A distortion of the facts

COWBOYS don’t cry, as they say, and nor should any self-respecting newspaper columnist.

As a seasoned journalist who has worked on newspapers for almost half a century, I realise there will be occasions when I will be challenged by readers.

That comes with the territory. That, however, cannot apply when a journalist’s integrity and reputation are impugned by shoddy journalism and a clear distortion of facts.

An example is the Tribune’s decision to publish the letter last week headed “Will Pather apply Gandhi’s doctrine to Christmas?”

The letter refers to my column of the previous week titled “Fireworks a no-no for Gandhi” in which I quote extensively from an article by Mahatma Gandhi.

Anyone with an elementary understanding of the English language would have realised the views expressed in the column about Diwali were Gandhi’s, not mine. Nowhere did I proffer any opinion of how people should celebrate the Festival of Lights.

To claim I suggested Hindus should not be extravagant and waste hard-earned money on sumptuous feasts is dishonest, mischievous and malicious.

The distortion is compounded by the letter’s picture caption stating “Dennis Pather suggested money spent on Diwali should be donated to charity”. Nowhere in the column did I say that. DENNIS PATHER

Berea