Sir, – Fintan O'Toole, in speaking up for the leftist political party that is leading opinion polls in Greece today ("Syriza's way or Frankfurt's way?", Opinion & Analysis, January 20th), is now accusing his fellow Irish citizens of "ethnic stereotyping", because we want to live in a country that has a secure economy.
He does not articulate the empathy of so many Irish people for ordinary people who have struggled in Greece in recent years.
He also omits to mention that Greece descended into chaos some years ago because a socialist government ran up public debts which Greek taxpayers could not afford, whereas Ireland’s economy bombed because a free-wheeling right-wing Government gave free rein to unregulated capital.
This demoralising decade has been a European experience, and its lesson is that the centre must hold; otherwise things fall apart.
I hope for all Europeans, after too long a sacrifice, that Greeks will not now hit the panic button. – Yours, etc,
PAUL HICKEY,
Castlecoote,
Co Roscommon.