NeemsDoes the Right to Freedom of Speech allow people to purposefully hurt others?
March 13th 2008 11:08
On Saturday night I came home to find a leaflet in my mailbox containing information on abortion. Upon flipping this leaflet over I was stunned to see some of the most graphic and horrifying images splashed across the page. There were three pictures in total- each one in traumatizing detail of aborted fetuses at various stages of life. Text wrapped the flyer with statements from women who have gone through this procedure who have never recovered from it as well as a list of the psychological and physical effects at risk.
Living in Australia comes with the precious right to speak freely and it’s something we are all lucky to have. But when one abuses this right to push an agenda that has the potential to seriously hurt a person that’s where they cross the line of common decency.
What incensed me was the fact that whichever organization or person did this, has not given a moments thought to who lives in each apartment they delivered these pamphlets to.
In apartment X there could be a woman who had suffered a miscarriage. Having gone through a heartbreaking experience she would have had no choice but to see images of a baby she lost through no fault of her own.
What if the children of a family in apartment Y had picked up the mail that day?
A few of these leaflets were strewn about on the streets- in full view of the many kids who routinely walk the roads on their way to school. This is certainly not material any child should have to see.
Let’s now shift our thoughts to those who have undergone this procedure. There are many reasons for why women choose to have an abortion and not all of them are decisions made thoughtlessly.
Some abortions are undertaken due to medical reasons- perhaps for the sake of the mother’s health or a serious defect occurring in the unborn child.
A child might have been conceived violently through rape. A decision to keep the baby can be mentally and physically heart wrenching and tough to make.
I don’t doubt that there are women who consider abortion as a method of late contraception and take advantage of the right to make this choice, but there are many who make carefully thought decisions and who never forget what they went through.
And while adoption is an option that is more desirable, it also comes with a high mental price of giving up a baby whom a woman has kept and nurtured for nine long months.
The fact is that it’s never a simple choice and often riddled with complicated situations and reasons differ for each individual. It's a topic that needs to be tackled on a case by case basis as we are dealing with human life.
These flyers were delivered by people who see this issue as black and white instead of the million shades of gray that it actually is.
While I can understand their passion in preserving human life, I believe there is way this can be voiced and using horrific images to scare women whom they know nothing about is a tactic that is insensitive, disrespectful and downright uncalled for.
If you must preach your cause, do so by taking into consideration the audience you plan to hit.
Neema Mohan, March 13th, 2008- ©
Living in Australia comes with the precious right to speak freely and it’s something we are all lucky to have. But when one abuses this right to push an agenda that has the potential to seriously hurt a person that’s where they cross the line of common decency.
What incensed me was the fact that whichever organization or person did this, has not given a moments thought to who lives in each apartment they delivered these pamphlets to.
In apartment X there could be a woman who had suffered a miscarriage. Having gone through a heartbreaking experience she would have had no choice but to see images of a baby she lost through no fault of her own.
What if the children of a family in apartment Y had picked up the mail that day?
A few of these leaflets were strewn about on the streets- in full view of the many kids who routinely walk the roads on their way to school. This is certainly not material any child should have to see.
Let’s now shift our thoughts to those who have undergone this procedure. There are many reasons for why women choose to have an abortion and not all of them are decisions made thoughtlessly.
Some abortions are undertaken due to medical reasons- perhaps for the sake of the mother’s health or a serious defect occurring in the unborn child.
A child might have been conceived violently through rape. A decision to keep the baby can be mentally and physically heart wrenching and tough to make.
I don’t doubt that there are women who consider abortion as a method of late contraception and take advantage of the right to make this choice, but there are many who make carefully thought decisions and who never forget what they went through.
And while adoption is an option that is more desirable, it also comes with a high mental price of giving up a baby whom a woman has kept and nurtured for nine long months.
The fact is that it’s never a simple choice and often riddled with complicated situations and reasons differ for each individual. It's a topic that needs to be tackled on a case by case basis as we are dealing with human life.
These flyers were delivered by people who see this issue as black and white instead of the million shades of gray that it actually is.
While I can understand their passion in preserving human life, I believe there is way this can be voiced and using horrific images to scare women whom they know nothing about is a tactic that is insensitive, disrespectful and downright uncalled for.
If you must preach your cause, do so by taking into consideration the audience you plan to hit.
Neema Mohan, March 13th, 2008- ©
| 76 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
as an ex-smoker, I cannot stnd to watch those disgusting ads on TV, and what of the horrific car accident ads? They must surely traumatise families all over again.
I think education about these dangers is important, but it must be done in a more finitely targeted way, not just wholesale exposure, which is, once again, the cheapest way out for the government. Besides such saturation causes desensitisation, thus defeating its intended purpose.
Speaking of costs, I always thought the tobacco companies should be made to pay for all smoking related health issues, regardless of when one started smoking, that would probably see an end to the poisonous substance being marketed.
cheers
fog
Comment by Neems
Koala Lounge
Desensitisation is a danger that tends to be forgotten when we get carried away trying to shock sense into people. And then all we are left with is people being hurt over ad campaigns and the like.
And I agree- the tobacco companies make more than enough to cover the medical costs of those they have stolen the health from.
Neems x
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
I find every commercial on TV Offensive, not to mention the amazing meal deal vouchers shoved in my mail box offensive. Those that offer enough cholesterol and rot-gut to feed a small army in Bhagdad; especially MuckDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chuck, Pukka Huts, deep pan everything, Cheesecake, Ice Cream - and you want more? - how about a Drumstick to finish you off?
Let's take those precious little babies whose lives we protect and subject them to eating that crap... along with pizza shapes, Chicken in a busicuit, Fanta, Coke and all the other chemicals that slowly kills people and fiizes their brains, because the caring mum who saved their life, is now to busy to care what they eat, now that the $6,000 is in the bank. No worries, a slow death of neglect is better... let the state worry about the hospital bill when they are 50 - if they make it that far from ADD, ADHD, Hypertension, Aspergers, Obesity and Depression.
How about the people up the street who let their child starve to death, the one they didn't abort, while they drink the babies formula money, becuase their letterbox was filled with todays beer specials at the local bottlo...?
Oh the humanity, don;t get me started. So much to 'right to life' ... show me an apple, pear or mango discount voucher and I'll show you a healthy society and reason for fighting for life.
Like me, you just have to bin the hypocrosy, because everyone does have a right to air their view and as long as we live the great freedom-paradigm we currently do, everyone has the right to flog their point of view too ... and the point is that everyone will ultimately be responsible for their choices... it is how we learn and perhaps one of the prime unalienable rights our creator gave us.
The alternative is comunism I s'pose?
However, one thing burns me up even more is that trees are cut to flog all this crap... and for that I would have those companies shut down. Just one single flyer from anyone that involves a natural resourse or threatens our children - whoop! That's it, end game... immediate forclosure... you're bankrupt.
People should be able to decide everything without having any of it shoved in their faces... on this I strongly agree!
The wonders of a democracy.
Lilla ...