It’s time to allow the facts to override our emotions

JC Wilcox is to be commended for his laudable endorsement of the deployment of factually based arguments rather than “emotion driven drivel and insults”. I think we can guess which contributors to the Letters page have prompted him to make this observation, although whether we agree with his assessment is another matter entirely.
For example, this is the same JC Wilcox who, in a letter written a couple of years ago, claimed that churches in Europe were being “commandeered” by Muslims to be used as mosques. “Commandeer” is, of course, a verb with a specific meaning, and resorting to its misuse as JC Wilcox did, to subtly and wrongly imply action by a Muslim congregations of a militant or extra-legal nature, is a classic example of how conspiracy theorists manipulate and distort facts to suit their own beliefs. In reality of course, Muslims were actually buying or renting redundant churches, in the same way as others did, and still do, to convert them into restaurants, offices or private dwellings.
His more recent claim that the Rothschilds own or control all the world’s banks, including the central banks, also needs to be challenged. I am sure Mr Wilcox, who apparently regards himself as having a superior intellect to those who disagree with him, does research these matters, but how thoroughly, or from what sources we can only guess at.
Anyway, many of us here in Thailand, used to the regular pronouncements from the current administration, of which Mr Wilcox has previously declared his approval, are having to learn how to distinguish fact from fiction. It’s a continual struggle, but common sense and, yes, a degree of intellect, are valuable assets.
Robin Grant