I AM puzzled by Mr Darius Lee's ("Inclusiveness means practising true tolerance"; yesterday) and Mr John Ng Tian Siong's arguments ("Respect others' choices, views"; Forum Online, yesterday).
They implied that the gay rights groups and individuals who voiced their displeasure towards Ikea Singapore's support of pastor Lawrence Khong's magic show were not respecting the choices of others ("Ikea to continue with magic show tie-up"; Wednesday).
Mr Lee also implied they were trying to impose "conformity of thought".
In a society where there is inclusiveness and respect for diversity of views, dissent against a particular agenda, ideology or perspective is part and parcel of that society.
The people who voiced their displeasure towards Ikea Singapore were simply disagreeing with its decision to support Mr Khong's magic show, given the pro-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) stance Ikea is known for and Mr Khong's fundamentalist stance against homosexuality.
These people are not advocating that those who support Mr Khong's show and his views be silenced. Neither are they trying to impose ideological conformity. They were simply airing their dissent and calling Ikea Singapore out on its hypocrisy.
Mr Khong is still within his rights to hold his views; likewise, Ikea Singapore can still support Mr Khong's show.
If holding dissenting views and making them public equate with trying to impose conformity of thought and disrespecting the rights of others to hold differing views, then Mr Khong, his congregation and people who hold similar views as them are equally culpable.
By this argument, the Wear White campaign, which Mr Khong supported, in protest against the LGBT event Pink Dot, and the campaign urging the National Library Board to remove "gay-themed" children's books would be examples of such attempts to impose conformity of thought.
In a truly inclusive society which respects diversity, the right to hold differing views and to express them should be respected and protected.
However, that does not mean that dissent and the public airing of dissent should not be allowed, because to be an inclusive society, there must always be room for people to air dissenting views.
Those protesting against Ikea Singapore's move were simply doing just that.
Han Ming Guang
