GAA needs to deal with the elephant in the room

A BOOK bought for me as a birthday present a few years ago bears an inscription which says: “I saw this and thought of you.”

Letters to a Young Contrarian was written by the journalist Christopher Hitchens, who died last Friday. It was a compliment. I was 35 at the time.

A well-chosen gift, Hitchens provides advice to those who find ourselves defending unpopular opinions. Hitchens believed in the necessity of disagreement. He understood progress and democracy stem from discussion. An interview Hitchens gave to Jeremy Paxman before he died was broadcast by Newsnight on Sunday. Once again, Hitchens stood up for those who challenge the majority. He said when governments want to suppress dissent, or silence protest, they equate unity with progress. In America, those who oppose the status quo are: “being in the politics of division.”