ON the Sunday following the US tragedy of September 11, on Radio 4 an American citizen living in the north east of England asked the BBC to broadcast all listeners' comments, including the anti-American ones.
This listener wanted to know why there were so many people who hated America? This individual displayed real courage in his willingness to listen and understand the opposing view. His request led me to reflect on this.
Where is the middle opinion in our western democracy, when Mr Bush declared that countries which do not support US reprisals against the Talibans must be America's enemy?
How can we criticise undemocratic countries when Mr Blair's Parliamentary whips are trying to restrain the voices of the backbenchers?
Is the democratic right to freedom of speech allowed to some but not to others? Messrs Brown and Cowley took exception to Mr S Riasat when he pressed a few home truths about western double standards. (You Say, October 20).
As a British-born citizen, isn't Mr S Riasat entitled to express his views, or does our democracy deny him the right, due to his ethnicity? Democracy can be easily undermined by extreme left or right wing views.
MR L SPITERI,
Worcester.
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