Let all voices be heard in letters to the editor

The Thousand Oaks Acorn has printed letters in recent issues where the writer of the letter attacked a particular individual because of a diverse point of view.

The Acorn went so far as to warn its readers to get ready for a dirty election this year, citing negative campaigning by all sides of the political spectrum.

While negative campaigning and abusive, insulting letters may seem out of place, they do present a diversity of opinions.

For this, I thank the Acorn for printing them. Sigmund Freud said it best, "The first human who hurled an insult instead of a stone was the founder of civilization."

We're a civilized group, and we must always allow abusive and insulting letters. We must guard against those that strive to form monolithic opinions on all important matters, for that can only lead to dictatorship. Gus Smyrnos Newbury Park