Letters to the Editor: Sadly, the US is no longer the home of the free
Letter-writer Seán M Reaney reckons the 'Liberation Day' tariffs unveiled by US president Donald Trump have earned a 'fail' mark. Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty
On April 30, Donald Trump will celebrate his 100th day in office. Unfortunately for him, all of his outrageous promises have failed.
During his presidential election campaign he promised:
- In 24 hours he would bring peace to Ukraine — fail;
- A solution in Gaza — fail;
- Tariff strategy binned — fail.
His vice president, JD Vance, recently made insulting remarks about Chinese “peasants” which Beijing called “ignorant and impolite”. Of course it was and stupid too because China won’t be pushed around. Moreover, China is now on course to become the real superpower.
Someone else who won’t be pushed around is Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu — although he does enjoy hospitality, twice being entertained in the White House while the people of Gaza starve.
It appears Israel’s explicit aim is the destruction of not only Hamas, but also of Gaza.
As the world watched in February, Trump and Vance tried to humiliate Ukraine’s president Zelenskyy at the White House. However, they only succeeded in humiliating themselves and the people who elected them. Sadly, despite the advent of AI, there’s still no cure for stupidity.
A short time after the Rose Garden tariff circus we saw Mr Trump flip flop. The stock market took a terrible hit. Here we have the most prosperous and powerful nation on earth being led by someone who makes third-world tyrants look beneficent and sophisticated.
However, the fight back was decisive, and the response comprehensive: China called his bluff, Canada humiliated him, the unity and strength of the EU means that Ireland and Europe will prevail.
Trump obviously makes up policies as he goes along. Ideal entertainment for a TV show, but far removed from what’s expected from a world leader.
The world will now learn that the US is an unreliable trading partner and goodwill has been damaged. Already, Europe is showing signs of readying to become closer to Beijing. The current US administration is made up of the world’s richest people who have decided that the poorest and the most vulnerable don’t deserve to live. The truth is incredibly sad: America is no longer the land of the brave or the home of the free.
I could not agree more with the article by Frank O’Connor and Jude Sherry (Cork City’s derelict buildings reveal true cost of housing inequality — Irish Examiner, April 21).
It is shocking, the hoarding of property and manufactured scarcity that is in Ireland today.
Recent incentives such as the €70,000 renovation grant are now included in the sale price of every derelict house and are benefitting the seller not the purchaser who still carries the risk of applying for the grant. The purchaser still has to raise a substantial mortgage.
It is keeping the poorer purchaser off the property ladder. Our seaside towns in Donegal are being bought up as holiday homes and are vacant the majority of the time. The young generation are in Australia. They do not see a future in Ireland. I suggest all derelict properties have to display the name of the owner. Revenue collects property tax. Why is it not doing this?
Vacant homes tax should match house price inflation for that year. Ban the purchase of second homes. Stop saying we have a housing emergency, and do something about it
I have always been an admirer of Anthony Daly’s hurling articles over the years as I believe he has always been balanced, honest, and fair.
However I have to say his reasons for Clare’s second-half performance against Cork last Sunday are anything but accurate (Anthony Daly: What could match that for entertainment and quality? — Irish Examiner, April 21).
He states: “Clare under Brian Lohan just don’t do surrender... and that personality is mirrored all over his players. They don’t give up. You never quit.”
He failed to mention that they were the perpetrators of numerous off-the-ball incidents throughout that second half. The referee could not see or address these issues because they were so numerous. And from what I could see, the linesmen and umpires were oblivious to what was unfolding around them.
I admit too many of the Cork players got sucked into the Clare tactics when cool heads should have prevailed and, as a consequence, paid a high price with the sending off of Shane Barrett.
Clare knew at half time that they could not beat Cork or indeed match their hurling skills unless they adopted a different approach for the final 35 minutes when they successfully upset Cork’s train of thought and focus by applying tactics which are not conducive to entertainment and quality.
In his pre-match analysis he had Cork as firm favourites. How he came to this conclusion must surely have baffled many hurling supporters — he conveniently forgot that Clare are the reigning All-Ireland champions.
In an era when the postwar legacy of universal human rights is under threat, and Christianity is weaponised in the West as a form of identity politics, Pope Francis stood up for a Gospel message of humility, inclusion, and love for the stranger. By a quirk of fate, one of his last public engagements was an Easter Sunday meeting with the Catholic US vice-president, JD Vance, whose ‘America first’ views on international aid and migration he had trenchantly criticised before falling ill. Progressives of all faiths and none will miss that urgent advocacy on behalf of those whose own voices are too seldom listened to.
Pope Francis was, to my mind, a vital progressive influence on issues such as migration and a man who fought for good in the world.
I really do hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will be with all the cardinals who are gathering, that they will elect again, a man of prayer, a humble person, an able communicator and someone who is sagacious and courageous. In essence, these are the qualities that Francis brought to his papacy. He was a pope who was really close to Jesus and the Gospel he taught.
While wishing that the Catholic Church would allow ordination of women, and pursue other long- overdue reforms, I have the greatest respect for the late Pope Francis. I admire his humility and tireless commitment to making the world a better place for all.
But one occasion in his pontificate really stands out for me: His visit shortly after his election to the tiny island of Lampedusa, where, at an altar symbolically made up of a painted boat, he celebrated a Mass for the countless people lost at sea in their failed search for refuge or a decent life elsewhere.
It set the tone for the remainder of his progressive and enlightened tenure in the Vatican. He spoke out many times on behalf of immigrants and refugees, castigating what he called “the “globalisation of indifference” to their pitiable plight. He urged nations to respond to migration in a way that was “always humane, just and fraternal”.
I think of that principled and ethical stance and I can’t but contrast it with images of “concerned citizens” (as they call themselves) gathering outside buildings housing vulnerable human beings and hollering slogans such as “Ireland for the Irish”.
I think of scenes of bigotry and xenophobia that played out across Ireland, and I wonder how many of the righteous ones went to Mass as followers of the same Church over which Francis presided.
And I wonder how many of them considered, even for a fleeting moment, that their attitude and behaviour might be at odds with their professed religious belief.
Not that Francis was the first Christian to take such a stand. I’m not especially religious, but I recall that Jesus is quoted as saying: “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” So let’s refrain from unleashing the dark forces of racism (dressed up though it might be in a host of euphemisms) and remember that those seeking refuge are our fellow human beings… not a political football or cold statistic to be tossed back and forth in fiery town hall exchanges or on social media. Echoing the late Pope’s message, Ireland needs to say ‘no’ to the politics of hate.
