Irish speakers merit more respect than being likened to the Taliban

We in Ireland rightly take pride in our healthy debate culture, the noble tradition of popular participation in politics and community activism from which many of the improvements to this country have emerged.

But effective debate depends on the fostering of mutual respect for participants in the debate and on respect for facts.

The comparison by Victoria White ( Irish Examiner, September 24) of passionate advocates for the human rights of the Irish language speakers in Ireland to the totalitarian human-rights-violating Taliban is a ridiculous and regrettable deviation from the rules of civilised discourse. It is the type of rhetoric generally employed by those who have run out of logical fact-based arguments and sought refuge in hyperbole, victim blaming, and abuse.