Sir, – As someone who is in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment, I am disappointed by the response of many fellow supporters to rugby player Cian Healy’s remarks on Twitter about the Project Art Centre’s mural in Dublin. [He tweeted “Ya ain’t alternative unless you’re in front of a blue wall these days” with an eyeroll emoji].
The needless uproar to what was clearly a light-hearted and innocuous comment is consistent with my generation’s entitlement to feel offended over very little and by people with whom they disagree.
It also raises the bigger issue of freedom of speech. As has been well documented in this newspaper over the past week, young people nowadays have a tendency to act as "censorious cry babies" ("Generation Snowflake", July 20th).
I attend a university where the liberal consensus (of which I am a supporter) often worryingly fails to present both sides of the argument on issues such as this. If students cannot even listen to differing opinions then how are we supposed to grow and broaden our horizons?
If the response to Healy’s tweet is anything to go by, a referendum campaign on this issue would be frighteningly divisive.
Respect for people to hold opinions that are contrary to our own is a cornerstone of our democracy.
My fear is that this respect is now being eroded.
– Yours, etc,
SIMON FOY
Sutton,
Dublin 13.