Yet he gladly notes the growth of popular socialism (revolutionary democracy? ) elsewhere in Latin America, ie, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador etc.

There is thus a contradiction in your correspondent's position, for the populist leftist regimes are far less reticent in taking Castro's Cuba as their path-finding guide. In fact, Fidel Castro remains the role model in their ongoing opposition to capitalist imperialism.

Anthony Barnwell, 5 St Patrick's Road, Dublin 9

Terror has an accent from Texas

IN THE Sunday Tribune of 19 November, the Chief Inspector of An Garda Siochana Kathleen O'Toole has said that civilian experts with specialist language skills should be recruited into the force to counter the threat of international terror attacks against Ireland.

O'Toole then went on to say that members of the force should develop skills in the languages of the Chinese, Arabic and West Africans, therefore demonising the peoples of these countries. This at a time when the teaching and use of the Irish language is being hindered by recent Irish governments. The Irish people know that the main threat as far as terror is concerned speaks with a Texas accent and lives in the White House.

Jimmy Doherty, Cloncha Avenue, Carndonagh, Co Donegal

What does it really mean to be 'uncool'

I WONDER by what right the compilers of your 'uncool' nominees judge individuals who have done neither them nor the community at large any harm.

The arrogance and intolerance of this cover story in the Tribune Magazine (3 December) is breathtaking.

The truly 'uncool', a questionable phrase by any standards, are surely those who gratuitously and anonymously set themselves up as arbiters of moral and social behaviour, sabotaging the reputations of others for no good reason. If this is journalism, its days are numbered.

Dorothea Finan, Edenvale Road, Dublin 6

Irish.. beautiful beyond words

IT IS with regret that I have to agree with Rossa O Snodaigh ('English negativity towards our language', 3 December).

As a frequent visitor to Ireland, I am disheartened by the generally dismissive view expressed in the media and society about your beautiful native language.

The recent farce in Dingle is a case in point. The name change, it is claimed, is to 'avoid confusing tourists'. This excuse is frankly insulting. Many tourists like myself have visited Dingle precisely because of its Gaeltacht status. As one who loves Irish, I would add my voice to that of Mr O Snodaigh. As they say, 'Irishf beautiful beyond words'.

Chris Evans, Chelmsford Road, Shenfield, Essex, England

Classical review is just patronising drivel

"YES, you can go out and buy great classical music CDs by the ton. Nothing wrong with that except that it's boring and predictable." What patronising drivel.

Desmond Kett, Kilbarrack Gardens, Dublin 5.

Risk equalisation should be appealed

I AM appalled at the recent judgement on the above.

Obviously risk equalisation is complex, but alongside community rating, its introduction is not logical unless all other insured risks are also equalised, eg, the young driver should pay no more than the claims-free careful driver with full no-claims bonus. Those who live in flood-prone areas or adjacent to eroding cliffs should pay no higher premiums than those who don't, and so on.

Has sight been lost of the fact that VHI was also exposed to less risk during its early years and should have built up sufficient reserves to cover its aging membership. I can't see risk equalisation being compatible with competition. If because of this judgement, private insurers have to exit the market, we are back to a government (taxpayer) supported monopoly which flies in the face of its stated opposition to monopolies.

I think this judgement should be appealed.

John A Stuart, The Turret, Rock Street, Skibbereen, Co Cork.

Worshipping at the shrine of St Bertie

IN THE Pantheon of the Latter Day Fianna Fail Saints, one can imagine a 'touching' image of St Bertie 'Earning at the Steak' (in Manchester) scorched by the flames of informed public opinion yet redeemed by those who worship at his shrine in the conviction that there was nothing unethical/wrong in preying for indulgences in such circumstances, as it is a core principle of their party!

Wm C Love, Westminster Road, Foxrock, Co Dublin.

Tobacco products, not prices, cause ill health
WHILST the 50c price increase on a packet of 20 cigarettes and related products was disappointingly low, the Minister for Finance, Mr Brian Cowen TD, did recognise that price is a valuable tool in dealing with the serious issue of tobacco addiction. In doing so, he became the second minister for finance to publicly call for the social partners to assist government in this regard, as tobacco products are included in the Consumer Price Index and price increases have a knock-on effect on wage inflation. It is ironic that it is respective finance ministers and not the social partners themselves, given their stated concern for the health of the most vulnerable in our society, who are calling for this level of co-operation.

It is well past time that wage increases should be linked in any way with the price of tobacco products. Tobacco products and not tobacco prices are the major cause of the huge health inequalities that are seen in our society. The trade union movement, individually and collectively, need to show leadership in this regard and embrace a future Consumer Price Index without tobacco.

Dr Fenton Howell, Faculty of Public Health Medicine, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland

True meaning of Christmas is forgotten

IN MY opinion, the Christmas spirit is gone, because it has become too commercialised. The way Christmas was years ago was much better.

The main reason, I believe, is the Celtic Tiger. I'm not criticising our economic boom because it is doing some great things but one major problem is that it has given us too much money for spending, especially at Christmas. Many parents feel the need to spend endless amounts of money to get their child what he/she wants. They will queue outside the shops to buy the hugely overpriced new Playstation. They do this, while their child is being minded in the local creche.

Instead, they should be at home teaching their child the true meaning of Christmas.

For instance, the name of the person who made us have Christmas in the first place is gone. The whole reason we are celebrating this occasion is for him. Sometimes I think people get confused between Santa Claus and Jesus Christ. For that reason you see 'xmas' used everywhere. All the ads on TV about 10 weeks before Christmas are for toys, saying how great they are, but they are a big disappointment when they are out of the wrapper. This just shows how much these children are being brainwashed. Even worse, the parents buy the items. In many of the large supermarkets, Christmas decorations are out before Halloween. Now everyone loves the big hype at Christmas time, but it doesn't need to start so early.

At Christmas we should be celebrating the birth of Jesus. Years ago, this was the most important aspect of Christmas, but now the true meaning of Christmas has been forgotten as we race through the shops. In the Christmas spending frenzy, the needy and the less well-off in our society are even more victimised, the single, widowed and unemployed parents who cannot afford the latest toy for their child, the homeless people who don't know where they will be sleeping on Christmas night. Years ago, most of Ireland's population was short of money so society was more equal and children were happier with less. Christmas was considered a time for giving to the needy and less well-off. Have we all forgotten how to do this?

Rachael Kelly (transition year student) Castlefield Park, Knocklyon, Dublin 16.