Historical present vs Simple past tense

CLOVE, AUGUST 2007 within THE STAR of August 1, 2007.Letters to editor
Caring young citizens
It was re-asssuring to read Part-time Angels (Clove July 07) and learn that there are young women and men who find time to help worthy causes.
Hopefully there are many others like Wong Ee-lynn and Serena Pang, who are concerned not only with themselves but with making the world a better place.
These days, the younger generation seems to be interested only in having a good time and living beyond their means. This has become a worrisome trend.
National service is a good idea to instil discipline and make them more civic-minded.
If more youths can also be persuaded to take part in community service, problems such as rising crime, drugs and abandoned old folk and children can be lessened.

Concerned reader
Petaling Jaya

After reading the above letter, I sent an email as follows on August 3, 2007 to The Editor of The Star’s Mind our English receiving the following reply on August 6, 2007:-

My email

I refer to the Letter to editor under the headline, Caring young citizens, in CLOVE, AUGUST 2007 within THE STAR of August 1, 2007. May I compliment the writer on the writer's ability to make the message straightforward and simple! However, wouldn't it be better if the historical present (is) instead the simple past tense (was) were used in its first paragraph since it is still re-assuring to read Part-time Angels (Clove July 07)? In addition, past and present tense alternations tend to occur only between events that are markedly different. In other words, tense alternation usually does not occur when two verbs are viewed as belonging to one larger event as explained in http://www.bartleby.com/61/90/H0219000.html. Regards, Kengt, Penang

The reply

Thank you for pointing this out. I have sent your message to the editor concerned.

Best wishes, Kee Thuan Chye Associate Editor Editor of Mind our English The Star