We have good reason to stand up to bullies

WHILE on holiday in Sicily recently a group of us shared a meal with a French family in a busy restaurant.

Unaware that one of our group had a reasonable grasp of French, one member said to another in a disdainful way: “You know the Irish are like the Scottish — they have their own language but they refuse to speak it.”

Thinking about this afterwards in the context of the EU superpowers’ criticism of our rejection of the Lisbon Treaty, I realised there was a connection between the two situations.

These same colonial powers pillaged smaller nations down through the centuries.The Irish language was purged. But the big difference now between those countries which dominated and those which were sinned against is an awareness of history.

Smaller nations remember whereas the larger ones conveniently forget. Irish people are not going to be bullied anymore by those with clout.

Take note Mr Sarkozy, small nations fully understand the concept of democracy. The Irish will back an integrated Europe that is well thought out and not rammed down our throats to suit the needs of insensitive Eurocrats.

Jim Jackman

16 Park Drive Court

Castleknock

Dublin 15