What is pornography ?
Sir: What evidence has P. E. Mallon (Letters, 5 January) for his extraordinary assertion that 'the citizens as a whole accept the state decision and resent the flamboyant gestures of those who would flout the law'?
If he simply bases it on the lack of significant widespread protest among Irish people, surely it would be nearer the point to interpret this as apathy rather than approval? And his dismissal of the efforts of those who would liberalise cen- sorship in Eire as 'flamboyant gestures' of people setting out on purpose to 'flout the law' is an un- just slur. The rule that proscribed books may only be made available to 'legitimate students of any subject' displays a negative approach adhering closer to the letter than the spirit. Are not intel- ligent general readers to be credited with enough maturity and discrimination to read works such as the novels of Edna O'Brien without loss or damage to their moral and psychological security?
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