Readers' Blog: Defacement of pro-life posters is undemocratic
The theft and defacement of pro-life posters around the country is illustrative of the mindset of some people in the repeal campaign. They are all for “freedom” — but not freedom of speech other than their own. They are all for “choice” — but not the choice of people to hold views differing from their own.
They are all for “rights” — but not the right of voters to be informed in issues on which they are asked to vote. And this, despite the 14th Amendment (1992) making this very right constitutional. The pro-abortion lobby was to the forefront of the stampede to pass this amendment when it wanted abortion ads placed in magazines. Yet most cynically it does all in its power to prevent information from reaching the public when that information might show some of the unpalatable realities of abortion.
It will argue that no one is pro-abortion but in several instances, the word “don’t” was obliterated from the poster slogan “1 in 5 babies are aborted in England, don’t bring this to Ireland”, bizarrely suggesting the culprit would welcome such a situation here. Posters have been stolen, twisted round, sprayed over in white or otherwise interfered with.
Such behavior shows wanton disregard for democratic process. Why stop at stealing posters? Why not simply stand by the ballot box to grab and crumple up every ballot paper marked the wrong way? It shows a wanton lack of respect for the electorate, whilst hypocritically shouting “let everyone make up their own mind” and calling for “a respectful debate”. Are we to keep voting until we get it right again? Are these the same people we are being asked to trust?
