Sir, - In his unjustifiable attack on Dean Victor Griffin, (April 30th) Mr Ian Cox serves up a mixture of Thatcherism and Paisleyism to which he adds a dash of Samuel Smiles's Self Help as representing quintessential Protestant values. These, he claims, are "entirely British". I had thought that Protestantism went much further back, having its origin with a German called Martin Luther, who took his stand in Wittenberg in 1519, long before Paisley or Thatcher or even Queen Victoria came on the scene.
Can one imagine Luther endorsing the wearing of funny uniforms, the banging of Lambeg drums, the music of flute bands and the marching through streets inhabited by Catholics, all to affirm one's Protestant identity? Why do no more than a handful of Protestants in England, Scotland and Wales indulge in similar demonstrations? Are they less Protestant, therefore, than those who support the Spirit of Drumcree faction? I would be grateful if Mr Cox were to address these questions. - Yours, etc.,
Sandymount,
Dublin 4.