A chara, - Ruadhán Mac Cormaic (June 20th) devoted a useful full page to matters of immigration, multiculturalism and integration, without addressing one vital aspect: the reasons why people migrate to another country or culture.
It is good that people have the freedom to migrate. Two of my great-grandparents came to Ireland from Germany around 1870. What is not good - and, I suggest, is one reason behind cross-cultural tensions in the receiving countries - is when people migrate out of fear, or hopelessness, or urgent need. What the people of the world need to plan for is a world where migration is a matter of personal choice, not a matter of lack of choice.
Areas of the world which are the "objects of desire" for many migrants need not simply welcome them unreservedly; this can lead to depriving the home countries of some of their most essential workers. We are indebted to the many immigrants who work in our health services, but the cost to the countries where the need is far greater is beyond calculation. Rather, the greatest gift would be to work with the areas from which people migrate to bring about a situation where not migrating is also an attractive option and a real possibility.
Until the world takes realistic steps to address this, we are rearranging deck-chairs on a Titanic. Despair is not a healthy springboard for migration.
The political will for such action is clearly not there at this moment, nor is it likely to be in the near future. Vincent Browne, in the same issue, made the point that "politics is not about office, it is about building support for campaigns". He instanced the campaign for the abolition of slavery 200 years ago. Are we, both politicians and people, convinced that the present ideology or system is the only one that makes sense? Is there not something sick, for example, about a "system" which rewards one person with nearly €4 million, while others lack the essentials of life and dignity? This is not to get at one individual; but it seems we are blind and deaf, as well as lacking in love. The system is nothing without those who operate the "system", and we all bear responsibility in how it operates. Tiger economies, Celtic or otherwise, can be difficult pets to keep in the parlour.
Who among us can start a campaign to root out the causes of involuntary migration (for such it is in many cases), which is little less than a form of slavery? It certainly cannot be called freedom. - Yours, etc,
PÁDRAIG McCARTHY,
Barclay Court,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Madam, - Your Editorial of June 30th on the benefits of immigration was an excellent summary of what needs to be done. Perhaps your newspaper could give a lead in this area by continuing the well-written and well-researched "Changing Places" series by Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It would be a positive signal to dedicate a space to cover the myriad effects of immigration and integration in Ireland and abroad.
The Irish Polish Society also wishes to express condolences to the family of Terry de Valera, honorary member of our society, who promoted mutual understanding through cultural exchange for many years. - Yours, etc,
PATRICK QUIGLEY,
Chairman, Irish Polish Society,
Fitzwilliam Place,
Dublin 2.