Wednesday, 3, 2001

An Irish 'apology' By Richard Chapman On behalf of my entire country, I feel I must explain why we have let you down so badly in our recent referendum on the Nice Treaty. I want to make it clear that it was not out of selfishness. People are saying this all over Europe, but it's not true. We know what you're going through at the moment, struggling to be pronounced economically fit to compete in the European Union. We know about the shrinking public sector, the job losses, the falling currencies and rising prices, the dwindling worth of state pensions and public services. We remember only too well that it was not so long ago that people were jumping in the sea and swimming to get out of this place. On the contrary, keeping the wealth to ourselves never entered the debate. Not that we can't be as selfish as anyone, of course, but we were more concerned by immediate, practical questions. Everyday questions such as why, now that we are rich, we can no longer rely on our state pensions or the hospital service. Why nobody can afford a house anymore, or why both parents have to work all day if they want to bring up children. Why, in short, being rich seems to be so damn expensive. All the "Celtic Tiger" rags-to-riches stuff has been very exciting, but has it made us any happier? Far from it. It would seem it was all an empty illusion, a dream from which we awake sweating and crying out in the dark. It's like smoking. All the big boys do it, and so you try it and for a while you feel good, but soon afterward you're just doing it because you have to. You no longer have the choice. You wish you had the willpower to give up, but you know you won't. We killed the Nice Treaty to save you from all this. Quit now, before it's too late. -- The author is a satirist and cartoonist for The Connacht Tribune. Upsetting the apple cart By Christopher Lord On the westward flight By Arie Farnam Coming to terms with Mr. Bush Postview editorial Choosing death when the 'life' penalty will do best E-male

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