There’s an old saying: “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” So it is with Irish mothers and wives.
Times change. Women got to vote and have a share of the family home. Changes brought about by females, not males.
Time was when single males were paid less than married males and were “let go” when work got slack before married males as the married one had a wife and family to support. Times change.
There were females who were downtrodden by bowsies of husbands, not just here but worldwide. Irish mothers have raised their sons, in the main, to respect females.
They have raised and educated their daughters to aspire to good careers and to take no nonsense from males.
The past is another world, we move on. Let us not forget the present generation of females learned to be strong and capable from Irish mothers.
A male is a fool if he thinks he rules the house. He only wears the trousers with his wife’s permission.
Gerry Floyd, Drogheda, Co Louth
Brexit, smog... and ABBA (anyone but Bertie Ahern)
Neologism is the formation of a new word which often becomes part of our language after common use, for example, smog (smoke+fog) brunch (breakfast+lunch) and the ubiquitous Brexit. Permit me to coin a new one – ABBA (anyone but Bertie Ahern).
Paul Kennedy, Dublin 5
Negotiation with Russia is only way to gain peace
I thank Paddy Sharkey (‘US and UK seem determined to keep this conflict raging’, Irish Independent, Letters, February 13) for his observations and opinion on my letter (‘The only language Putin understands is force’, February 12).
If anyone obeyed Vladimir Putin’s potential order to unleash a nuclear attack then Russia, too, would face atomic destruction and survivors would emerge into a nuclear wasteland and a surreal existence, thereafter.
Either way, we must stand up to Putin, but the reality is a negotiated settlement is the only feasible way out here – at least to balanced people.
I feel sorry for the relatives of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers perishing every day.
Britain, alone, possesses enough nuclear weapons to annihilate Russia, though the UK would disappear in any atomic exchange.
It is to be hoped that the Russian people will be able to remove Putin.
China, too, has no democracy but is nuclear armed.
Russia and North Korea have unpredictable leaders with nuclear weapons which makes them highly dangerous.
However, the terrible reality is that sooner or later, they will have to be confronted, come what may. Whether God made the world or some other way it came into existence, it is man that could destroy it within minutes.
Out of interest, Switzerland is the only nation on earth where there are nuclear shelters for 100% of its citizens.
It is to be hoped they don’t have to use them because of the stupidity of others.
Dominic Shelmerdine, London
How ageing gives us more balanced outlook on life
As we age, our values change – we have different interests as we get older.
We learn from experience; what works best for us and what does not.
We get wiser, our faith gets deeper and our priorities change.
Life is not about being rich, being popular, being highly educated or being perfect. It’s about being real, humble and kind.
If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
Nap time as a child was once a punishment – now it’s like a vacation.
And as we age, getting lucky has a whole new meaning. It means walking into a room and remembering why we are there in the first place.
Claire Mulrooney, Birr, Co Offaly
GAA’s ‘no cash’ policy is excluding lifelong fans
I was looking forward to attending the hurling league match in Pearse Stadium Galway on February 12.
On the previous Friday morning, it was announced on Galway Bay FM that cash would not be taken at any turnstiles at the ground.
As one who has dealt only in cash, this came as a huge disappointment.
I immediately rang a prominent board official to find out why this was the case. I was told to leave a voice message and I would be contacted later.
Friday went by and there was no response to my call. On Saturday I left a text message, but there has been no response since.
It was easy to understand why tickets had to be purchased beforehand during Covid as numbers admitted were regulated. This was not the case at the Galway vs Cork game, as Pearse Stadium only contained a third of its capacity.
Despite what the GAA might think, a good proportion of the population deal only in cash and they are not all senior citizens like me.
During Covid the GAA was rightly praised for the work it did in helping, among others, senior citizens attend to their everyday business. It is ironic now that these are the same people that the GAA, due to its “no cash” policy, are excluding from attending their games.
This policy needs to be reviewed and people like me who, as a member and supporter of the GAA all their lives, should be able to pay cash at the stiles.
Tim Burns, Ballymacward, Co Galway
Wallace is just another champagne socialist
Reading John Downing’s piece on Mick Wallace, it wouldn’t be unfair to say Mr Wallace is what you call a champagne socialist. We seem to have a lot of them in this country.
Tom Mitchell, address with the editor
Mankind has ensured we live in a paradise lost
Our world appears in turmoil, which is perhaps nothing new. I’m reminded of a comment made toward the end of the 17th century by Isaac Barlow in Works.
“How like a paradise the world would be, flourishing in joy and rest, if men would cheerfully conspire in affection, and helpfully contribute to each other’s content: and how like a savage wilderness now it is, when, like wild beasts, they vex and persecute, worry and devour each other.”
Timothy Sutton, Muine Gall, Co Offaly
Why Citizens’ Assembly format is deeply flawed
Brendan Butler claims that “a Citizens’ Assembly is the next logical step on immigration” (Irish Independent, Letters, February 14).
I am sure I am not the only one who disagrees with this assertion.
We elected TDs to form a government and run the country and, despite little evidence that they are carrying out this function with competence, at least we can make our views known when it comes to the next election.
A Citizens’ Assembly consists of so-called randomly selected people under the guidance of facilitators, of unknown competence, to come to a conclusion that facilitates the outcome sought, or as a cover for the Government’s inaction and reluctance to make unpopular decisions.
I recently read that the only poll recorded in the Bible resulted in the release of a brigand and robber, Barabbas, and the execution of the innocent Jesus Christ.
Maybe it’s time that people woke up and raised their voices if, in fact, they are allowed to do so, and demand that the Government stepped up to the mark and sought to address the many problems being encountered in a way that is for the common good.
A prime example is our health service, which is certainly not fit for purpose, despite the vast sums invested in it.
A start here could be emphasis on the importance of every life and every effort being made to protect it, which is certainly not the case at present, with the Government’s only assistance in the case of crisis pregnancies being the provision of abortion.
Mary Stewart, Ardeskin, Donegal town
