Readers in Council,
The Japan Times,
5-4, Shibaura 4-chome,
Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0023
Like J.T. Cassidy (“Why not do the write thing?” November 13), I don’t believe half of what I write, either. Japan Timesreaders should take my letters as propositions and not confuse what I write either with what I think or believe. Especially in this country where saying what one really, actually, truly believes is the worst social faux pas imaginable. Writing to the newspaper is a hobby, and I could almost just as easily write opposite opinions. I don’t see incongruity in entertaining contrary ideas simultaneously.
Published on Thursday, November 17, 2011 as “Entertaining contrary ideas.”
Part of the issue is that the Letters to the Editor page is a page for airing readers’ opinions more than their beliefs. Exposition of belief would fit better in an entire essay rather than a 300-word letter, or else on a page devoted to religious articles and views. A letter is a concise literary format with little room to properly paint a picture of one’s beliefs. Of course, it takes great skill to paint a good picture while being concise. It’s easy to be long-winded.
Entertaining seemingly contrary opinions simultaneously is not nonsense. It’s reality.
Why not do the write thing?
I feel that not a week goes by when I don’t see a letter to the editor from Grant Piper. I don’t agree with half the stuff the guy says, but I think it’s about time The Japan Times gave him an official monthly column and paid him for his efforts.
J.T. Cassidy
Yokohama
The Japan Times,
Sunday, November 13, 2011.