Letters: Gaza is a humanitarian disaster zone – observing reality is not antisemitic

Irish Independent

a day ago

That this should now be a common reaction is a mark of how dangerously narrow the conversation has become and how effective the Israeli government has been in conflating legitimate criticism with bigotry.
The world is watching an immense humanitarian disaster unfold. The mounting civilian death toll, the chaos of aid distribution and the absence of any viable plan for Gaza's future are not matters of opinion; they are documented realities.
To point to them is not to erase October 7, or to excuse Hamas; it is to insist that collective punishment cannot be the policy of any democ­racy that claims the rule of law.
Many of Israel's closest allies are beginning to see this. The shift in Western public opinion, especially among the young, is not because of some sudden outbreak of latent anti­semitism, but because people have eyes, ears and a conscience.
Enda Cullen, Tullysaran, Co Armagh
Substance abuse levels are growing: children need to be educated on dangers
The Health Research Board reports that more people than ever are in treatment to help them tackle alcohol and drug abuse.
Its annual report on problem drug and alcohol use covers an eight-year period from 2017 to 2024.
It's reported that more than 8,500 people were treated for alcohol abuse last year. Alcohol remains the drug that most people need help with, but cocaine use alongside alcohol is also rising significantly.
It seems that younger people are more inclined to poly-drug use, where the older demographic tends to be more alcohol-dependent.
As a clinician, I have become acc­ustomed to seeing people who may be experiencing a concern, like pain from an injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety or depression, and instead of addressing the root cause, one sees how substance misuse temporarily numbs pain or psychological health concerns.
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One might hear this being referred to as 'self-medicating', but it's a dangerous coping mechanism.
All children and young people have a right to effective drug and alcohol education that not only teaches them the facts about substances and their effects, but equips them with the skills, strategies and attributes to manage their lives.
John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary
Inflation may be up by only 1.6pc officially, but our pockets tell a different tale
Is the inflation index becoming fake news these days? We are told by the CSO that inflation rose by 1.6pc to the end of July, and that at the same time foodstuffs rose by 4.6pc ('Shoppers buy cheaper cuts as food prices rise at three times inflation rate', Irish Independent, August 1).
Now, I know that inflation is measured by a basket of items, not just foodstuffs, but it is taking the biscuit to say inflation only rose by 1.6pc. Pocket inflation to me is the real measure.
Aidan Roddy, Cabinteely, Dublin 18
Social Democrats and the Labour Party are finally pulling in same direction
It is no surprise that the Social Demo­crats are standing by acting party leader Cian O'Callaghan's decision to re-admit Eoin Hayes to the party after his eight-month suspension, despite giving incorrect information to the media about the sale of his shares in a US software company that supplied technology to the Israeli military.
He will reinstate their numbers and this will be advantageous for the purpose of committee membership and chairs. Eight months was not a long time to spend in political purgatory.
According to Tabitha Monahan's article, O'Callaghan's parliamentary secretary Martha Ní Riada was not very impressed.
It is interesting to see that the Labour Party has joined the Social Democrats in its endorsement of Independent Socialist candidate Catherine Connolly. I believe this is the correct option for Labour as it had no credible candidate of its own.
This could be a start to the unity of the left. We will just have to see if the numbers will strengthen.
Thomas Garvey, Claremorris, Co Mayo
Catherine Connolly only needs Sinn Féin to row in and it's a two-horse race
Well done to the Labour Party for its decision to back Independent TD Catherine Connolly in her bid for the presidency. The onus now falls on Sinn Féin to complete the opposition line-up against the Fine Gael (and, so far, the only government party candidate) Mairead McGuinness.
This could now turn out to be a two-horse race. If so, the famous races on all this week at Ballybrit may augur well for the Galway girl.
John Glennon, Hollywood, Co Wicklow
In rush to erase the Triple Lock, it seems we have forgotten our past
Which will hit the tape first, the Coal­ition's goal of the Triple Lock or the slow bicycle race called the Occupied Territories Bill?
The Triple Lock is puzzling, talking about freeing us up to militarily involve ourselves in wars of our choice. Wars of our choice tend to be wars of the US and UK's choice. Ironically, the plain people of the nation want the OTB passed, but find legal obs­tacles along the way.
However, the Triple Lock seems locked and loaded before Halloween falls. We are a neutral nation that once carried moral clout. Playing war games with nations smeared in supporting current genocides wasn't what Connolly and Pearse envisaged. Or have the Soldiers of Destiny forgotten entirely their past?
John Cuffe, Co Meath
Shinners' lack of respect and tone when talking in Dáil shames the party
When Leo Varadkar was taoiseach, he made an insightful comment about Sinn Féin's behaviour and attitude in the Dáil at the time.
The party always engages in demonising and putting down the Government in a way that is not parliamentary or at all cordial. It is actually dull and boring and hypocritical, given they are talking about stuff like respect for those who need hospital treatment, for example.
Could the party please take some time out this August to think about how it acts in the Dáil and the tone it uses when speaking?
Liam Doran, Clondalkin, Dublin