SHANE O'CONNOR,
Sir, - Kathryn Holmquist argues, according to the sub-heading on her article in your edition of September 14th, that "Brendan Howlin has erred by putting personal sexuality on the agenda."
Writing about his recently declared personal orientation, she remarks that "the civilised position is to ignore sexual behaviour."
It should be fairly obvious nowadays that sexual behaviour is the last thing that can be ignored as just being a personal matter. It is not like brushing one's teeth or clipping one's toenails.
Personal sexual behaviour forms one's character and one's character governs one's actions in every sphere of life. Furthermore, personal sexual behaviour has a habit of emerging from the private into the public arena, so the sum total of "personal behaviours" has a critical effect on the public weal, for good or ill.
For instance, on the one hand, where does Kathryn Holmquist think AIDS and the host of other STDs which afflict Western society have come from? On the other, where do stable families, which are the basic unit of society (Beijing Report 1995), originate? All derive from the critical sum of individual personal behaviour, either profligate or disciplined, and the balance between the two will determine the health and ultimate survival of society.
To suggest, as Ms Holmquist, does that "the civilised position is to ignore sexual behaviour," that "sexuality is a moveable feast", and that young voters take it in their sophisticated stride is irresponsible.
It does neither credit nor service to our youth, who are the hope and future of our country. - Yours, etc.,
SHANE O'CONNOR,
Green Road,
Newbridge,
Co Kildare.