Sir, - Mr. Cannon (August 16th) would appear to be confused. His first point is that no democratic state can ban the broadcast of political advertising - in this case, that of Youth Defence. His second point is that Youth Defence has been denied the right to distribute factual information. He is uncertain as to whether his organisation seeks to educate or to persuade the public. Perhaps he believes there is no difference. I would suggest that this is but another example of the attempted fusion of fact and fiction which typifies the abortion debate.
By presenting "political advertising" as "factual information", the intention is to make it irrefutable: it is this attempt which makes the advertising offensive to many. Whether it is fact or opinion, the debate requires that those in Youth Defence have their say. The debate also requires that the boundary between fact and opinion be observed. - Yours, etc.,
Crossgarvey,
Balkil Road,
Howth,
Co Dublin.