NOT every letter critical of the PPP/Civic Government is an attack on the government nor are these letters aimed at destabilising the administration. My father once advised me, “When someone calls you an ass, do not get angry. Look in the mirror and take corrective action”. In other words, examine the criticism. Therefore, when letters are critical of the government reach your office, they should not be summarily dismissed as the work of people whose motive is the removal of the government from power and, as a consequence, not worthy of publication.

There are many well-meaning letter writers whose criticism of the government is aimed at drawing the government’s attention to areas of weakness in its administration. This provides the government with an opportunity to examine itself. If the criticism is justified, then all the government has to do is thank the letter writer for bringing the situation to its attention and take the necessary corrective action. If the criticism is not justified, the government should use the opportunity directly to respond to the letter writer, pointing out the relevant areas of the writer’s misinformation and correct the writer’s knowledge pool and misconceptions.

This writer understands that there are mischief makers and political hustlers who use the medium of Letters to the Editor as an arena from which to wage their private war against the government. This writer also understands that there are former supporters of the government who, failing to get the government to discriminate on their behalf and grant them special favours, are now attacking the government via letters to the editor. These are not grounds, however, for an editor to exclude all letters critical of the government from publication. An astute and prudent editor – and I expect all editors to be prudent and astute – will be capable distinguishing constructive from destructive criticism.
JAMAL ALI
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