Cead Mile Fu*k off

Dear Madam,

Every year thousands of privileged Irish people board chugging great mechanical birds laden with sun cream and guide books in search of something alien to the Ireland of a thousand welcomes. Needless to say there is ample opportunity to find something different, from the birthplace of humanity to shrinking regions where tribes still survive without modern essentials like mobile phones and hummers. The opportunity to meet billions of people who haven't succumbed to the wonders of 24 hour shopping and reality TV. However, these people obviously offer little to modern society, with their backward ways and keenness for the domination of women.

Although Mr. Myers slays all migrants in his sweeping critic it is more than obvious he has one particular bone to pick. It is quite apparent his argument is not intended to curb the influx of Australians or Spanish. According to Mr. Myers the millions of Muslims around the world do little more than rape and suppress women.

With little real knowledge of Arab cultures Mr. Myers follows the formulaic model for attacking Muslims. Such that his piece adds just another arrogant slander against a continent so diverse and yet so misunderstood after decades of the same subtle imperial literature that cast the Irish as uncontrollable savages. As the sign in the window of a London bar once read; No blacks, no dogs, no Irish.

The elected leaders of our 'enriching Western European and North American' cultures have consistently led us into wars against Churchill's 'uncivilised tribes'. Faithfully supported by a media that has become more than efficient in its role as the mouth piece of power.

We stand to gain little from this aggressive attack based on stereotype and generalisation. Unfortunately it will simply further serve to reinforce our notions of superiority. A superiority so heavily reliant on the resources we maintain by supporting the very regimes he is rightly appalled by.

Kevin Myers has confused culture and the laws enforced by fundamentalist regimes. Irish law does not condone any of the punishments he notes, anybody migrating to Ireland can be assured the same safety afforded to every other citizen.

His article epitomises what Edward Said called the "subtle and persistent Eurocentric prejudice against Arabo-Islamic peoples and their culture," less the subtlety.

Yours sincerely,

In response to:

An Irishman's Diary

Yet again the mumbo-jumbo of "multiculturalism", a term that is unfailingly invoked in every pious homily about immigration, has been raising its grinning, idiotic head, writes Kevin Myers.

continued... The Irish Times