Madam, - Even though I've always suspected that Breda O'Brien and I have little in common beyond species and gender, I found today's column (May 6th) particularly puzzling.
For what medical purpose would anyone put a condom on a heart?
On the other hand, with rates of sexually transmitted diseases rising in Ireland - quite aside from the now 7,000-plus women who make the annual sojourn to Britain for abortions - condoms on the human penis make a lot of sense. As with illegal drugs, the admonition to "Just Say No" works brilliantly with young people of that persuasion. Realistically, there are a lot more "Yes" votes and a helluva lot more vulnerable "maybes".
My advice would be to welcome those free little foil packets. At worst, they offer the equivalent of tasteless chewing gum to Breda's hypothetical four-year-old. At best, they might save a lot of heartache. As for the profit motive? Well, I doubt that the manufacturers of, say, polio or smallpox vaccine didn't benefit - but so did humankind. - Yours, etc,
GLORIA HAMILTON,
Naas,
Co Kildare.