Dear Editor,
There is a saying that the pen is mightier than the sword.
While this is not meant to be taken literally, it does point to the enormous power the written word can have in terms of influencing public opinion one way or the other.
This is why I am strongly opposed to any attempt to censor or in any way to interfere with the free flow of information. The days when the so-called independent press were denied permission to import newsprint and when journalists were victimised because they dared to write stories that were considered not politically correct should never be allowed to once again rear its ugly head.
I believe that the best way to kill a bad idea is not through censorship or threats but by coming up with a better idea. In the marketplace of ideas, let a million ideas bloom! The more the merrier.
In the final analysis, it is the public that determines which from among competing ideas really makes sense.
The media have an important role to play as the watchdog of society and therefore should be allowed to carry out its role unfettered. This is a necessary condition for democracy to flourish and for the intellectual and cultural development of any society.
Yours faithfully,
Hydar Ally
