We, the letter writers, could learn something

But if I’m a guest in somebody’s house I don’t have to pay to stay there. And if my host says, “You can only stay in my house if you agree with me about everything”, I will leave the premises immediately. I also don’t feel like a guest when I have to report to immigration every 90 days as though I am a criminal on parole.

There are also double standards. The “nationalists” think I should mind my own business but they never complain when one letter writer openly supported the effort to overthrow the Yingluck Shinawatra government. In other words, only people who disagree with the “nationalists” should shut up or leave Thailand.

But most importantly, when we read letters representing a variety of opinions, it shows us the many different ways a given issue can be viewed. 

Sometimes even when letter writers are critical of me, I say 

to myself, “The writer has a point. I never thought of it that way”.

The beauty of freedom of speech is not only that it teaches us to tolerate those who think differently, but also that we may actually learn something from them.

Eric Bahrt

Chiang Mai