Asking Everyone to Drown Quietly Isn’t Going to Move Any Icebergs, Ronan
Hi Ronan,
Dignity. Restraint. The All-Ireland football final of 1982. These are indeed the factors relevant to a conversation about women’s healthcare in Ireland. I applaud you for their inclusion in your recent article in the Sunday Independent.
I will say that I don’t think there’s going to be a whole lot of calm and measured debate further to your own measured writings. Not when one side is in line with the findings of the UN Committee on Human Rights and the other is, well, still attending mass. Not that there’s anything wrong with a good mass, it’s just that I always found preachers to be a bit, well, preachy. Maybe they could work on that?
As you’ve succinctly demonstrated, there is indeed a difference between legitimate political anger and nonsensical rambling. I am reminded of an old Irish proverb; When a woman cries out for an ice-cream I will shush her but when she cries out that she is on fire I will, perhaps, consider getting her an ice-cream. As you can see, when you’re not willing to listen to those asking for recognition you’ll find that often you miss the mark entirely when it comes to aiding in the struggle of another, and you’ll be left with nothing but your Calippo in your hand.
I get that you’re trying to control the narrative, but painting the political struggle of women as hysterical warbling isn’t exactly an innovative angle. Really you’re just associating yourself with the landed gentry of the 18th Century, where that kind of thinking belongs.[pullquote]I get that you’re trying to control the narrative but painting the political struggle of women as hysterical warbling isn’t exactly an innovative angle.[/pullquote]
Irish women are having abortions, Ronan. I’ll repeat that because it’s an important fact to recognise; Irish women are having abortions. Let’s shake that up a bit; Irish citizens are having abortions. And just a little bit more; Irish citizens are seeking medical treatment denied to them by the state. I can guarantee that if any member of the Offaly All-Ireland team of 1982 had had trouble obtaining healthcare treatment in Ireland this would be an entirely different conversation, if we’d be having it at all.
If you’re going to make recommendations as to how the pro-choice side protest, Ronan, I’d offer you get your own house in order before knocking over across the road. Maybe have a few words with pro-lifers who attended the March for Choice on the 24th of September with dishonest signs in an attempt to, I don’t know, confuse the other 24,997 people as to what they were marching for. You don’t get to tell anyone how to protest. Especially a group of people you disagree with. Generally when you argue with the moral imperative you won’t be afraid of healthy and robust debate. Asking everyone to drown quietly isn’t going to move any icebergs.
An alliterative headline will not help your argument, Ronan. We’re not sitting the Junior Cert.
Following the money might seem like a sure fire route to undermine the pro-choice movement, but if that’s going to be the tact you take why not examine all relevant monies. The return fare of a ferry to England, the cost of a checked bag, of a sandwich and a cup of tea, dinner, a night’s board abroad, breakfast the next day. What about that money, Ronan? What about that cost? On which side of the arbitrary line of your compassion do these deposits land?[pullquote]If you’re going to make recommendations as to how the pro-choice side protest Ronan, I’d offer you get your own house in order before knocking over across the road.[/pullquote]
Above all, don’t include the grotesque paradox of defining something as being equal to a human life and then not have the time to recognise it as such once it no longer fits into your agenda. Shame on you Ronan Mullen. You don’t get to police how and why people grieve.
Far be it for me to police your tone, Ronan. After all, did the founding fathers of this proud nation not die one hundred years ago in a bloody rebellion which levelled half the capital so that we might have a bit of polite debate? Was it not for that? Next time, maybe before picking up your pen you should go for a walk or wash the dishes before you try to discredit and bully the politically disenfranchised with your wilful ignorance.
Yours in polite response,
Eoin Rogers
