I WAS shocked to read last Thursday's statements by Mr Anthony Yeo, president of the Association of Marital and Family Therapy ('Poor choice of speaker'). This represents one of two extremes of stereotyping: the first that being a foreigner implies he is more experienced, the second, the opposite.

We cannot judge anyone by the colour of her skin, let alone race, or sometimes academic qualifications alone. Nor can we judge someone's qualifications from her personal tribulations.

We learn from mistakes and sometimes from others' past experiences. To label someone with failed marriages as not qualified on love and marriage reflects shallow thinking.

This is as shortsighted as condemning all former bankrupts and reformed criminals.

Some of them could teach us much about how to start a business and why to stay clear of all wrongdoing.

Lo Chung

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