UnDemocrat Party?

re: "Broken Dems fail to rise from the ashes" (BP, Opinion, December 11, 2023) 

Dear editor,

The recent history of Thailand's "hiliariously misnamed Democrat Party", as Time Magazine described it in November of 2013, when it was already clear that that party and its former members were intent on paving the way to again overthrow Thailand's "democratic regime of government with the King as Head of State", as the then and now Constitutions of the Kingdom all describe it, is neatly summarized by the Post's Veera Prateepchaikul.

Whilst speaking airily of "the party's principles and ideologies", Veera did not, however, dare to actually specify what of those doubtless lofty-sounding principles and ideologies might be: a wise decision. 

The Democrat Party's problem is that an increasingly large percentage of the electorate now understand what democracy is, and they want it. That is why Move Forward, not the Democrat Pary, convincingly won the vote on May 14, with 38% of voters supporting the flagship policies of that party, whose principles and ideology are solidly democratic, in marked contrast to the Democrat Party, which does not even now have the decency to support Move Forward's proposed reform of section 112 of the Criminal Code, which blatantly contradicts basic democratic principle. Have the Democrats even come out to support the democratic party's  proposed amnesty bill to allow the nation to start moving forward? 

The Democrat Party deserve at most the level of support they still have. It would be wonderful to see that change. It would also be wonderful to see education reform, and police reform, and military reform. But those are all things that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was put in place to prevent after some were apparently shocked at what the Thai nation voted for on May 14. 

 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 December 14, 2023, under the title "UnDemocrat Party?" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2704218/undemocrat-party-

Speak up, teachers

re: "Lessons from history" (BP, Editorial, November 22, 2023) & "Teachers are undervalued" (BP, Editorial, November 21, 2023). 

Dear editor,

On successive days, the Post has two editorials on the state of Thai education. On Tuesday, Nov. 21, "Teachers are undervalued" deplored the seeming undervalued status of Thai teachers mired in debt. No one doubts that Thai teachers are in financial trouble, despite the Ministry of Education getting the single largest budget allocation, a whopping 14.6% of the total budget in 2022. And yet those same teachers under the Ministry of Education have, for many decades, plainly failed to deliver results commensurate with the largess handed out for what is politely called "education." Something is amiss. The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) in "Making education keep up with change" (September 13, 2023) puts the blame for decades of failure to educate on an outdated curriculum. They also rightly emphasize that "the crux of the problem ... is not a lack of student effort" or even "inadequate teaching."

Perhaps part of the problem is that teachers fail to value themselves highly enough to take a stand for decent education. Rather then objecting to bad policy and joining such sensible, soundly reasoning students as the Bad Student group, too many teachers passively go along with whatever dis-education policy is being pushed by a political agenda that values myth over history, faith over reason, uniformity over creativity, and rote orthodoxy over critical thinking, in short, everything the Post gently rails against in "Lessons from history" (Editorial, Wednesday, Nov. 22).

The teachers should perhaps take a stand for honesty. It's a moral value worth cultivating. It would be good for public morality to critically assess the pros and cons of religion. It would improve public morality to honestly examine not only the good that any Thai institution has done, but also to honestly reflect on the harm. Except to religiously-driven zealots, is it really credible that any institution or any person is without sin?  The brute facts on the ground are that it is exactly those institutions that Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul appears to be pushing in his call for enhanced patriotism that have, over the course of many decades, allegedly guided Thailand and its famously failing education to exactly where they are today. That reality is not much of a recommendation. 

As the TDRI concludes in the paper cited, "When the education system is mired in the past while the rest of the world forges ahead, the future appears grim, not just for our children but for the entire nation."

The last thing Thai education or Thailand the nation need is what Prime Minister Srettha's government is pushing more of. Where, it must be wondered, is the outrage from Thai teachers' associations? 

 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 November 25, 2023, under the title "Speak up, teachers" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2692064/spend-more-wisely

Uniform targets

re: "Tech college student shot dead" (BP, November 20, 2023) 

Dear editor,

Yet another college student shot dead. As before, this one was apparently identified by the uniform he was wearing. Even were no other, the fact that students are being shot when identified by their uniforms would seem a compelling reason to ban uniforms for those past high school. They serve no useful purpose, inflame toxic pride, and clearly label students for the demented with guns who judge according to the group membership marked by those uniforms. 

 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 November 22, 2023, under the title "Uniform targets" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2689633/lessons-from-history

Return to sender

re: "PM pleads for return of talented Thais" (BP, November 19, 2023) 

Dear editor,

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin should perhaps consider that the smartest, most talented Thais would be more tempted to live and work in Thailand if they were not subject to arrest and imprisonment for honestly and peacefully expressing a healthy range of opinion. Contrary to orthodox myth, many Thais do in fact support justice, democracy, and national progress. Many even favour the reform of bad old traditions too long institutionalized, a fact the May 14 vote demonstrated, again.  

Move Forward might have better success in persuading Thailand's best and brightest to return to contribute to a flourishing new era for their nation than those complicit in making Srettha their prime minister, including their eager pardon for Thaksin Shinawatra that former PM Prayut Chan-ocha himself signed off on along with others. And speaking of those who drank deeply of his intoxicating brew, how is that poisoned chalice these days? Is Thaksin still as gravely ill as ever in the comfort of the Police General Hospital? 

 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 November 20, 2023, under the title "Return to sender" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2688364/sardines-squirm

Too kind to cops

re: "Police must inspire trust" (BP, Editorial, November 15, 2023) 

Dear editor,

The Bangkok Post means well, but if the well-established image and well-known reputation of the Royal Thai Police (RTP) is to be brought into line with the unsullied repute and untarnished perception of other Thai institutions, then drastic measures are needed. The Post's editorial presents none, merely repeating anodyne wishes that have already been repeated for decades, as though mere historical veneration conferred value. That won't work. It never has worked. 

The obvious solution, one blessed by tradition, is to follow the unquestionable example that has worked so well for other respectable Thai institutions: criminalize all negative comments, however peaceful, under pain of severe penalties. That will ensure that the Royal Thai Police are spoken of as excellent, as is only proper. Their reputation will continually rise thereafter as the laudatory accolades pile up with news of their good deeds to protect society and honest citizens being properly reported daily. Could the image and reputation of this essential institution of Thai society then fail to win its deserved respect? Could the RTP deserve less admiration and respect than must then flow? 

I believe this solution also works well in China, where rude comments on people's betters, including revered public institutions, are strictly controlled. Could the communists, no less, be wrong about anything so important? 

 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 November 18, 2023, under the title "Too kind to cops" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2687523/poor-playgrounds

What say Buddha?

re: "Buddhist wisdom " (BP, PostBag, November 10, 2023) & "Isoc's role in society", (BP, PostBag, Nov 6)

Dear editor,

Following the observations of Karl Reichstetter and J. C. Wilcox on authentic Buddhism's happy freedom from the traditional curse of religious dogma held as eternally infallible as it upholds witch trials, Hamas, sexism, holy war, homophobia and like evils, it must be wondered what the Buddha would say of those highly amusing photos going round, allegedly created by an AI, of Buddhist monks enjoying a few modern high jinks: motorcycle racing, rock singing, and such. 

Would he get his robes all in a twist and start legal action to promptly suppress the sort of creativity that threatens to lead to actual soft power success? Or would he appreciate and welcome an update to his wisdom otherwise in grave danger of terminal fossilization by arch conservatives who find their officially approved incarnation of Buddhism as a religion a most useful political tool? In their zeal to maintain the old ways so richly generous to themselves, they even elevate religion to the status of a pillar of the nation for ISOC to protect with their full force of the state lest the old ways succumb to the threat of creative innovation leading to flourishing for all. 

What would the Buddha say? 

 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 November 11, 2023, under the title "What say Buddha?" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2682944/peacetime-frigate-

Political myths

re: "One old adage" (BP, PostBag, November 2, 2023) 

Dear editor,

Although I've been reading Plato for the past half century, I'm not familiar with the quotation Stuart Ayres attributes to him. Perhaps Mr Ayres could narrow it down to at least the dialogue, if not the Stephanus number, in which Plato says, "Wise men speak because they have something to say; a fool, because he has to say something." 

I highly recommend Plato, whose Socrates was the first to say a lot that is, being actually wise, well worth the studying. He likely also thought that the wise would care for the accuracy of what they say. 

Of course, Plato's wise Socrates was infamously put to death in strict accord with the law because his resolutely peaceful speech showed up the hollowness of those deeming themselves the good and wise people of ancient Athens, whose official charge was that he was corrupting the young with heterodox teachings about the gods (Euthyphro, 2c - 3b). Even in Athens 2,400 years ago, fantastic myths were a powerful weapon of dirty politics.  

 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 November 10, 2023, under the title "Political myths" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2682259/political-myths

Gracious talk

re: "Paetongtarn must avoid past trends" (BP, Opinion, October 30, 2023)

Dear editor,

Veera Prateepchaikul describes him as acting "graciously" when Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin kissed the extended hand of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, duly "groomed by her handlers" as he can't help but put it. PM Srettha has clearly been equally well groomed. 

What role should such cute displays of choreographed submission have in a modern Thailand? Shows of dictated submission are part of the legacy of the previous PM, Prayut Chan-o-cha, who would stop at nothing to entrench  his vision of Thailand in the 21st century, Thailand 4.0 as he boasted. But should they be? 

Back the late 19th century, a truly wise Thai said of another traditional show of forced submission that "Since [its] abolition, those countries have become more prosperous. In Siam, the practice of prostration reaffirms the existence of oppression which is unjust." That wise man is rightly famous for his efforts to move his nation forward to take its place as both a respectable and respected modern Thailand in his own day and beyond. 

Unlike Veera speaking of a "graciously bowed" prime minister, who is supposed to represent a proud people, this eminently wise Thai leader of old spoke of traditional customs that reinforced notions of intrinsic inequality between citizens as being "severely oppressive". He sought to abolish once and for all such "harsh" practices that could only demean Thailand in the eyes of developed nations.

That wise Thai was the great King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, to whom Thailand owes much. The quoted words are from the Royal Siamese Government Gazette, 1873, as translated by the well-known Thai academic that Veera also cites in his opinion piece. Perhaps it is time the Thai people listened to those wise words from a king who had a vision of his nation getting stuck not back in Prayut's Thailand 4.0, but of genuinely moving forward to a future worth having for all Thais. To conclude in the words of the great King: "Powerful countries which have been successful in refraining from oppressing their own peoples are now enjoying prosperity." 

Is Thailand enjoying the prosperity its people have deserved these many decades past? 

 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 November 2, 2023, under the title "Gracious talk" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2676533/gracious-talk

Rules for some

re: "Caution advised before extending bar hours to 4am" (BP, October 23, 2023) 

Dear editor,

The officiously concerned party list MP Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, of that famously moral United Thai Nation Party (UTN), is surely correct that "Strict punitive action was needed against those who break the law." 

Following the UTN lead, could any such strictness be more appropriate than the identical punishment meted out to those who plot, commit, collude in or profit from coups against  Thailand's "democratic regime of government with the King as Head of State", as section 2 of the current and many previous constitutions defines it? 

But are there enough cabinet seats to dole out as strict punitive action against those whose deliberate acts so threaten the nation by allowing adults to enjoy their life as they freely choose until 4:00 AM? Could any good person stand for it? 

 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 October 30, 2023, under the title "Rules for some" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2673333/sway-of-video-games

No evidence to hand

re: "Police chief demands Thaksin health report from hospital" (BP, October 18, 2023) 

Dear editor,

If Thaksin Shinawatra were indeed as seriously ill as is being alleged, he would present the evidence. He can waive confidentiality to whatever extent is required to substantiate the claims of his conveniently serious illness. He can order his physicians and others to release MRI scans, other tests, and their expert opinions. Or he can directly release them himself. Doing so would end the ongoing suspicions. He has not done so. 

Until he does this, the claim that he is as seriously ill as insisted on is as credible as a Pheu Thai election promise to under no circumstances invite any party complicit in a coup to form a government. 

 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 October 22, 2023, under the title "No evidence to hand" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2669024/but-those-socks-

Unfolding failure

re: "Old and poor: Thailand sleepwalking towards ageing crisis" (BP, October 16, 2023) and "Tolerating populism for democracy" (October 13), and "PM needs to be open to public criticism" (October 16)

Dear editor,

Who could not feel deep sadness at the plight of ageing Thais such as 73-year-old Chusri Kaewkhio and her ailing 76-year-old husband. Theirs is but one of many sad stories that highlight the unfolding failure recounted in the Bangkok Post's "Old and poor: Thailand sleepwalking towards ageing crisis"? (October 16). Such demographic and economic disasters do not occur overnight nor absent causes. This Thailand was decades in the making. Prayut Chan-o-cha's ongoing decade being only the last period to sow the seeds of insufficiency that millions of Thais must today reap.  

Thailand could decades ago have joined South Korea in taking the path to democracy under just law. That would have brought economic flourishing and the wealth to provide far more decently for the ageing Thai nation of today. Such national success was not to be: myths and luxury lifestyles were at stake. They would not be sacrificed merely to enable political, social and educational development that could in turn have driven healthy, sustained, sufficient and just economic growth. 

Two recent opinion pieces by regular Bangkok Post columnists highlight contrasting mindsets that help explain why Thailand has fallen, or has been pushed, into the developing nightmare of ageing before it got rich.

In "PM needs to be open to public criticism" (October 16), Veera Prateepchaikul presents the venerated view that has endorsed coups such as that of Prayut Chan-o-cha, who, along with his predecessors, preach the deceit that "good" people such as themselves must hold the representatives of the people to account, if necessary, overthrowing the people's popular democratic government to protect the nation from wicked representatives of the people, hence Veera's citing of the magically ripe number 99. Veera expounds a classic tale of the righteous 99 economists who know better, to whom the actual prime minister must listen because they are selfless, impartial experts who have the nation's best interests are heart. Veera sincerely believes that. The auspiciously numbered 99 themselves doubtless believe it.

The plain evidence of what decades of such thinking and its fruits has made Thailand in 2023, having had stolen by the self-electing who then squandered so many opportunities whilst making pretty speeches about unity, compassion, righteousness, modesty, sufficiency and the like, shows the truth of their presumption to virtue and to competence. Theirs is the mindset that justifies coups, whether military or legalist, by an elect piously deeming itself "good" and "righteous" and even "selfless": the virtues Veera attributes to the 99 economists wrapped in the aura of numerological blessing. The fruits of all that magically inspired interference repeatedly disrupting democracy is manifest every day in Thailand as it has traditionally been for many decades: endemic corruption, systemic double standards in the legal system, and gross inequality in the distribution of the nation's wealth, leaving too many of the desperately poor uncertain of even where their next scraps of food are coming from.  

In contrast, there is the alternative presented in Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak's  "Tolerating populism for democracy" (October 13). Thitinan honestly calls out the numerological fantasies of the 99 and like for what they are:  a mindset that has for many decades kept Thailand what it remains today. Thitinan sensibly, and I think rightly, agrees that Pheu Thai's flagship 10,000 payment scheme might well be a serious mistake, but he also knows that that cannot justify interfering in the democratic process. Societies learn from mistakes. That essential learning process has also been denied Thailand by the "good people" myth. 

Critically questioning received myths does not destroy a nation's essence. South Korea has not lost its soul since throwing off the curse of military interference in 1980; it has, on the contrary become strong. It now exports its culture along with its smartphones and air-conditioners to an avid global audience. Thailand has been denied that opportunity these past 50 years at least, since October 14, 1973 and earlier. 

Ordinary Thais who must live on charity and scraps in their old age, for which bounty they are expected to be grateful, are the victims of the mindset that continues to enable those disruptions of progress by promising wondrous things for all. They always prophesy the final eradication of corruption, an end to injustice, the healing of all social divides, and of course sufficient wealth to all. That myth-bound mindset forcing itself on all has delivered only what Thailand is today. 

 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 October 19, 2023, under the title "Unfolding failure" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2667123/unfolding-failure

Hocus pocus

re: "Tolerating populism for democracy" (BP, Opinion, October 13, 2023)  

Dear editor,

Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak brilliantly exposes the demon besetting Thailand's politics these several decades: that 99 is Thailand's 666.

That legally mandated possession by supernatural sacredness explains much of why Thailand is what it is when its people should long have been enjoying the economic success and global stature of South Korea or Taiwan. Maintaining the numerological perfections of 99ish myth has cost the Thai people much. Unless exorcized, its insatiable demand for yet more obeisance, and US dollars by the billion, will continue to inflict its manifestly traditional harms. 

 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 October 17, 2023, under the title "Hocus pocus" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2665611/praise-for-milk 

How unspeakable

re: "Merciful option?" (BP, PostBag, October 13, 2023) 

Dear editor,

In his letter as published, "Merciful option?", Ilyn Payne appears to argue that if a prison system is unspeakably inhumane, that justifies killing people in order to reduce the net suffering over a prisoner's life. A more moral stance might hold that the nation's prison system be required to meet minimal standards of decency to reflect a healthier set of public morals.

In his eagerness to lop off heads or otherwise kill, Mr Payne also leaves undefined what might constitute "unspeakable crimes" deserving of "the ultimate cost [that] should be paid." He also leaves unspecified what principle justifies killing another human being. Israel thinks it is justified in killing to hold on to land it illegally occupies. Hamas clearly thinks it is justified in killing to reclaim land stolen from the people it claims to stand for. Pro-choice abortion advocates think pregnant women have the right to kill the human being in their womb. Thai law thinks it acceptable to kill people who supply a popular drug of recreation to eager customers — Thaksin Shinawatra's murderous war on drugs was egged on by the morally stunted at every level of Thai society, none of whom have ever been held to account. Uganda thinks it right to kill gay men for the crime of "aggravated homosexuality". Are all or some these unspeakable crimes? 

Does the author think that the Paragon killer has committed an unspeakable crime deserving the death penalty? Did the Royal Thai Police officer who killed 36, mainly children, a year ago at Nong Bua Lamphu commit an unspeakable crime? Did the Royal Thai Army officer who gunned down 29 in Khorat in 2020 commit an unspeakable crime? Do major drug dealers commit unspeakable crimes according to whether the drugs they deal are legal or illegal?  

But those fatal vagaries in Mr Payne's call to kill leave untouched the deeper question:  whether any punishment can ever be justified. Punishment is legalized vengeance. Should the law be inflicting vengeance, or should its just goal be to prevent some committing acts that harm others? If the former, the eye-for-an-eye doctrine encoding the primitive moral notions of despotic societies, then the death penalty is plainly called for. That follows the  ancient mindset that commanded Moses's followers to steal by military invasion the land of Canaan after their reported exodus from servitude in Egypt, thereby beginning the litany of reprisal killings that more than 2,500 years later continue to define the so called Holy Land that Israel's hard-right nationalists, now ascendant, claim as theirs by the will of God with the same fervour shown by Hamas.

Perhaps Ilyn Payne could consider that we may only be justly punished for what we freely choose to do. Since the mounting evidence is that we could never choose other than we in fact do but only ever act as strictly determined by the physio-chemical processes taking place in our brains, this would suggest that the law's sphere of justice is limited to preventing harm to others, never to engaging in crude vengeance of the primitive eye-for-an-eye type for which he advocates.  

 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 October 15, 2023, under the title "How unspeakable" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2664389/how-unspeakable

Beyond populism

re: "Saving the amnesty bill" (BP, Editorial, October 9, 2023) 

Dear editor,

In its call to remove Section 112 offences from Move Forward's proposed amnesty bill, the Bangkok Post fails to even mention such considerations as justice, democratic principle, or good public morals. Does the editor think such things irrelevant to good law? 

It is widely held that Section 112 of the Criminal Code, long enshrined by mythic claims in a position of impunity, is used as a political weapon to intimidate, to harass and to suppress the healthy open dialogue that is a cornerstone of any functioning democracy. This rejection of the possibility of respectful discussion has long been toxic for society, as the editorial itself attests.  

The Post claims that granting an amnesty to those who did nothing more than peacefully express an honest opinion is so "controversial ... [it] could in fact spark new conflicts." Not a shred of evidence is presented for this claim. To the best of my knowledge, there is no evidence to suggest that a solid majority of Thais do not already solidly support the reform of these socially harmful laws that are morally indefensible, with only a rag tag of very loud zealots opposing it from whatever motives. Or I have I missed some relevant polls of public opinion on the matter?

Move Forward is right to include Section 112 offenders in its amnesty bill. Unlike dubious populist policies promising easy money, this policy is deservedly popular only for good reasons: it is just, it comports with democratic principle, and it will improve public morals by encouraging the open dialogue essential to informed opinion on any topic. 

It must, nonetheless, be admitted that, as the editor notes, "the progressive party [Move Forward] stands to benefit for gaining popularity among its supporters." This is natural and proper. Policies that support justice, that improve democracy, and that strengthen good public morals, deserve support. They should be popular and political parties proposing them fully deserve support from the electorate. 

The Post should be encouraging passage of this bill in its current form. 

 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 October 10, 2023, under the title "Beyond populism" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2661013/beyond-populism

Respect is earned

re: "Let's stay respectful" (BP, PostBag, October 4, 2023) 

Dear editor,

In his usual reasoned and respectful way, Burin Kantabutra makes the case for why "chef Ari Alexander Guojonsson should be condemned for berating Senator Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan out of his restaurant in Iceland over her political views." He is correct that "all are entitled to voice their opinion, but all involved must show respect for their opponents." Therein lies the problem, the pertinent reason why reason and respect sometimes fail. 

Thai law, Thai tradition protected by that same law, and in this case the current Thai senate created by that law to do exactly what it has recently done, refuses to accept that "all are entitled to voice their opinion", no matter how peacefully or respectfully they do so. The maintenance of that same law is the explicit reason the senate gave for refusing to respect the people by endorsing the government that Thais voted for on May 14. Senator Porntip agreed with the senate's reason contradicting Khun Burin's rightful reminder that "all are entitled to voice their opinion".

A pertinent current example is that Thailand's internationally honoured human rights advocate Arnon Nampa, recipient of South Korea's 2021 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, today remains in prison under those same laws.

When reasoned, open dialogue is denied them, good people reasonably choose other ways to express their deep feelings. Mr Guojonsson's outburst was a performative act. It was intended to convey an attitude, not to argue for a position in an academic debate, which debates can also become performatively passionate. As the expression of an attitude intended to induce the same in its audience, the restaurant outburst is on a par with such performative acts as the state opening of parliament or a tradition bound procession through the streets. Whilst agreeing that it will certainly, and understandably so, have offended some, it is less obvious that it failed to achieve the purpose of its performance, which was greatly aided by the senator highlighting its significance with threats of law suits "graciously" not to be acted on. 

Khun Burin correctly concludes that "noisy confrontation, such as the chef's or harassment, is the anathema of truth-seeking," but at failing to respect different views, it pales compared to law that actively criminalizes truth-seeking. 

 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 October 7, 2023, under the title "Respect is earned" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2659368/lose-the-gun-scheme

Graft in high places

re: "Army fuel probe findings expected soon" (BP, October 2, 2023) 

Dear editor,

The unusual (Just how unusual is it?) disappearance of more than 200,000 litres of diesel within the space of single month, August to September last year, is disturbing. But the Royal Thai Army (RTA) lads and other official bodies already have to hand an unimpeachable tool for identifying unusually untoward things. This is another job for those trusty GT200s, on which the responsible officers of the RTA spent a sufficient fortune, and which the highly respected forensic expert Senator Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan heartily endorsed for the lads when suspicions of their efficacy were raised. There is no doubt that these devices truly do point unerringly to serious corruption in high places. 

 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 October 4, 2023, under the title "Graft in high places" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2657181/lets-stay-respectful

Ethics over appetite

re: "Love all animals, big or small" (BP, October 2, 2023)

Dear editor,

If the Post's Kanokporn Chanasongkram were truly concerned about humans inflicting needless suffering on animals before casually slaughtering them, she could have given much more direct and effective advice: stop eating meat. 

Whilst medical and other scientific experiments do use animals, that use is relatively insignificant compared to the vast food industries that raise literally billions of animals in appalling conditions before casually slaughtering them for no more necessary reason than to make money by catering to the lust for tasty animal flesh of the humans whose purchases order the maintenance of that suffering and mass daily killing.

I suspect the Buddha would also prefer that his followers not order yet more suffering and killing on their behalf every time they buy meat in supermarkets, restaurants, fast-food joints, and on the street. 

 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 October 3, 2023, under the title "Ethics over appetite" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2656422/its-rougher-in-jail

Drugs or alcohol?

re: "Drug-fueled horrors" and "Reality check" (BP, PostBag, September 27, 2023) 

Dear editor,

In my letters to PostBag to which both Richard Bryant (Drug-fueled horrors) and Christian Reeve (Reality check) respond, an original concluding sentence was: "At the very least, there needs to be more public discussion about what could justify criminalizing some recreational drug use whilst legally blessing the use of other, more socially harmful drugs by adults." I thank the writers for contributing their personal perspectives to this discussion.

In both cases, their evidence is entirely personal anecdote and observation of news reports. As such, they are excellent examples of the problematic nature of such observations and reports. Whilst I do not doubt that they honestly report what they believe they observe, such personal accounts are both extremely limited and inherently, albeit unconsciously, biased, so typically do not reliably represent reality. 

Let me begin by conceding that the claim that alcohol is the most socially harmful drug in popular recreational use is based mainly on research regarding the situation in developed Western countries. Two useful pieces of the published research are: 1) "Drug harms in the UK: a multicriteria decision analysis" (Nutt et al., 2010 The Lancet) and 2) "The Australian drug harms ranking study" (Bonomo et al., 2019, Journal of Psychopharmacology). Both of these are available for free public access. The Australian study is particularly useful. Australians like our beer, wine and other alcohol-laced drinks. The experts, therefore, specifically address the obvious concern, writing in their Results section that: "Overall, alcohol was the most harmful drug when harm to users and harm to others was combined. A supplementary analysis took into consideration the prevalence of each substance in Australia. Alcohol was again ranked the most harmful substance overall." Needless to say, this evidence-based conclusion does not go down well with many of my compatriots. 

The situation in Thailand could well be different. I have not been able to find the necessary statistics to say with absolute confidence one way or the other. But what is known suggests that Thailand is not in fact so different to the UK or Australia when it comes to drug harms to society.

As a telling example, it was reported when the Democrat Party's infamous Prinn Panichpakdee's long career of sexual abuse finally came to public light last year that he had been in the habit of plying his victims with alcohol to make them more readily available to his lusts. He typically did this over a meal at a classy restaurant with a few glasses of wine. I am sure that Mr. Panichpakdee saw himself as a responsible social drinker. His mates in the Democrat Party certainly observed nothing to raise any concern worth mentioning to anyone regarding Mr Panichpakdee's social use of alcohol on such occasions.  

We do, however, have some solid statistics for one area where alcohol appears to be the hands down winner in causing harm to others in Thai society: road deaths. Let me quote from a recent, 2023, World Health Organization report that says nothing surprising to anyone who has lived in Thailand for a few years: "Similarly, drunk driving causes 5,529 deaths annually, or roughly 28% of all traffic deaths" (WHO, 2023, "A New Year's resolution 'for life').  

If either Mr Reeve or Mr Bryant has a statistic that shows any such annually repeated drug-fueled horror for cannabis, ya ba, or any other drug in popular recreational use in Thailand, I would very much welcome them to bring it our notice as a valuable contribution to the discussion. 

 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 October 2, 2023, under the title "Drugs or alcohol?" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2655831/current-charter-a-no

Blessed are the kids

re: "Society must keep kids safe" (BP, Editorial, September 23, 2023)

Dear editor,

In attributing a fair share of blame for the horrendous crimes committed in the heart of a Thai family against innocent children, the Post rightly admits that "A community that remains silent and does nothing emboldens such perpetrators." This reminds us yet again that merely being a venerable tradition is no guarantee of moral worth. In this case, the hoary custom of not respecting the voice of the weak in deference to social status led to the vilest of abuse being continued for many years. Exactly the same toxic habit of blindly respecting saffron robes enabled child abuse to thrive in monasteries, as it did in Western Christian churches until respect was tempered by healthy critical questioning and respect for voices raised against traditional abuses blessed by social custom.

In Thailand, it is the law itself that too often sets the example of nurturing such ugly traditions with grievously harmful consequences for the innocent. What else is law that brutishly intimidates into silence by imprisoning children and other morally courageous citizens merely for the peaceful expression of honest opinion? Their voices, too, deserve to be heard, no matter that they offend against some tradition every bit as ancient and respected as that embodied in the silence blessed by custom that enabled the most recently unveiled evils to be committed for years on end against children in the bosom of their very own family, by their father and mother. 

Unless all voices are heard and respected, how can deeply entrenched moral corruption even be discovered, let alone healed? 

 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 September 25, 2023, under the title "Blessed are the kids" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2652283/lack-of-interest

Drug war harm

re: "The fight against drugs" (BP, Editorial, September 19, 2023) 

Dear editor,

Whilst the Post is right to warn against any repeat of the horror that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra unleashed in his infamous "war on drugs", it should not be forgot how truly popular that slaughter was. It was egged on by the morally deluded from all walks of life and all levels of society. Those behind that killing of thousands have never been brought to justice, nor have those whose public support enabled the executions and disappearances even been called out for their complicity as justice demands. 

Sadly, the Post's editorial responding to PM Srettha Thavisin's promise to "make the fight against narcotics part of the national agenda" (September 19) betrays exactly the same sort of blunted moral thinking that led not only to Thaksin's publicly lauded killing spree but to many other abuses equally committed in the name of law and allegedly noble ideals over the decades and today. 

Society would perhaps be better did the underlying conditions that foster recreational drug use not exist, although since that state of perfect abstinence would also be extremely abnormal in the history of human societies, it would require substantial analysis of the pros and cons before we rashly assume that our consistently drug-loving ancestors were so totally wrong about the joys of drugs: opium, alcohol, ganja, mushrooms, and all the rest of nature's bliss-bestowing bounty.

The Post's mistake that betrays the shallow, simplistic thinking required to naïvely describe PM Srettha's promise as "good news" is the failure to ask when and why it is ever justified for the state to force the personal likes and dislikes of some, even a majority, on an entire nation. No one disputes that drugs are harmful. They are all harmful to their users to varying degrees, from heroin and yaa baa, through alcohol, to the relatively harmless such as cannabis and Ecstasy. But in a society that values liberty and respects human rights, adults have the right to do things that harm themselves, even to the extreme of drinking whisky and fine wine until blotto. 

The only reason to criminalize an act is that it directly harms or threatens to harm others. The use of drugs does not meet this condition. Someone enjoying a glass of wine with dinner is no more a threat to another than is someone shooting heroin and nodding off, or someone gulping down ya ba on party night at the local club. True, many people do harm others under the influence of drugs, alcohol being by far the worst for this. This is why policies that encourage more constructive, informed, regulated, and safe drug use are to be applauded. 

It is salutary to note that since the effective legalization of cannabis over a year ago for both medical and recreational use that Thai society has not in fact collapsed, or even stumbled noticeably. For this constructive progress against the social problems caused by illegal drugs, Bhumjai Thai's sensible and right policy of legalizing that drug for sale and use by adults is to be commended.

If that same regulatory approach is held to work acceptably well even for the more socially harmful drug alcohol, rational people who value justice that respects the rights of others will also support the legalization with due regulation of all other drugs in popular recreational use.

Of course, such a sane, morally informed drug policy will be anathema to those who traditionally prosper from the long failing policy of irrationally discriminatory criminalization of some popular drugs: criminal gangs and their loyal aids in law enforcement with a Ferrari in the garage. Would anyone really want to inflict such a blow to this font of lucrative traditional corruption in the police and elsewhere? 

At the very least, there needs to be more public discussion about what could justify criminalizing some recreational drug use whilst legally blessing the use of other, more socially harmful drugs by adults. 

 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 September 23, 2023, under the title "Drug war harm" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2651633/tax-rule-needs-clarity

Totally unethical

re: "Senate must walk its talk" (BP, Editorial, September 20, 2023) 

Dear editor,

The Post writes that "It is hoped that the Upper House will display the high ethical standards they demanded in selecting prime ministerial candidates." This is confusing. The senate did not demand "high ethical standards" at all. It was, on the contrary, that party's unusually high ethical standards, which had won Move Forward the support of the electorate, that offended the senate appointed by former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to do exactly what it did. It is unlikely that more than a single digit percentage of Thai voters suspect this senate of engaging in ethical conduct. 

 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 September 22, 2023, under the title "Totally unethical" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2651042/all-should-compete

Pick a just policy

re: "PM Srettha vows to eliminate speed pills" (BP, September 17, 2023) 

Dear editor,

How thrilling to hear that new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's "government will eliminate the abuse of methamphetamine pills within its tenure." Two of his flagship policies now copy the renowned of two former prime ministers. Under his watch as prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra also famously eradicated illegal drugs, and Prayut Chan-o-cha with equal righteousness reformed the Royal Thai Police with the blessing of all. Thaksin and Prayut having set the crown on their new-found relationship as best mates with that most gracious pardon signed off on on September 1, it is only fitting that the new government should adopt their well-remembered policy promises. The known historical record sets a memorable standard for PM Srettha to match.

That said, it must be conceded that whatever qualms decent people might have about its role in forming PM Srettha's well-cobbled government, coalition partner Bhumjai Thai does have a proven solution to solving illegal drug problems. Legalizing cannabis really did pretty much end that illegal drug problem literally at a pen stroke. It is also the just policy, recognizing that adults have a right to engage in reckless behaviour that directly harms only themselves. But if that sensible approach to solving illegal drug problems is to be followed, the same legal regulations must also be applied to that socially most harmful drug of them all, alcohol. 

Of course, when drug users go on to commit other crimes, such as domestic abuse, which is so often fueled by alcohol, fatal traffic accidents when under the influence, fights driven by drunken rage, and rape driven by alcohol induced lust, those auxiliary crimes must still be strictly punished. The right of adults to seriously harm themselves by reckless drug use does not extend to directly harming others absent their consent as participants in the high fun. 

 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 September 20, 2023, under the title "Pick a just policy" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2649995/murder-cover-up-

Fathoming low births

re: "Fertility needs urgent steps" (BP, Editorial, September 18, 2023) 

Dear editor,

Having "rightly", as the Bangkok Post puts it, "identified the country's low fertility rate issue as a pressing concern," Public Health Minister Dr Cholnan Srikaew should perhaps consider that people who choose not to have children are responding responsibly to the reality embodied in the government that Dr Cholnan serves.

When people cannot even vote in the government they want, that helplessness before blatant injustice protected by law is hardly a world into which to bring innocent children. No more was the Thailand forged by the previous government, itself now part of Dr Cholnan's unwanted coalition, when the birthrate plummeted. When a mother's children are imprisoned under morally indefensible law merely for the peaceful expression of honest opinion that allegedly offends against tradition holding back progress, responsible people will think twice before bearing them only to cast their own children into a world of such systemic, legally blessed inequality.

Whilst mentioning the need for a nation "where children can live and prosper," the Post's focus on the monetary value of children itself reveals a reason to think twice before producing children. Why would good people create children merely to serve the economic interests represented by ruling Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and former Prime Ministers Prayut Chan-o-cha and Thaksin Shinawatra, whose factories and power bases demand fresh fodder? 

 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 September 19, 2023, under the title "Fathoming low births " at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2649374/drug-vows-are-hot-air

A waiting game

re: "Give govt a chance" (BP, PostBag, September 12, 2023) 

Dear editor,

In his tirade against my objections to the perfectly legal machinations committed since May 14, Randy Hurlburt overlooks salient facts. Setting aside his reckless rounding down of Move Forward's share of the vote from the actual 38% to his deceitfully correct "more than 25%", he also fails to note that Move Forward's popularity has risen even more since May 14, as confirmed in the by-election in Rayong held this last Sunday, September 10.

Mr Hurlburt seems also unaware of the fact that Thais voted for Pheu Thai on the explicit understanding that that party would never form a coalition with any party complicit in a coup or seen to be aligned with military figures seeking greater business opportunities. Pheu Thai broke that promise to its voters for no good reason.

However, the fact that singly disproves Mr Hurlburt's stirring defence of the government of the unwanted cobbled together by dubious players to be foist on their nation by law is that not a single Thai person voted for the senate. Had the senate, appointed by you know who, not deliberately defied the perfectly clear will of Thai voters, Thailand would already have had a government led by Move Forward these past two months. It does not. 

But I agree with Mr Hurlburt that we should now peacefully await the next election, when the evidence already points to an outright landslide for a government that will make the reforms that the Thai people increasingly want, that they voted for on May 14, and that the nation has so sorely needed on all fronts these many decades. 

 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 September 17, 2023, under the title "A waiting game" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2648062/congrats-to-the-sec

Injustice abounds

re: "Restore trust in justice" (BP, Editorial, September 8, 2023) 

Dear editor,

In an editorial actually titled "Restore trust in justice", the Post fails to even mention the injustice rooted in a rule by law that allowed an unelected senate to thwart the will of the Thai nation these last three months almost. And then there are the conveniently strict legalities behind Thaksin Shinawatra's pardon in record speed. Those similarly timed legal deeds, far more so than the saga of Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya or Ittiphol Konplome, cut deep as examples of the "odious twisting of the legal system" the Post rightly rails against.  

If truly concerned about the lack of faith in Thailand's justice system, the Post might also have mentioned the traditional abuse that imprisons good Thai citizens merely for peacefully expressing honest, reasonable opinion, or simply asking pertinent questions. Every bit as much as does democratic principle, justice requires that the law not violate but actively protect the right to such speech, offensive though some might find it. It is no accident that Move Forward so quickly won the genuine respect of at least 38% of the Thai people. As a proxy for the Nida polls that have conspicuously not been conducted, I suspect the by-election in Rayong this Sunday, September 10, will show, following the strictly legal acts perpetrated since May 14, that Move Forward's popularity has soared. Move Forward has shown how to truly "Restore trust in justice". 

The Post is correct that the ongoing Boss saga and like reflections of traditional practice in the institutions of the Thai legal system point to deep corruption in high places in Thai society, but they are small potatoes compared to law that is itself a tool weaponized to oppose justice. 

 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 September 10, 2023, under the title "Injustice abounds" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2644515/injustice-abounds

Betrayal of voters

re: "No special care for ex-PM" (BP, Editorial, September 4, 2023) and "Fighting to regain the public's trust" (BP, September 4, 2023)

Dear editor,

In their so-called "special report", to use their own tellingly chosen adjective, on Pheu Thai's betrayal of voters, both its own and others', three of the Post's so-called reporters (Mongol Bangprapa, Penchan Charoensuthipan, and Apinya Wipatayotin) begin  by admitting the indisputable (not at all so-called) fact that Srettha Thavisin's government, hobbled together by Pheu Thai and those partying with them, is not what the Thai nation voted for on May 14. As the authors more impartially write, "the result of the May 14 general election was widely seen as voters sending a message that they want change after nine years of national administration led by Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha." 

The three then more partially go no to note that "Pheu Thai's move, harshly criticized by so-called (sic) pro-democracy supporters as an act of betrayal, has raised questions about its trust and integrity and what ethical standards politicians can be held to." These question the so-called journalists pose deserve answers. 

Those answers are obvious. They were obvious to Thai voters on May 14. They entail respect for justice under democracy. The ethical standards politicians can and should be held to are those exemplified by Move Forward. This fully explains Move Forward's popular success on election day. The Move Forward Party's integrity, honour, and standing up for principle to respect the people, especially the 38% who voted for them, refreshingly smash the norms of traditional Thai politics. That Move Forward possesses in plain sufficiency these ethical standards expected of their politicians by a majority of Thai people, some of whom were tricked into voting for Pheu Thai, are also the reason the senate laid the grounds for Pheu Thai and worse to block the people's choice of government. Some cannot abide the thought of a government that would threaten the traditional corruption embedded deep for decades by coup after coup. 

And prompting the Post's extraordinary editorial seeking to mitigate the widespread outrage it has engendered, there was that crowning scene acted out last Friday, September 1, when a tradition-bound trinity came together as Prayut and one like-minded signed off on the crowning jewel of a deal widely suspected to have been hatched by Thaksin himself, for which deal Pheu Thai eagerly betrayed its voters. In so doing, that party has joined the senate in damning in the eyes of the Thai electorate all those involved in this latest affront. But this time they have exposed their true selves in public to a degree that will not be undone, no matter how many saccharine editorials the Post shamelessly publishes to vainly sweeten the rancid aftertaste of what has been forced down the people's throat. 

The silver lining is that support for Move Forward and every one of its policies has likely now soared to new heights as the events of the past three and a half months have opened a lot more eyes that will never again be closed. This is the most pertinent poll that Nida could now run: were there an election held tomorrow, for whom would you vote? That poll must be worth far more than the uninformed speculations of so-called political experts and any number of unfounded claims of so-called "respect".  As a proxy for national feeling, it will be interesting to see how people vote in the upcoming by-election in Rayong on next Sunday, September 10.  

 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 Septermber 9, 2023, under the title "Betrayal of voters" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2644122/double-standards

Checks still needed

re: "Cabinet picks to go before King" (BP, September 1, 2023) 

Dear editor,

Smiling quite as exuberantly as former Prime Minister (PM) army general Prayut Chan-o-cha new sprung from committing his coup that overthrew the rule of inconvenient law, newly anointed PM Srettha Thavisin insists of his cabinet choices, that "there was no need to worry about the candidates' ethical conduct, as they were picked based on their qualifications, as required by law." He appears to forget that exactly the same sort of unethical law was instrumental in making him PM against the wishes of the Thai nation.

The leader of the government that the majority of Thai voters did not and do not want has, however, let slip how much himself and his new government value ethical conduct: they deem it an irrelevance to be ignored when unjust law so much better serves their ends, which lusts for power, property and forced shows of obsequious respect apparently know no sufficiency. 

The PM has publicly exposed a cabinet to match what has been committed since May 14, and what yet looms in Thaksin Shinawatra's amazing return as Pheu Thai's poisoned chalice inviting the rash to deeply quaff. 

 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 September 3, 2023, under the title "Checks still needed" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2640613/heed-water-dump-danger

re: "Pope’s Remarks on ‘Reactionary’ U.S. Catholics Rankle, and Resonate"

re: "Pope’s Remarks on ‘Reactionary’ U.S. Catholics Rankle, and Resonate" (The New York Times, September 1, 2023)

Francis is rising in my esteem as he seeks to lead his church to some long overdue moral progress. 

Those comfortably ensconced in old ways have never liked that sort of thing. The Biblical account tells us that is why the social conservatives of the time, the high priests of ancient Jerusalem intent on protecting their beloved traditions, used the law to kill Jesus, the upstart radical on the streets. 

Law-and-order authoritarianism has a long history of opposing moral progress. 

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

It is published there at https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/01/us/pope-francis-conservative.html#commentsContainer&permid=127452132:127452132

re: "Pope Says a Strong U.S. Faction Offers a Backward, Narrow View of the Church"

re: "Pope Says a Strong U.S. Faction Offers a Backward, Narrow View of the Church" (The New York Times, August 30, 2023)

As pope, Francis can be infallible if he so wishes on matters of doctrine. That traditionalist doctrine being surely upheld by the conservative US rump, Francis should use his option of papal infallibility to correct a few inherited errors in prevailing Catholic dogma. 

Should a schism come, that is nothing to be feared. Christianity has schismed since its founding. 

Francis is right to seek to put decent moral values over the commands of the rather despotic god of the Bible, including St Paul's petty-minded, vindictive god of the New Testament preaching, for example, to slaves to "obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ" (Ephesians 6:5) — that is not something fit for any religion in today's more morally enlightened world. 

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

It is published there at https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/30/world/europe/pope-francis-american-conservatives.html#commentsContainer&permid=127400740:127401590

All deities equal

re: "Dealing with deities" (BP, PostBag, August 31 2023) and "Demon or deity?", (BP, PostBag, Aug 29)

Dear editor,

Michael Setter is right to correct an apparent misunderstanding by Yingwai Suchaovanich, who appeared to hold that there were degrees of proof and evidence for the various gods, heavens, hells, goddesses, souls, ghosts, demons, and other motley supernatural things. It is not so. 

The reality of all divine beings, abodes and accoutrements is equally proved by the identical set of objective, verifiable evidence. The evidence proving YAHWEH to be the one true deity is precisely the same as the evidence in favour of both Ares and Mars, which is exactly identical to the evidence supporting Kali's claims to godheadedness, and all of those are identically well proved as Sekhmet, and of course that new deified one causing so much chatter about the literally fantastic, Kru Kai Kaeo. The evidence proving all of these and every other deity or divine thing is, without exception, identical, being the same, one, true such set of elements. Every mathematician knows that there is, and can only be, one such set, which is necessarily identical with itself. 

But if any reader has a shred of objective evidence that more truly proves the reality of one god or other divine entity over any other, they might like to share that for independent verification. It will surely win them at least the Nobel Prize for Physics. 

 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 September 1, 2023, under the title "All deities equal" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2639679/all-deities-equal

A political stunt?

re: "10,000 Buddhist monks in Hat Yai for mass alms offerings" (BP, August 20, 2023) 

Dear editor,

With all the fuss over religion recently inspired by the literally newest god on the block, the visually stunning image of the now most famous Khru Kai Kaeo, I'm not sure of the wisdom of promoting the ostensibly Buddhist event at Hat Yai, duly "presided over by Somdet Phra Maha Vajiramangalachan, chief of the southern Buddhist sector, with Maj Gen Pakorn Chantarachota, commander of the 42nd Army Circle, in attendance." Such details paint it as being, at least in part, an overtly political stunt. Lest there be any reasonable doubt whatsoever of the solidly political aspect of this "traditional event", it is further reported that a portion of "the alms given to the monks would be further distributed to ... soldiers on duty". 

As if that were not enough, there is also the, admittedly honest, footnote that "the activity was also intended to boost tourism in Songkhla, particularly Hat Yai city." I had not realized that indulging the hearty desire to make money was such a pillar of the religion known as Thai Buddhism. One wonders, however, what the Buddha would make of this use of his teachings for political show and financial gain. Perhaps a suitably gilded statue can be erected to counter any possible bad karma by presenting the faithful with another traditional means to make merit. 

 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 26, 2023, under the title "A political stunt?" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2636271/a-political-stunt-

Respect all citizens

re: "‘Pride’ watch seizures challenged in Malaysian court" (BP, August 23, 2023) 

Dear editor,

Whilst not in any cheerful, gay or otherwise happy colours, Malaysia's government paints Malaysians as snow flakes of extra special delicateness. Could it is true, as their government warns, that attractively colourful watches “may harm … the interests of the nation by promoting, supporting and normalising the LGBTQ+ movement that is not accepted by the general public”? 

Perhaps the Malaysian government should worry more about the prevailing bad public morals that fail to respect equally all Malaysian citizens, including the usual percentage who are LGBTQ+. Merely being a majority consensus inherited from less morally developed ancestors does make an ugly prejudice less rotten. 

 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 25, 2023, under the title "Respect all citizens" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2635701/rules-for-thee

re: "After Ballot Losses, Where Does the Anti-Abortion Movement Go Next?"

re: "After Ballot Losses, Where Does the Anti-Abortion Movement Go Next?" (The New York Times, August 21, 2023)

Does the radical anti-abortion zealot have any reason for thinking that there is inherently any reason why abortion is intrinsically morally wrong? What qualities is an unborn human baby supposed to have that make it somehow radically different to the unborn baby of  a chimpanzee, pig, dog, rat or any other of our near relatives? So far as I know, there is no such quality. None. 

There is nothing wrong with abortion. 

There is, however, a lot that is wrong with treating the bodies of women as something that others, such as radical zealots running on unreflective, unreasoning, inhuman faith in a blinded and blinding ideology, should control above any right to personal autonomy of a pregnant woman. 

 

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

It is published there at https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/21/opinion/kristan-hawkins-abortion-republicans.html#commentsContainer&permid=127171547:127171547 

Political expediency

re: "Edging towards a moment of truth" (BP, Opinion, August 21, 2023)  

Dear editor,

Veera Prateepchaikul asserts "that flip-flopping or breaking promises is an integral part of the Thai political game" as if this were equally true of all parties. It is not. He then goes on to talk of "the new radicals represented by the Move Forward Party (MFP), who are bent on radical changes and structural reform, and the Old Guards, who are determined to maintain the status quo and are represented by many of the other parties." This is indeed the division that the senate and Pheu Thai have clarified for us.

Move Forward has, in contrast to tradition, consistently demonstrated that it does not flip-flop or betray those who vote for it. On the contrary, Move Forward, unlike the Old Guard, which includes the senate bent on holding the voters of no account, has acted with honour, integrity and principle throughout. More than one third of Thais already supported Move Forward on May 14. 

The Old Guard, as Veera dubs them, having been publicly exposing themselves these three months, it is likely that sufficiently more voters have now had their eyes opened that Move Forward already has solid majority support for every one of its modest, reasonable and long overdue proposals for reform of the bad old ways of the Old Guard propping up bad old traditions allegedly revered. At least, the Old Guard would have it believed such are revered. They conspicuously present zero evidence for their worst such allegations of reverence. The 38% vote for Move Forward on May 14 is, however, telling. Would that be 72% today? Or only the 60+% suggested by recent Nida polls? 

As for Thaksin Shinawatra and the long prophesied second coming, since it would incur only loathing from the people he has betrayed to grant him one, would anyone be so rash as to even consider giving Thaksin a pardon? What reason could there be for committing such an act? Why taint  your reputation by publicly enabling him after the Pheu Thai shenanigans this past month? I suspect that Thaksin's manicurist will call him to an urgent appointment. Still, I might, as always, be wrong, and Veera's bombshell might yet come to pass this Tuesday. That would indeed be a spectacle to set rumour speculating, and Move Forward soaring to new heights of respect in the nation. 

 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 24, 2023, under the title "Political expediency" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2634973/thaksin-redux

Between the lines

re: "Political drama peaks" (BP, Editorial, August 22, 2023) 

Dear editor,

How fittingly sarcastic of the Bangkok Post to write that "It is hoped that senators will make a fair decision" regarding the vote on the shameful Pheu Thai's nominee for the post of prime minister. Or is the editor suffering severe amnesia? 

Were the senate capable of making "a fair decision" on the appointment of Thailand's next prime minister, Pita Limjaroenrat would already be the prime minister of Thailand in a government led by Move Forward. Has it somehow escaped the Post's notice that this is not in fact the reality even in Thailand? If, fresh from betraying its voters, the Pheu Thai nominee wins the senate's approval, that endorsement can only prove that Pheu Thai's nominee is not in fact a fair choice for prime minister. It will then have to be wondered what unspeakable deals have been done with whom to have enabled such a travesty of democracy, such a rejection of justice, such a betrayal of Thai voters. 

 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 23, 2023, under the title "Between the lines" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2634321/between-the-lines

Lofty thoughts

re: "No conscience" (BP, PostBag, August 17, 2023) & "Denmark on heightened alert after Koran burnings", (BP, August 4)

Dear editor,

I agree with Don McMahon that both social conscience and intention matter in determining law in democracies.

Even for reasonable people, however,  judging intent is a little more complicated. There is no doubt that those who burned the Koran did so with intent. They fully intended to perform that act. Reasonable people will likely also hold that they knew that act must "inflame, [and] stir up emotions." Anyone who burns a US flag in Washington to make a statement knows the same. And yet the US Supreme Court consistently upholds that the law protects such acts, even  against popular efforts by well-intended law makers who would criminalize such an offensive act. 

There is a distinction to be drawn between knowing that some result might follow and intending that result. A Koran can be burned with the intention of demonstrating that it is just one more book made of paper and ink, having no more magical quality than any other book ever produced. A Koran can be burned intent on expressing that the burner does not believe in its particular god. A Koran can be burned to intentionally dissent from the perceived bad morals it preaches. None of these intentions entail a further intent to "cause civil unrest," even if the actors know that such a consequence is likely. No more is it my intention, even though I know it is a certain result, to worsen global warming when I take a fossil-fuelled taxi to Paragon to buy unagi flown in from Japan. 

This is where social conscience becomes relevant. Our conscience pricks us to do what is right against our wishes, attitudes, and inherited prejudices. The bedrock of democracy is not mob rule by majority opinion. What sets democracy apart is the principle that each individual counts equally as an individual. This is why democracies respect human rights, even when a majority personally dislike something like same-sex marriage.  In particular, each individual person in a society has an equal right to a voice in forming the cultural mix out which that society elects it government. This is why free speech is foundational to democracy. This is why social conscience demands that Koran burning, like flag burning and making bonfires of other sacred vanities be not merely permitted but actively protected by the law.

Denmark and Sweden set the democratic example of respecting social conscience by legally protecting Koran burning and similarly peaceful, albeit deeply offensive, expressions of opinion. 

 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 20, 2023, under the title "Lofty thoughts" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2632445/down-with-the-devil