Ireland is officially neutral - but Irishman have individually fought in all the major wars in history, 40,000 volunteered to fight for the Allies in the Second World War, I actually don't believe neutrality is protection - we escaped the Nazis and the Soviets by the grace of God and the Allies, not because we were non-aligned.
Here's an interesting letter in today's Sunday Telegraph ...
Spot the difference
Sixty years ago a brave Ulsterman from Belfast, Leading Seaman James Magennis, won the Victoria Cross for planting limpet mines on Japanese ships in Singapore harbour. And what was the reaction of his fellow countrymen? Nothing. The Catholics despised him for fighting for King and country and the Protestants because he was a Catholic.
Forced to live in London, he died in 1986 ignored by all but his fellow submariners.
Another Ulsterman whose sole ability was to kick a football, and who eventually drank himself to death, is given a funeral more suited to royalty (News, December 4). What does that say about us as a nation?
D A Bull, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria