I was amused to read Elanjelian Venugopal's letter, 'A paper that's a total anathema to us' (Aug 21). This is truly the stuff of "Third World Intelligence 'educated' by 'left'-inspired British socialists".

Wisdom and the media are strange bedfellows. Intellectualism is embarrassing. Intelligence is wider and deeper. The media should not be afraid of 'speaking' their ideology. 'True' journalism is also from your heart, and feelings are not subservient to rational thought. Value-free does indeed a Minotaur make. We are still being patronised by being 'guided' to read.

The National Enquirer, Rupert Murdoch's The Sun, and even, say, if the Moonies did own the Washington Times - the fact is we've all looked at them. Your ideals are freedom, and so are mine - I use labels but I don't want to be shackled by them.

Evolution is discontinuous. 'Extremism' must be therefore a 'vital' ingredient of any integration. Integration is meaningless without differentiation. Social coherence is not uniformity. In a way the lunatics, ideologies, and 'moderates' need each other. Yet all are deluded by their own vanities by denying the other.

Try a dose of pure consciousness and you'll see what I mean ... literally, not with mind but with innocence. Yes - once our natural Asian value heritage but (really) also universal - much, much, more than thought or speech.