Sir, - The past year has produced remarkable evidence of our growing up as a nation. The Belfast Agreement, Commemoration Day at Messines, the warming relationship between London and Dublin - all are evidence of our maturity. Yet when the question of our rejoining the Commonwealth is raised the cyclopean vision returns.
Vincent MacCarthy (December 29th) states that such a move would destroy our identity. This is to ignore the fact that identity is fostered and sustained by sharing values, by mutual interests, and by our continuing contribution to the developing Commonwealth countries. With our history of emigration and our missionary activities in the recent past it can be reasonably argued that familiarity with Commonwealth countries such as Australia, Canada and Nigeria, with whom we share a common language, far exceeds that with Germany, France and Luxembourg.
Two qualities, however, may inhibit us from enjoying the benefits of joining this community of nations: a narcissism with our economic success and a paranoia over the British Crown. Nevertheless, the possibilities as outlined by its Secretary-General recently are great and varied. Contacts with other Commonwealth countries would result in an enormous expansion of our world, a cultural diversity which would enrich our barren lives. To quote a remark by Wilde to one of his critics: "You care very much for places; the world is my home." For places read Brussels. - Yours, etc., John F. Fallon,
Boyle, Co Roscommon.