Pro-EU Propaganda in Cinemas Condemned

by Jim Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:23

If Republican Sinn Fein can produce their own cinema adverts more power to them.
Cinemas are privately run businesses and they can show what advertisements they like.
If the owners happen to pro-Lisbon and refuse to show Republican Sinn Fein adverts that is their right.
If they agree to show both pro and anti Lisbon treaty adverts that is their right too.
If it is wrong to promote a pro-Lisbon message in the cinema that it must be wrong to have pro-Lisbon adverts in newspapers, magazines or on television to hang placards from lamposts or send their spokesperson to public debates.
If you are against pro-Lisbon advertisements then they can say the same about you.
We live in an open democratic society and different views can be expressed and debated.
The people can decide on the merits or otherwise of arguments and cast their vote accordingly.
The people voted No last time and if they want to cast a No vote this time and reject the Lisbon Treaty they should be free to do so.
The No to Lisbon campaign should be relishing the chance for the Irish people to reject the Treaty for a second time.
But if attitudes have changed and it is true that the orginal No vote was due to ingnorance on the part of the Irish people, then the Yes campaign should have their bluff called.
As a voter I welcome a rerun of the Lisbon Treaty referendum.
If the general election could be rerun every day I would welcome that too.
If every government decision was debated and put to a referendum I would be all in favour.
What we need in a democratic society is more democracy.
Even if the Lisbon Treaty is passed second time around it is still a victory because the will of the people was clearly expressed.
They made the elites squirm and sit up and take notice that the people hold the power and are not mindless sheep who take orders.

by stop looking for attention Mon Aug 24, 2009 13:06

But I suppose it would be okay to advertise anti-Lisbon prop, did you ever hear the song 'give out, but dont give up' ?

by francis hughes Mon Aug 24, 2009 19:46

ehhh no, it would be only fair if the cinemas showed both pro and anti sides. BUT surprise surprise they are not Did u ever hear the expresion..... to say youre neutral in the battle between the powerful and the powerless, you are not being neutral you are in fact siding with the powerful.....
It is so obvious the YES side has the power of big business, the elites and the media oligarchies so fair play to RSF for at least highlighting this. Its not goin to win the campaign for us but at least it shows up the trolls like the other posters above and probably below now too for what they are. watery pinko liberals who think they live in a democratic society where their views will be accepted.

by A Freeman Mon Aug 24, 2009 19:55

Would anyone actually want to see ads from a gang of extreme nationalists and isolationists like RSF (not to mention the fact that they are a mouthpiece for a sectarian murder gang called 'continuity IRA' ) when they go to relax at the cinema? It would put me off my popcorn!

by Mr Man Wed Aug 26, 2009 12:25

"it would be only fair if the cinemas showed both pro and anti sides."
Its a paid for ad, it isn't the responsibility of the cinema to provide both sides of argument and you certainly can't expect pro-lisbonites to put anti propaganda in their own ads.
Libertas, when it was around, did the same sort of thing.

"The screening of pro-EU adverts in cinemas has been criticised as a blatant example of pressurising people"
Laughable, since when is political ads pressurising people? Are RSF campaign bunting not 'pressurising' people then?

"said that they are also clearly demographically aimed at youth"
Oh No! The scoundrels are targeting a demographic! Oh the horror, the horror....

"Evidently they are blissfully unaware that there are two currencies in existence within this country alone."
News to me.

"These talktoeu.ie advertisements claim that the cinema seats are comfortable and confectionery is safe because of the European Union"
Kinda true, alot of EU regulations are great and would never be done here because we have small minded limp wristed governance.

"This type of brainwashing and re-education by the yes side is sinister and flies in the face of a free choice "
Ok so when the argument is against you it is sinister brainwashing? And anything RSF says is truth from god himself? How exactly do political campaigns eliminate free choice?

by KeepVotingUntilYouGetItRightSerfs Wed Aug 26, 2009 17:49

"If every government decision was debated and put to a referendum I would be all in favour.
What we need in a democratic society is more democracy."

Jim, the trouble is, we only get to vote again on results the elite are not happy with. There is a troubling reason for that. And it has little to do with real democracy. Voting again on lisbon is the opposite of democracy.

by durp Wed Aug 26, 2009 18:12

See the ads for yourself, and the website and campaign behind them.

www.youtube.com/talktoeu
www.talktoeu.ie