I am amazed at the logic Terence Hughes (BDN letters, June 28-29) uses to defend displaying his poster-sized, graphic pictures of abortion.

He states, “If the parent says, ‘See that man holding that terrible picture? Stay away from him, hide your eyes, look the other way,’ that parent is traumatizing the child.” Parents not only have a right, but the responsibility to protect their children from anything they feel may cause harm. To say that by shielding them parents are hurting them is foolish.

Hughes also states, “I have never seen an ‘anguished look’ on the face of a child who has seen these pictures for the first time.” In the 10 years he has conducted these protests, has he seen the face of every child who has been in a car driven by one of his demonstrations? Has he spoken to every child who has entered St. John’s Catholic Church and asked how his pictures make them feel?

Hughes takes this absurd argument a step further when he states, “It is child abuse to lie about me like this.” How dare he equate a parent shielding their child’s vision with a child being repeatedly hit, verbally or emotionally abused, or assaulted. His choice of words minimizes the true nature and impact of abuse.

To assign the responsibility for the damage his actions cause to parents, who are simply trying to protect their children, is even more offensive than his posters.

Andrew E. Matlins

Bangor