Copy cig, grog rules

re: "Dope wars take shape" (BP, August 28, 2022) 

Dear editor,

The healthy legalization or decriminalization of cannabis has produced so much angst to protect the children, a popular conservative catch cry at least since they used that excuse to legally kill Socrates in 399 BC before going on to repeat the injustices committed in the name of children denied a voice in all such matters affecting themselves. 

And yet a simple, obvious solution is at hand. Just copy the law controlling cigarette sales. Perhaps a very few irresponsible parents enable their naughty children to smoke, but perhaps smoking is so out of fashion that not even the bad kids want to do that any more. Or copy the laws regulating the sale of the far more harmful drug alcohol. How many parents let their kids drink alcohol? How many naughty kids run into trouble because they snitch some of their parents' alcohol stash? 

 Felix Qui

_______________________________

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 August 31, 2022, under the title "Copy cig, grog rules" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2380641/avoiding-snakes

Profiting on faith

re: "Keeping the faith" (BP, August 22, 2022) 

Dear editor,

Absent any supporting statistics, let us take it on faith as reported that "Large numbers of Thais are turning to superstition to help make sense of an increasingly fraught and unstable world." But is that really an excuse for business to cash in by pandering to wild claims of dubious merit? Do the marketing guru's of Krungthai's KTC and others in the lucrative Buddha amulet, magical talisman and like businesses see themselves as good Buddhists, or good people, as they peddle crude superstitions to the gullible for profit? What would the Buddha prefer: profiting from fake claims that give a cheap, momentary, false image of success, or promoting education that leads to right understanding,?

And what, exactly, is to be made of the bold claim by Kritchakhun Pornthananunt, general manager for the corporate marketing department of The Mall Group, that "we are creating faith campaigns aimed at building up luck for our shoppers''? I would love to see the statistics measuring the changes in customers' luck before and after those amazing campaigns, or has it already been infallibly proved by sacred incantation, or perhaps one of those cited "occult rites, known as mutelu", that luck for participating customers correlates so strongly with the company's profit margin that no further research is required for perfectly faith-based belief that it must indeed be as claimed?

Have any of these people lately read the Buddha's insightful Kalama Sutta (กาลามสูตร)? 

 Felix Qui

_______________________________

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 August 27, 2022, under the title "Profiting on faith" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2378156/profiting-on-faith

Stubborn curse

re: "Groups rally against PM over his eight-year tenure" (BP, August 23, 2022) 

Dear editor,

There can be no doubt that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha's preferred fortune teller will be up to the task of averting the "ritual to put a curse on military dictators" that the protestors have invoked. 

It is less obvious that the curse recorded by history as being brought down by himself on the opponents of democracy for the Thai people will be so easily be deflected. Worse, that curse still being perpetrated will reach back in time to stain the institutions and figures that come to be seen to have enabled his coup against democracy to succeed against the wellbeing of Thailand for eight years already. This desecration of once hallowed figures and institutions will only become the more irreparable the longer Prayut continues to lord it over the Thai people by means of law that rejects justice. He might show a little more concern for those caught up in that judgement of his acts, which will not be forever held back, no matter how many fortune tellers or magical amulets are called upon. 

 Felix Qui

_______________________________

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 August 25, 2022, under the title "Stubborn curse" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2376473/prison-ills

Pining for amnesia

re: "Govt frets over Rohypnol sales" (BP, August 21, 2022) 

Dear editor,

Although I'm not sure that the 25-year-old man cited quite fits the shocking claims, it is nonetheless disturbing to learn that the drug Rohypnol is all the rage among fashionable Thai teens. I thought Rohypnol just made people pass out, especially when mixed with alcohol, and that it prevents the formation of memories.

It's all very well and expected that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has asked the Royal Thai Police to perform as usual. We have, however, to wonder which aspects of the existing Thai nation that the prime minister of almost eight years, along with colluding parents and grandparents, have made for them that young Thais are so desperate to blot out from consciousness. 

 Felix Qui

_______________________________

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 August 24, 2022, under the title "Pining for amnesia" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2375705/baby-factories

Adding fuel to fire

re: "Tragedy, farce in Mountain B saga" (BP, Opinion, August 15, 2022) 

Dear editor,

Veera Prateepchaikul is spot on that the endemic corruption venerated by many influential Thais over decades is the root cause of the Mountain B deaths. But Veera himself has for decades failed to understand why that is so. Corruption has remained rife because of regular assaults against democratic practice and principle. Openness, transparency and accountability are essential to reducing corruption, and we know exactly how much Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and all he stands for respect such principles. Their distaste for openness, transparency and accountability, which come only with democracy, and which are the only truly effective antidotes to systemic corruption, is demonstrated in the persistent arrest of peaceful protestors. Those patriotic Thais are imprisoned precisely for calling for openness, transparency and accountability. 

No one is so silly as to argue that democracy will end all corruption or bring perfect justice or any such fantasy. It is merely the case that flawed though it be, democracy, as Winston Churchill put it, "is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time" (House of Commons speech, Nov. 11, 1947). Had democracy been allowed to evolve to solve the genuinely difficult problems confronting the nation, Thailand could long ago have become a vibrant, rich, and respected nation in the league of South Korea, which blossomed only after ridding itself of its own anti-democratic cancers in 1980. 

But it is not only those who plot, commit, collude in, sign off on, enable or otherwise profit from coups against democracy who are at fault. People like Veera himself, who cheer on coups because decade after decade they continue to gullibly believe the same lies that corruption will be stamped out, or that national unity will be forged, or that traffic jams will disappear from Bangkok, are also guilty. Their complicity by silence or even actual endorsement of the overthrow of the people's right to determine their form of government is a contributing factor to the disease that has for too many decades held Thailand and the Thai people back politically, socially, morally and economically.

It might be conceded that good people sincerely believe the excuses that a coup is needed to end such gross corruption as Thaksin's, but what, when closely examined, does that claim entail? In order to hold that the nation's fledgling (always fledgling) democracy could not deal with Thaksin, it is necessary to also hold that every other allegedly independent Thai institution that had any influence or respect had been corrupted by or was actively colluding with Thaksin. Is this remotely credible? Was every respected Thai institution cheering on the murderous drug war killings? Was every Thai institution happily going along with the tax shenanigans and like? Had Thaksin really corrupted so many institutions and allegedly respected Thai figures who could raise a voice in opposition that only its military overthrow could save democracy? That does not seem to me at all plausible, entailing as it does an extremely negative opinion of all other institutions that exercise either hard or soft power in Thailand. I cannot believe such was the case in 2006, and it most certainly was not the case in 2014.

If Thailand is to grow up into a mature democracy, people like Veera Prateepchaikul need to stop thinking that a bit of alleged corruption, or even a massive amount of very real corruption, can possibly justify overthrowing the Thai people's popular, democratic form of government. That is, as David Bowie has it, "putting out the fire with gasoline" (1982). Veera and others in his position should stop fuelling the raging fires of corruption that engulf the Thai nation as surely as fire engulfed Mountain B. 

 Felix Qui

_______________________________

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 August 20, 2022, under the title "Adding fuel to fire" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2372828/disaster-awaits

Fruitless effort

re: "Singapore signals male-sex ban review won’t allow gay marriage" (BP, August 1, 2022) 

Dear editor,

Singapore is to be commended for taking steps to reform inherited law criminalizing gay sex. Such unjust law reflects the bad social conventions of less developed societies, in this case that of colonial Britain. Singapore is wrong, however, to give such excessive weight to the religiously inspired prejudices of Catholic political players and other intolerant groups in society. In this, Thailand has set the good example, although the example of Taiwan and other nations that have granted full equality to same-sex marriage is even better.

In insisting that “The fruitfulness of marriage also necessitates that marriage must be open to procreation,” the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore betrays its intellectual and moral poverty. And also raises questions about its commitment to honesty.

If the Catholic church's claim is to be taken seriously, they would ban any marriage where either partner is sterile, which must render such a union not "open to procreation" as required by church dogma. Worse, the Catholic dictate would mean that as soon as a married women reached menopause, after which the marriage must, short of a miracle like Mary's virgin birth, no longer be "open to procreation," the marriage would no longer meet the necessary condition so must be dissolved. This is nonsense.

The only definition of marriage that stands up to even cursory analysis of this ancient custom of humankind is that it is a legal contract entered into by two people who wish to make a public, official commitment before their society that they are a couple in the marriage so defined. Whether they marry for love or not, to produce children or not, to secure assets or not, to enjoy each others company or not, to gain tax breaks or not, or for any other reason, is irrelevant except to the couple entering that public, legal engagement. The Catholic church and like objectors heeding the dubious claims of their ancient texts are being dishonest when they pretend otherwise.

These religiously inspired objections to a reasonable understanding of marriage illustrate yet again that ancient texts are a reliable guide to the social norms of the patriarchal societies that made them up, and to absolutely nothing more. It is unreasonable to expect society today to reject the progress of more than two millennia merely to appease those who claim that the prejudices of old men thousands of years ago have some divine sanction. That is to demand unreason and regressive morals of high order. 

 Felix Qui

_______________________________

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 August 13, 2022, under the title "Fruitless effort" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2367713/closer-inspection

re: "The Politics of Persecution"

re: "The Politics of Persecution" (The New York Times, August 11, 2022)

Religion rejects reason because it already has the immutable, infallible truths its ideology preaches all must bow before. Naturally, the faith-based are the Trump base, and immune to reality as much as to reason. They lust for final, absolute answers to all questions, simple, easy answers. Trump provides as reliably as an Old Testament prophet glorying in his persecution. 

The FBI raid on Trump's palatial bolthole in Florida might well allow him to play the persecuted rather than the justly prosecuted. That might in turn strengthen his position with the faith-lapping Republican Party zealots, allowing him to again run for president. 

It will then be interesting to see what percentage of the American people again buy into theocratic ideology trumping reason, honesty and moral decency. Hopefully, such an ascendancy of Trump as American saviour trailing clouds of self-glory will inspire more Americans to vote in favour of clearing the biblical clouds looming over their darkening nation. 

_______________________________

The above comment was submitted by Felix Qui to The New York Times article.

It is published there at https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/10/opinion/trump-republicans-persecution.html#commentsContainer&permid=119786810:119786810

All watched over

re: "Thailand's Big Brother is upping the ante" (BP, Opinion, August 6, 2022) 

Dear editor,

Well said Thana Boonlert. Thailand's opponents of democracy for the Thai people are terrified of Thais freely asking pertinent questions of traditional power, presumably because that power has much ugliness hidden behind its sufficiently gaudy myths that idolize it as a pillar of the nation. Is there any reason a power that could be proudly known as it truly is would need to censor and intimidate citizens into fearful ignorance?  Such abuse of power by unjust law is, as peaceful young protestors know well, a toxic malignancy that has retarded the Thai nation for many decades under a fake veneer progress. That lie of unbounded bounty leading to amazing development is glaring when comparison is made with South Korea, who threw of the yoke of military repression in 1980, and has since surged ahead in every area.

And who could not love the brilliantly impish Mr. Foucault who has served up so many smashing insights into worn out verities of Western culture? But Bentham? Just imagine if Thai schools taught the wholesome moral lessons in Bentham or his even worse, for far more brilliant, disciple John Stuart Mill? Naturally, the Thai elite colluding in coups to prop up the old ways are terrified of such sound reasoning and good morals spreading in Thai society. 

 Felix Qui

_______________________________

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 August 7, 2022, under the title "All watched over" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2363104/control-deny-delete

Morality play

re: "Cabinet approves new picks for govt positions" (BP, July 29, 2022) 

Dear editor,

Thrilling though it be to hear the good news that people sporting an impressive sufficiency of serious jewelry, as shown in the accompanying photograph, are being appointed to lead "the Centre for Morality Promotion (CMP) under the Ministry of Culture," a salient question has been left unanswered. Namely, what exactly is going to be promoted?

The obvious answer would be that the Centre for Morality Promotion would promote the study of Plato, Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Peter Singer, Derek Parfit, Micheal Sandel and other incisive thinkers in moral philosophy both ancient and modern. One would rationally expect a Centre for Morality Promotion (CMP) to promote wide ranging discussion about what constitutes moral right and wrong, discussion to enhance our understanding of the nature of morality by advocating for the respectful, open minded listening to alternative views, and open discussion to critically review and improve on received wisdom, as the Buddha, Jesus, and like figures actively promoted.

To consider more specific applications, the Centre for Morality Promotion will presumably recommend the prompt reform of Thai laws that actively suppress free speech, such as peaceful calls for openness, transparency, and accountability. The high-minded CMP officials will presumably also point out that since good morals require it, the law will be promptly changed to recognize full same-sex marriage equality. And of course, they will advocate most strongly for the end to the undemocratic elements, such as an unelected senate, yet corrupting Thai public morals from the last coup committed against democracy for the Thai people a blatantly immoral act if ever there was.

With such a renaissance in Thai morals and culture imminent, I look forward to all these wondrous efforts as Thai officialdom at last starts promoting actually good morals to reform antiquated moral notions past their use by date since the days of Socrates and the Buddha.

 Felix Qui

_______________________________

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 August 6, 2022, under the title "Morality play" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2362647/bully-for-them

re: "A.I. Is Not Sentient. Why Do People Say It Is?"

re: "A.I. Is Not Sentient. Why Do People Say It Is?" (The New York Times, August 5, 2022)

We know that our brains take the input from our experience and compute it into perceptions of colour, cats, and angry friends, into minds that are me and perhaps even you (you say you are, but how do I know?), into emotions that evolved to serve reproductive purposes of the genes that built the brain along with the hands, eyes, ears and rest, and into our intelligence of varying degrees and everything else that human minds do. 

We do not understand it all, albeit making great strides, but we are pretty sure that there is no soul or other magical thing generating the miracle of human consciousness and all the rest of us. We and our sentience and consciousness and intelligence and emotions and the rest are all computations in our brains. 

At the moment, our brain computations are way ahead of what other species and our creations are capable of. 

It took mindless evolution more than  3 billion years to blindly evolve us, complete with a smattering of what we call intelligence and mind. But then, even insect brains greatly exceed the brain power of their mindless creator, natural selection. 

Our creations are evolving exponentially faster. One hundred years ago, computers did not exist. Where might they be in another ten years? Twenty is surely too remote to speculate.

And how exactly will we know when their computations have given rise to minds at least our equal in many ways?  How do we know that you are not a zombie brain-programmed to act all sentient and mindful? 

_______________________________

The above comment was submitted by Felix Qui to The New York Times article.

It is published there at https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/05/technology/ai-sentient-google.html#commentsContainer&permid=119701217:119701217

re: "A ‘Reversible’ Form of Death? Scientists Revive Cells in Dead Pigs’ Organs."

re: "A ‘Reversible’ Form of Death? Scientists Revive Cells in Dead Pigs’ Organs." (The New York Times, August 3, 2022)

This makes it more urgent than ever to discover exactly which species' minds are manifestations of immortal souls interacting with matter through the pineal gland. 

Do these pigs, like humans minds from the moment of conception, have divine souls? Or do porcine sentience and suffering not require souls? 

During the period of death, do porcine souls, which the evidence shows to be every bit as real as any human soul, mingle with human and canine souls in the greatness of death until rudely dragged back into a physical body? 

And what tales, we must wonder, will human souls relate when they start being yanked back from minutes or even hours in the afterlife? 

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/03/science/pigs-organs-death.html#commentsContainer&permid=119660852:119660852

A ‘Reversible’ Form of Death? Scientists Revive Cells in Dead Pigs’ Organs.

_______________________________

The above comment was submitted by Felix Qui to The New York Times article.

It is published there at https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/03/science/pigs-organs-death.html#commentsContainer&permid=119660852:119660852