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