Those following events in Malta would know that there was a recent uproar over the holding of a conference by Dr. Rebbecca Gomberts of ‘Women on Waves’ fame. The esteemed lady has made a reputation for herself travelling from shore to shore in a boat equipped to deal with abortions.
As might have been expected a relatively large turnout of protesters was recorded, chanting the rosary and encroaching upon the threshold of the hotel where the conference was being hosted. As might also have been expected a couple of these decided that testing the octaves of their voices was inappropriate fashion in which to state their cases, mostly in the vein of “God said (this)” and “God said (that)” and “You are bringing a curse into this country! A curse!”, etc etc. before storming out of the conference hall, clearly not willing to listen to any kind of response.
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For the purpose of not confusing issues I shall leave aside my views on abortion and shall tackle this in terms of what I see to be the acceptable boundaries of debate. To this end it is prudent to note that a truly free society is not constrained within a tyranny by majority. No individual has the right to force their opinion upon another individual. This extends to the context of a woman who wishes to have an abortion for one reason or another.
Furthermore to protest against a conference discussing abortion is not an act promotional but is actually an affront to the meaning of freedom of speech. One does not cite freedom of speech while screaming over the voice of another whose views one may not favour.
In other words I am left with significant disappointment in the competent authorities’ failure to ensure a safe passage of mobility from and to the hotel entrance. This encroachment did nothing to confer a feeling of security and to feel secure while one speaks in unpopular terms is a defining aspect to the existence of freedom of speech.
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