LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
THE response by supporters of the yes case for same sex marriage towards the group of people associated with the advertisement (Gippsland Times 22/8) supporting the no case is very concerning, and raises some serious questions.
My reading of the advertisement was that it was no more than a statement of a person’s point of view.
The reaction from the yes case supporters can only be described as vilification, bullying, defamation and it even contained threats of violence towards individuals and groups in our community.
Freedom of thought, freedom of belief and freedom of speech are principles that we uphold as very important in our democratic society.
Yet the response from the supporters of the yes case would suggest that they do not adhere to these principles.
This angry reaction from supporters of the yes case have convinced me to vote no.
One would have thought that they would have responded with sound and reasoned arguments to support their case.
It begs the following questions:
Why do they need to use the tactics of bullying, defamation and vilification to argue their case?
Does this unacceptable behaviour point to another agenda?
I would hope that Gippsland MHR Darren Chester will come out publicly and condemn this undemocratic behaviour.
If he remains silent, he is giving tacit approval to this behaviour.
That would not be acceptable from one of our senior leaders, who is meant to be a custodian of these fundamental democratic principles.
