Sir, - Mr Donal O'Driscoll (September 6th) wishes to know, concerning the "derogatory" treatment of Youth Defence in certain newspapers, whether it is "really the mode of expression, rather than the message, that is the problem?"
Actually, it is. I, and most reasonable people, object to the "mode of expression" that involves handing out gruesome pictures of aborted foetuses to young, children while their mothers backs are turned, as has been known to happen in O'Connell Street of a Saturday afternoon, and the uninvited abuse and sinister threats that Youth Defence seems to be so fond of.
The sooner the organisation learns that it is doing itself untold damage with its "mode of expression", the better for all of us. One can envisage very few people converting to its cause if they felt they would be associated with that kind of behaviour.
This is a pity, because Youth Defence does have a valid message. The civilised tone of the new poster campaign is a step in the right direction, but unfortunately, if the organisation insists on being aggressive in its other dealings with the public, then the message will indeed get lost in a clamour of offensive bluster. - Yours, etc.,
Foxfield Road,
Raheny,
Dublin 5.