Sir, - Andy Pollak's report on racism in Ireland (The Irish Times, April 24th) made depressing reading. I remember seeing the Rough Guide assessment of Irish people's attitude to other races, which was referred to in the article, while travelling abroad over two years ago. My reaction then was to take offence as I believed that the vast majority of Irish people didn't fit the profile, although I did grudgingly admit that there was some truth to it. Today, it would seem that the Rough Guide was right and that the "friendly" Irish have been found out.
Our tourist image is a sham. What black or Asian tourist would want to visit here? The "cead mile failte" would seem to apply only if you're white. The saddest aspect of the whole affair is the inaction of the Government. Why has there been no public advertising campaign to educate people on these issues and challenge the misinformation being fed to people directly on the streets and through certain sectors of the media? Have we learnt nothing from other European countries or is it going to take a case like that of Stephen Lawrence in England before we have a good hard look at ourselves as a nation?
I have never felt ashamed to be Irish, but when I read about the ongoing attacks on refugees, visiting students and non-white Irish people and our Government's ambivalence to it all, I feel that very soon I will. - Yours, etc., Kevin Windle,
Glencairn Heights, Leopardstown, Dublin 18.