31st May, 2001
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

DOUGLAS IS CHOKING!

Everyday it seems to be getting worse. What you might ask? - The traffic situation in Douglas!
I cannot believe nothing is being done. Luckily I drive a motorbike and I can avoid the jam on Donnybrook Hill. Some mornings I take the car if I am dropping my kids to school, and I noticed a woman walking down to Douglas with her kids actually made it down before us to the school, she was actually on her way back up when we got there" Douglas Village is a major bottle neck, if two buses are coming at each other you are looking at a major delay, which happens most mornings.
Something is going to have to be done as there are a lot more houses being built in the Donnybrook area, which is going to add another couple of hundred cars to the ever growing line on Donnybrook Hill.
Road Tax Payer
(Name and address with editor)

"THE MORMON CHURCH"?

Dear Editor,

In the Douglas Weekly the week before last, there was an article published about us and our work. We would like to express our appreciation for your printing of it.
People have asked us about the Tom Green case in Utah in the United States. We would like it to be clear that Tom Green is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church has been nicknamed "The Mormon Church", and its members, the Latter-day Saints, are nicknamed "Mormons". These nicknames came about because of The Book of Mormon, a volume of scripture that is used as a companion to the Bible by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is a church that officially took the name of Mormon, but this is a separate church from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is no wonder that there is confusion between nicknames, official names and break-off groups.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints teaches against the practice of polygamy. Any members who practice polygamy are excommunicated from the Church. Thus , polygamist groups in Utah, or anywhere else, are not to be associated with the Church.

Thank you,
Elder Minson & Elder Whitelock
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

THANK GOD I'M IRISH!

I write this letter from London where I work for a large US investment bank. Each fortnight I receive a copy of the Douglas Weekly from my family in Shamrock Lawn to keep me abreast of what is happening at home. It was with outrage and indignation that I read a recent letter from “John” who purported that the impression of Irish by Americans, Canadians and indeed all foreigners is one of poor, raucous, and ignorant heavy drinkers. To this view I must disagree with every Irish cell in my body.
I graduated from UCC with a Masters in the early 90s and have travelled extensively through Europe, Austral-asia and the US working for investment banks in Los Angeles, Sydney, Stockholm and London.
Walking into a meeting or an interview in any city I have found my Irishness to be an invaluable bonus. World-wide we are regarded as intelligent, hard-working, honest, friendly and sociable. If women are at the interview or meeting it is an added bonus because they love the beautiful Irish accent and find Irish men attractive, charming and fun to be with.
Irish people have had a remarkable effect throughout the world as captains and cogs of finance, industry, literature, sport and music. Previous Irish generations have become intricate threads in the fabric of foreign societies and in every foreign country – particularly America, people are proud and loud in proclaiming their Irish heritage.
As for drink, yes Irish people drink. But it is because they are so sociable and such great conversationalists with a great sense of humour that they just want to be down in the pub to meet others and have a craic – to laugh and live. That is why, in every city in the world, foreigners flock to the Irish bars because of the welcoming, friendly, fun and social atmosphere.
We, the Irish, have everything going for us – a world-renowned education system, a strong sense of right and wrong, loyalty, honesty and the gift of the gab. It is this that draws foreigners to us. I, and most people I have met, both Irish and foreign, love Ireland, the Irish and everything about us.

Proud to be Irish,
Tony Hartnett
London (ex Shamrock Lawn)

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