Lessons in tolerance are far better than learning the language of rights

MANY people’s reaction to Morning Ireland’s report last Monday about a new road safety scheme specifically targeted at citizens from eastern Europe would have been “not a moment too soon”.

Although the Road Safety Authority doesn’t keep statistics on background, they agreed that most east Europeans living here — usually young and male — fit into the classic profile of those most likely to commit traffic offences. The anecdotal evidence would suggest some didn’t just bring their rye bread with them from the Baltic region but their drink-driving culture as well.

If you switched frequencies that morning, you could hear Trevor Phillips, the head of Britain’s new Equality and Human Rights Agency, attacking “politically correct” critics of traditional Christmas festivities for undermining diversity in society and condemning attempts to “brush Christmas under the carpet” for fear of offending other religions.