Common or rare sense

Kenneth Wain's contribution (April 3) lacks the apolitical element that is so essential, in such a controversy, to make one's writings fair, meaningful and obviously credible.

In the first place Prof. Wain must have either misunderstood my analysis altogether, or he opted to "pick and choose" extracts to suit his purpose. I never argued the legality of the referendum result. What I said was that one cannot ignore the invalid votes and/or those voters who abstained from voting for the very valid reasons mentioned in the context of my article. My analysis also meant to actually measure the real strength of the parties, with a view to bring the leadership of both sides to their senses.

Prof. Wain also found it proper to say that my conclusions were of a partisan nature. What would he have called me had I joined any one of the "for" or "against" EU membership movements, or perhaps entered into so many political controversies as he did?

As to my democratic principles, I can only tell Prof Wain that I was present at Tal-Barrani (way back in the 1980s) when I believed that democracy was being threatened. I wonder where he was then. I was born a free thinker and no Prof. Wain will hinder my freethinking.

For the sake of your contributor, permit me to conclude with the following quotation: "The best way I know of to win an argument is to start by being in the right".