JR Malott asks, 'Who are these people?' (Sept 11). To fully appreciate his views, one has to apply "the relative importance of the politically connected" theory.

Malott accuses "the Dr Mahathir Mohamad propaganda machine" of trying to influence the American public opinion but the question is, who is John R Malott to qualify himself as a spokesperson for the American public. Is he commenting as an elected representative or for himself?

Funnily enough, it is always "propaganda, censorship and civilian casualties" for the one side but "press briefings, reporting guidelines and collateral damage" for the other.

But in all fairness, one has no other option but to agree with him when he says that he does not "believe that Malaysia is a great democracy" because that distinction goes to India! Although, indirectly, he has admitted that Malaysia is, after all, a democracy.

Perhaps not the best of democracies, but just like the rest of the developing nations, we are striving for a better one. Please allow us the luxury of deciding for ourselves what is better for us. It is apparently clear that some of us do oppose but not just for the sake of opposing.

But, in all fairness, this is not an issue which a foreigner, who is far removed from the realities of Malaysian life and not fluent in the Malay language, will be expected to understand!