Veera dodges Paine

re: "Push for a republic a pipe dream" (BP, December 6, 2020)

Dear editor,

Veera Prateepchaikul's latest, "Push for a republic a pipe dream", is the usual Veera mishmash. His talk of talk of a push for a republic is a school-boyish distraction: espousing the sentiments of respected  republicans such as Thomas Paine does not preclude supporting a just constitutional monarchy. Does Veera think that Thomas Paine is wrong to argue, as he quotes him, that "all men are born equal" and "no man has the right since birth to enjoy privileges over other men forever"? Veera dodges answering this, but he really should. Does Veera Prateepchaikul agree or disagree with Thomas Paine on the question of human equality?

The undertow against democracy continues. The republic issue is a childish distraction, but so what if some want to advocate for a republic? Democracy does in fact demand that such voices be heard, that the law protect their right to be heard. This raises another question: does Veera in fact support this most basic principle of democracy?

And then the seemingly xenophobic dismissal of the US Senate's recent vote supporting the Thai nation's quest for democracy. I'm sure that Veera is not in fact as prejudiced as he might be interpreted,  but the facile dismissal of the US Senate's support for the protestors on the grounds that they can't understand Thailand is something of a whopper, to use the apt vernacular. The reality is very much the contrary. It is only those who access foreign sources who can in fact be well informed on Thai politics, society and history. Those who rely on legal domestic sources cannot have an informed understanding of the issues that those petitioning for reform have raised for discussion. As a journalist himself, presumably aware of what the Thai media never say, it's hard to imagine that Veera is not well aware of this pertinent fact.

And that such issues have been raised, that Veera could write his opinion piece as it is, already constitutes a massive contribution by the students to moving Thailand forward. Just a few short months ago, such an opinion piece would not have been imaginable. That so much has changed so quickly is both a testament to the students' effectiveness and also to the popular support that they have tapped into.

Finally, Veera needs to grow up and get over his delicateness-related offense at the students' language and their use of entertainment. That offence is another lame effort to hobble the discourse.  Entertainment has ever been a powerful voice for getting a message across, especially humour. The students have demonstrated a sound command of marketing. They have rapidly evolved since the Harry Potter themed exorcism. Who could not smile at those  masterful food coupons? Humour is a good thing, whatever dour traditionalists condemning all natural human pleasures, save of course their own indulgences in secret, drearily preach. And whilst rude words (the horror!) might be inappropriate in a court hearing or academic seminar, and whilst I can't do such language myself, it is the language of the people, it is the language of the streets. It is the robust Thai language we hear when out and about every day. Has Veera never walked around a Thai market with his ears open? The students speak the way Thais speak on the street, and whilst we might not speak that way in the office or the lecture theatre, it is a pragmatic, honest, and appropriate way to get a serious message across at a street rally.

 Felix Qui

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The above letter to the editor is the text as submitted by Felix Qui to the Bangkok Post.

The text as edited was published in PostBag on MonthDate, 2020, under the title "Veera dodges Paine" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2031643/veera-dodges-paine