Dear Editor,
It was unfortunate to see that two rebuttals to my recent comments – the latter rebuttal being more of a personal attack – were published by an entity that was not privileged to receive any of my comments previously published by the Guyana Chronicle and Stabroek News. This could only lead me to the perceived conclusion that such actions are considered as a ‘Johnny come lately.’
The letter column should be a forum for healthy, intelligent, and objective dialogue to bring about more awareness and constructive change. It should not be used for unsolicited and wanton attacks on individuals, regardless of point of view. Engaging in such is sensationalism and is reserved for the tabloids.
Restraint must be exercised by us letter writers to avoid succumbing to melees and it is the newspaper’s responsibility to ensure that the rules of decorum are upheld.
Yours faithfully,
Pastor Daniel Singh
Pastor Singh should be ready to defend his positions when made in a public forum. Those are the basic tenets of free speech.
Or perhaps the good pastor subscribes to the belief that pastors should not be challenged?
I think the good pastor’s point was that one should critique the message, not attack the messenger, and do so in a matter less personal and vitriolic.
Sorry Pastor, but the Moderator here does an excellent job to ensure that ”
The letter column should be a forum for healthy, intelligent,….”
Perhaps you are mixing up fair comment as “wanton attacks”.
I agree that :” Restraint must be exercised by us letter writers to avoid succumbing to melees and it is the newspaper’s responsibility to ensure
that the rules of decorum are upheld.”
I do believe that that does happen. The rules of decorum are upheld here.
I would say that if one fears that one’s letter could cause a stir and that comments might not be too polite, then….hmnn….
do not write in the first instance!
We humans do make the most odd interpretations on very mundane matters.
I too have been surprised at many of my words and phrases twisted and contorted, that I submit to bemusement than ire.