A chara, - Both Breda O'Brien (Opinion, May 31st) and Philip Watt (Letters, June 10th) suggest that banning the hijab in schools would lead to "tensions" with and within the Muslim community. Breda O'Brien goes further and implies that if such restrictions were imposed, the next generation of Muslims might revolt, as in Britain and France.
I don't believe Irish society should allow itself to be blackmailed into tolerating symbols of separateness between citizens, simply because a minority of a minority may not welcome such a policy, when it is first implemented.
In this respect, a Government is supposed to lead and to legislate for the common good of society, and certainly not to indulge the inclination towards separateness and isolation of a minority who would appear to want to be of our country but not of our society.
The major consideration that should guide Government policy is the likely impact that such separatist practices would, if unchecked, have on the cohesive wholeness of Irish society, both now and in the years ahead. For this reason, the articulation of an informed state policy on cultural integration is beyond being urgent.
We have only to look to the Northern Ireland experience to realise the importance of cultural integration in the formation of a settled and healthy society. Surely, we do not want to risk a new version of that experience, only this time located in the Republic?
I welcome the views expressed by the TDs Ruairi Quinn and Brian Hayes, particularly their rejection of the misguided Government policy of multiculturalism - which, however, seems largely confined to a few mosque goodwill visits, of the "Howya" variety, and the closing of its eyes to the issue of cultural integration.
- Is mise,
LIAM Ó GÉIBHEANNAIGH, Áth an Ghainimh, Co Átha Cliath.