Ms. Sarah N. Demetrio rejects the thesis that the New People’s Army has been guilty of more than it’s share of atrocities for the following reasons: (1) the author of the article, Ross H. Munro, is a boor; (2) he gave people the impression he was writing an article for "Time" magazine when in fact he was writing for "Commentary"; and (3) "Commentary" is published by the "Zionist and ultra-reactionary American Jewish Committee" (MALAYA, Jan. 4).

Sadly, Ms. Demetrio seems to be unaware of the critic’s intellectual obligation to evaluate the logic of the author’s line of argument as well as the validity of the evidence he marshalls in support of his thesis.

I am deeply saddened that this example of argument-by-name-calling comes out of the College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines (I wish to God Ms. Demetrio is only a student and not a faculty member!).

We were far better trained in the UP of my time: we evaluated the logic and the evidence of our professors . . . and ignored their boorishness and pretentiousness!
 
 

QUIRINO TORRES