Speaking one’s mind — just like Paisley

FINTAN LANE (Irish Examiner letters, October 2) seems to have misunderstood me (‘Why it’s safe to criticise Israel’, Irish Examiner letters, September 20).

When I compared him to Ian Paisley I did not mean it as an insult. I am a great admirer of Paisley because he says exactly what is on his mind.

I paid Mr Lane the compliment of comparing him to Paisley because he reveals himself in the same way.

I have no doubt he only wants to have a go at the Israelis and I believe he knows little of the history of the Middle East, or else he chooses to ignore it.

With regard to lying as a part of Middle East culture, Mr Lane should know that recognising the differences between cultures does not make one a racist.

I would be delighted to meet Mr Lane and put him in the picture, so to speak. Fortunately, we live in a democratic society and so we are permitted to express our opinions.

But I doubt somehow that he and I would have a meeting of minds.

Monty Ross

154 Bushy Park House

Templeogue Road

Dublin 6W