I fully agree with your view that “the best attitude we should have is one of no fear – and that is to simply continue writing and publishing quality honest opinions about the state of affairs. The best way to respond to such criticism is simply to raise the quality of internet discourse and prove to the incumbents that the internet can be, and often is, a platform for intelligent and informed debate, often more intelligent and informed than the mainstream press.”

As Henry David Thoreau wrote, “If you would convince a man that he does wrong, do right. But do not care to convince him. Men will believe what they see. Let them see.”

http://chocolatecheckers.blogspot.com/2006/10/lee-hsien-loongs-criticism-of-internet.html

I feel that the govt-linked media (GLM)’s Forum pages are there to give the public the impression that feedback is being taken seriously be the govt. While I am convinced that the govt does value feedback (they’ll be dumb not to), they are wary of critical feeedback on policies being aired publicly on platforms where the mainstream population can read it. This is because it has the potential to sway public opinion against the Govt. The mr brown affair is a case in point. You wrote in an earlier comment that the Govt wants us to “speak up, but speak right”. This is definitely true for views aired in the GLM.

But people like us don’t need to depend on the GLM to air our views. My suggestion is that if the ST refuses to publish your articles, don’t let the public be deprived of them. Just post them on your blog! If you make a sound argument, there is a good chance it will be noticed, even by the authorities.

I fully agree with your last point. If we are sincere in wanting to contribute to improving this nation, then fear should be secondary, although admittedly, it cannot be absent in this “unfree” political environment (to borrow a phrase from Amatya Sen).

About MSM’s forum participation, you wrote,”If one wishes to criticise an article in the newspapers, a letter to the forum page is the only option. But that letter needs to be carefully crafted and its publication is entirely at the discretion of the forum editor.”

You are absolutely right. I was a regular participant in the forum pages and I generally got positive feedback from friends/acquaintances who came across my letters altho a few cautioned about being too “honest”.

But all of a sudden ( esply after the GE) I noted a change in the way my submissions were treated. I don’t even get an acknowledgement of my submissions, not to mention about getting them published. ( I suppose if they haven’t officially received my letters, they cannot be faulted for not printing them!)
It was as if I was on some “banned list” and everything I write gets ignored!

But with blogs, it’s different. There is complete interaction and I publish what I feel is worthy of the readers’ time.

But my advice to all. Have no fear. Do what you think is good for our nation, notwithstanding the thinking of backward thinking narrow-minded people ( some of whom dwell in high places)

Dr.Huang