Sir, - Kudos to Singapore resident Eric H. Stevenson whose letter (July 14th) clearly addresses the need for a change in public attitude toward violators of our litter laws. His explanation of the Asian belief that the well-being of the community at large should take precedence over the rights of the individual should strike the right chord in those who are proponents of earning individual rights by demonstrating individual responsibility.
Unfortunately, some vocal, and perhaps naive, champions of individual freedom would have us believe the word "responsibility" may only be used correctly in context when it is applied to another individual, group of individuals or inanimate objects. How many times have we heard that Ireland would be litter free if it weren't for those terrible plastic bags and containers. Or that traffic deaths would be almost non-existent but for the fact that all those high-powered flash machines are being forced upon the motoring public by the callous irresponsible auto manufacturers? How often have we heard a solicitor blame overindulgence of alcohol whilst defending a client who has been accused of a violent act against an innocent person? Youngsters joy-ride and shop-lift because society hasn't provided them with the proper diversions. The drug addict, of course, is a victim of society's lack of tolerance of an alternative lifestyle.
Almost every agency and organisation drums out the same message: It's not your fault. You're a victim. You cannot be responsible for your actions. Someone or something else has caused you to commit an act of antisocial behaviour. Self-pity and denial reinforced by an over-indulgent social structure is a recipe for the decline of individual and eventually societal moral values.
Maybe it's time we compared Singapore's streets with ours and asked ourselves: Do we have the courage to change? Or will we languish on ad infinitum. - Yours, etc.,
Edward D. Rafferty, Grattan Terrace, Wexford Town.