagh Crescent, Knocklyon, Dublin 16.