I WAS disgusted to read last Thursday's letter by Mr Anthony Yeo, 'Poor choice of speaker'. It alluded that Dr Pat Love not was the right person to speak at a Love and Marriage workshop organised by the Social Development Unit (SDU), because she has been divorced three times.

In my humble opinion, Dr Love is eminently qualified to conduct lessons in love and marriage at the workshop. Someone who has had three failed marriages should know about marriage and family life. Dr Love can share her experiences with participants.

Mr Yeo did not say whether Dr Love divorced her husbands or her husbands divorced her. He took issue with the SDU for bringing in a Westerner who might teach Western concepts of love and marriage that might erode Asian values.

I see no merit in his arguments. Love and marriage are between two human beings. Dr Love knows this and wanted to impart this knowledge. It is immaterial that she has been divorced thrice.

Retnam Thillainathan

This article first appeared in The Straits Times on Oct 20, 2008.