What is wrong with having an opinion?

Editor, This is in reaction to Natalie’s Munyapenda’s opinion, The challenge of neutrality”, (The New Times, February 13).

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Editor, This is in reaction to Natalie’s Munyapenda’s opinion, The challenge of neutrality”, (The New Times, February 13). There is nothing wrong with being opinionated. It means having an informed opinion. This denotes that one understands and respects divergent views besides adopting those that one deems plausible enough to one’s cause. Being stubborn by ignoring and blindly rejecting any opposing views leads to radicalism. Being neutral, however, means that one has declined to participate to a debate, and lacks an opinion, a situation that can be mistaken for tolerance and openness. This is not the same although those can factor in to one’s neutrality. Critical thinking is an expression of our intelligence as humans, as a civilisation, and in its process, outlines the flaws of one’s opinion. As for the ‘’international’’ courts mandate, we ought to render them obsolete by emphasising the fact that Rwanda’s legal system is competent and has the ability to prove so, to avoid being labelled as Victor’s Justice.Jean Kabyara, Gisenyi