ST Forum: Views of 'conservative' majority must be heard, not just those of 'progressive thinkers' (Jul 19)

July 19, 2007

Views of 'conservative' majority must be heard, not just those of 'progressive thinkers'

YOUR report, 'MP Baey all for repealing anti-gay law' (ST, July 16), raises some questions.While the forum was attended by 'about 100 participants' , it is not made clear whether it was a public forum or who had organised it.

Interestingly, while calling it an 'open discussion' the MPs' noted 'the absence of a different point of view meant the discussion lacked balance'. Mr Baey's closing comment is telling: 'We are talking to the converted.' This view is clear from the 'loud applause' to his assertion that he would vote to decriminalise homosexuality.

Mr Baey's use of loaded terms like 'progressive thinking' is also not helpful for genuinely progressive discussion on this issue. It implies that the conservative view is not progressive and, by inference, regressive.

I am disturbed by the current promotion of just one side of the debate. The majority view of 'conservative' Singaporeans need to be heard, not just the views of 'progressive thinkers'.

Chia Boon Beng