Democracy is about rights of all

IN his letter (February 13), Eamon Reilly claims “recent statistics showed that 95% of people in this country believe in God” and therefore there is some democratic mandate for such a majority not to accommodate the rights of all.

But a majority of people are not members of unions, so should we not accommodate unions?

A majority are Irish and white, so should we discriminate in favour of them?

If a majority of people do not want to get divorced, or are not gay, does that majority have a right to discriminate against such people?

If Mr Reilly’s definition of a democracy is dictatorship of the majority and to hell with reaching accommodation for all, then I am glad he is not in government.

For me a key measure of success for any democracy is how inclusive it is in accommodating the rights of all, not just privileged citizens. That was one of the great reasons to celebrate the election of US President Barack Obama.

And as for Mr Reilly’s unreferenced “recent statistics,” can I point him to the in-depth and scientific ISSHR study in 2006 by the Department of Health and Children, ISBN number 1-905199-08-2, and available online for free.

This study explains its excellent scientific basis for measurement in chapter 2. The fact that on page 38 it finds that 20.7% of respondents are “not at all religious” and a further 38.1% are “a little bit religious” is seriously at odds with the results of the census and this should prompt debate as to whether the way census questions are being asked is causing such a different answer. (For completeness the other answers on the study were 29.7% “quite religious”, 10.2% “very religious”, 1.4% “extremely religious”).

But whether the “non-religious” make up 5%, 20.7% or 58.8% of the population the point should be how we accommodate everyone in a democracy, instead of unfairly privileging a few — be they developers, politicians, bankers, bishops or whatever.

Andrew Doyle

Lehenagh

Lislevane

Bandon

Co Cork