The objective here is plain: It is to reinforce liberal sensibilities, and lock those who speak a little too plainly out of civilised society.
“The real danger facing this country, according to the government, is people on the internet saying things that Irish politicians disagree with”: Ben Scallan on the government’s new plan to stamp out so-called “misinformation.”
Silent prayer at abortion clinic
“It seems like if you casually “express an opinion” within two football fields of an asylum centre, that could be construed as a violation of this proposed law as it’s currently laid out”: BEN SCALLAN unpacks the government’s bill to ban peaceful protests outside asylum centres, like the ones at East Wall and Finglas:
Not an exaggeration.
For some, this whole process has been emotionally satisfying: There is a hunger, in some quarters, to see somebody, at long last, stand up to the Irish establishment and fight.
You get an adjective, not facts.
On facebook, underneath this post, there will be an official message from facebook urging you to seek out trustworthy vaccine information.
A panicked political class is running out of alternative ideas, and when in doubt, they go back to what’s worked for them before.
And indeed, people who would turn their faces away aghast from such rhetoric, coming from an angry truck driver with a megaphone, will instead nod soberly when it comes from a genteel columnist
Perhaps, in a tolerant society, we might tolerate the fact that from time to time, people will get it wrong, and say silly things. Is that too much to ask?
“dangerous precedent”