DESMOND GRAHAM,
Sir, - Francisca Ribiero's letter (August 17th) makes for unpalatable reading indeed.
For long we have had an incipient racist problem in this country, and now on a daily basis we are seeing the bitter results. However, the Government has continued to ignore all the signals, and its treatment of refugees and asylum- seekers has sent a coded signal to those who perpetrate crimes against ethnic minorities.
It is time for a serious initiative at all levels of the education system to scythe the racist weed. It is no longer sufficient to contribute to catastrophes across the world. We must be ready to assimilate the sufferers of famine, discrimination and oppression into our society. To do otherwise is to allow the barbarians to continue to preach their racist bile. - Yours, etc.,
DESMOND GRAHAM, Donnycarney, Dublin 5