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 

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

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 

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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 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

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 

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

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

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

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

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-

The bigger picture on speech

re: "Limits on speech" (BP, PostBag, August 11, 2023) 

Dear editor,

Eric Bahrt raises an interesting perspective on whether the law of a democratic nation may justly implement "a ban on public Koran burning." His argument does not hold up. The comparison with American Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendall Holmes's famous dictum that "You can't stand up in a movie theatre and shout 'fire' unless there really is one" is not a valid comparison. Justice Holmes was concerned not with bullying threats of violence from easily offended snowflakes, but with the mayhem that can naturally ensue when people panic.

What Mr Bahrt's argument boils down to is that a threat of violence from some group of zealots inspired by religion, nation, or whatever faith-driven fantasy, is a sufficient reason to deny the right to peaceful free speech. That is not the "slippery slope" Mr Bahrt mentions. It is an open door to banning all speech that offends.

The proper response to faith-driven intimidation is to ensure that those threatened are protected; that is the duty of the state. It is what just governance provides its citizens. Sweden and Denmark would be in the wrong to criminalize the burning of the Koran merely because doing so is deeply offensive to a set of beliefs about sincerely imaged things taken far too seriously by fragile, immature bullies who desperately fear different opinions and critical reasoning.  

 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 13, 2023, under the title "The bigger picture on speech" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2628433/learning-that-counts

Free speech in full

re: "Denmark on heightened alert after Koran burnings" (BP, August 4, 2023) 

Dear editor,

Some pieces of inked paper bound together in a book called the Koran have been peacefully burned in Sweden and Denmark under the protection of the laws of those countries. That book is a potent symbol to some, so the deliberate desecration is understandably upsetting, but like those who suffer with mature restraint the burning of their national flag, the $100 bill, the Bible, a revered poster of Barbie or any other cultural emblem, the followers of the Koran now have a chance to prove the true worth of the faith that each paper copy of the Koran symbolizes. By responding to the rude outrage with peaceful, reasoned rebuttal rather than bullying violence or threats thereof, they will show that their religion upholds good morals. They can demonstrate that, being firmly based on reason and objective reality, it need not lash out in desperate fear at those who question its verities.  

Denmark and Sweden have responded correctly to the extremely offensive but nonetheless peaceful expression of opinion that is the burning of the Koran. If we fail to insist that the law not only allow expressions of speech that we find utterly repellent but actually protect the peaceful exercise of such deeply offensive acts, then we do not in fact respect the fundamental right of free speech, which does not magically stop at my or your most revered or sacred things. Free speech really does mean that others have the right to peacefully express ideas that we, and perhaps a large majority of our society, find offensive in the extreme. Anything less debases claims of free speech to a worthless platitude allowing only already accepted ideas. Islam should take this opportunity to show a moral maturity that accepts that others will think differently about what it deems of supreme importance. 

 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 9, 2023, under the title "Free speech in full" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2626029/tip-for-mfp

Military meddling

re: "Prayut vows army will continue to ‘protect the country’" (BP, August 5, 2023) 

Dear editor,

What does Prime Minister (caretaker) General Prayut Chan-o-cha mean by his extraordinary claim that "The armed forces will continue to lead in 'protecting the country'"? Is the Royal Thai Army (RTA) Prime Minister  unaware of Thai history? Does he not understand the dire consequences of his own acts on May 22, 2014, the consequences of which even today the Thai people are unable to escape because of the corruption of law to thwart justice in order to deny the Thai nation the democracy, reform and progress it deserves and plainly desires, as shown last May 14?

How exactly does the caretaker  PM think that repeatedly committing coups against it could possibly constitute "protecting the country”, let alone "tak[ing] the lead" in doing so? Had democracy been permitted to develop and solve the endemic corruption and other abuses that have for many, many decades thrived under the traditional ways of conspicuously wealthy conservatives, Thailand would today be far more advanced politically, socially and morally than it in fact is. Had at least a few of those coups not been committed, had the nation of the Thai people been allowed to develop as did other nations following the end of military interference in their civil matters, Thailand could now be the equal in economic success and international stature of Taiwan and South Korea.  It conspicuously is not. 

 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 8, 2023, under the title "Military meddling" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2625385/top-brass-choices

People's mandate

re: "Senators fight back against post-vote threats" (BP, July 17, 2023) 

Dear editor,

Sensible people must concur with senator Seri Suwannapanon about the intolerable threat posed by "bad behaviour that was  ruining the nation, society and the beautiful lifestyle of Thai people." However, unlike the senator and his colleagues who refuse to respect their will, the sensible voters of Thailand have correctly identified the traditional fonts of that truly "bad behaviour that (is)  ruining the nation, society and the beautiful lifestyle of Thai people." 

That is why Move Forward so quickly became so very popular with the Thai people. That is why it is the will of the nation, as unequivocally expressed through their representatives in the pro-democracy coalition with a solid mandate from the people, that Move Forward's Pita Limjaroenrat become the prime minister of their nation. 

 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 July 19, 2023, under the title "People's mandate" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2613949/walk-the-talk-

Critically speaking

re: "Democracy practice" (BP, PostBag, July 3, 2023) 

Dear editor,

To Burin Kantabutra's, pragmatic proposals for strengthening allegiance to democracy in schools, it might usefully be added to his third set of suggestions that whether "a given teacher: provide[s] clear explanations? encourage[s] students to ask questions?" applies no less to mathematics, physics and literature than it does to students' instruction in matters of civics and ethics. 

It should be the norm that students are not merely told what is right, good, proper, moral, appropriate or the like subjective value claim, but that rational reasons for those claims be given, with opposing views and their counterarguments invited, presented and taken seriously. 

Could anything be better for society than a cohort of young citizens trained to critically question rather than mindlessly repeat or follow what others insist they value? Putting society's values to such rigorous public testing in the classroom not only practices democracy, it might also enhance student commitment to what has thereby passed the test of being consciously worth committing to. 

 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 July 10, 2023, under the title "Critically speaking" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2608898/sloppy-job

Rethink, Senate

re: "A time for unity" (BP, Editorial, July 6, 2023)

Dear editor,

The Thai Constitution, both the current and many previous, states in Section 3 that "Sovereign power belongs to the Thai people." The people have shown through their properly elected representatives in the pro-democracy coalition that they want Move Forward's Pita Limjaroenrat to be the next prime minister of their nation.  

The trivial number of shares in the non-functioning iTV media company that Pita has previously held on behalf of his late father's estate being a non-issue, the senate has not a single good reason to deny the sovereign will of the Thai people in this matter. It should, as a matter of democratic principle that demonstrates good manners, unanimously support the majority coalition's nominee for prime minister. Should the senate be so reckless as to hide behind alternative but equally lame excuses to deliberately thwart the Thai people's sovereignty in this matter, they will thereby put whatever excuses they so use in direct conflict with the majority of the Thai nation. It is hard to see how such a rejection of the nation's will could be construed as being in any way unifying, helpful, respectful, or remotely wise. 

 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 July 8, 2023, under the title "Rethink, Senate" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2607978/jumbo-torture

Back poll claims

re: "Not the majority" (BP, PostBag, June 13, 2023) 

Dear editor,

As an essential premise in his argument against the very popular Move Forward Party, which is known to have won 36% of the vote in the recent election, Vint Chavala asserts that "According to the polls, most Thais want Thailand to be a country with the King as the head of state as stipulated in the constitution." He then declines to give the all important percentages or to cite the sources for that bold claim based on those uncited polls. 

Encouraging as it is to be assured that such polls have in fact been done, Mr Chavala really does need to cite them. It will also help his argument to report the exact percentages for the different questions polled. It would, in addition, be extremely useful to see the direction and speed at which those percentages are changing by comparing the results of polls done at different times. 

Vint Chavala, please share where those polls you had in mind can be accessed. 

 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 June 16, 2023, under the title "Back poll claims" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2592951/wage-frustration

We still need plumbers

re: "Is AI out for your job?" (BP, Opinion, May 29, 2023) 

Dear editor,

Tatat Bunnag blithely writes that "Jobs that involve creative thinking, complex problem-solving and human interaction are less likely to be fully replaced by AI. We do things that AI cannot do yet." He then gives not a single example of what such jobs might be. They are not Bangkok Post opinion writers, a job Chat GPT appears quite competent to do, if not last year, then likely next year.

As a quick test, I asked Chat GPT to: "write a 400 word essay for the title: 'Is AI out for your job?'" A few seconds later, I had a well-constructed essay developing sound arguments in excellent English. It included the sentence: "This can free up human workers from mundane and time-consuming tasks, allowing them to focus on more value-added activities that require creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence" — including perhaps writing opinion pieces for the Bangkok Post.

But Mr Bunnag need not despair. Chat GPT also points out in another well-placed sentence that "This has led to the emergence of new job roles such as AI engineers, data scientists, and machine learning specialists." All that is needed is for the Post's author to put his innate mathematics skills to use with a spot of upskilling in that burgeoning field.

Alternatively, I suspect that Chat GPT and its rapidly evolving siblings probably can't replace plumbers yet. There might be an opening for some upskilling in that area at a local vocational college. 

 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 June 4, 2023, under the title "We still need plumbers" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2584646/talk-to-the-generals

Heart of the problem

re: "Lawyer group calls to screen lese majeste complaints" (BP, May 27, 2023) 

Dear editor,

The suggestion by the Lawyer's Association of Thailand for a panel to screen them before any lèse-majesté charge is pursued by the police and courts is to be commended. It is a constructive effort to protect the highest institution from the harm being done to it by zealots who abuse the existing lèse-majesté (LM) laws, section 112 of Criminal Code, to suppress peaceful speech that is perfectly consistent with justice and democratic principle. Their proposal does not, however, go to the heart of the problem to which the current law and its abuse exposes Thailand's monarchy at the frantically active hands of the overly protective.

The best proposal on offer to genuinely  protect the institution from the persistent harm done its reputation by headlines reporting the arrest and incarceration without bail of yet more people, including 15 year olds for "crimes" committed when 14 years of age, are the sensible amendments to the LM laws proposed by Move Forward. Unless and until that is done, the good name and reputation of the institution will continue to be undermined by charges brought to suppress peaceful and just free speech. Since it alone is uniquely in the best position to decide when such a serious threat has been made, only the Palace itself should be able to decide when it has been sufficiently harmed or threatened with harm to press such charges, not wholly unsolicited others claiming in their ruthless zealotry to be acting for the sake of the institution. 

 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 June 1, 2023, under the title "Heart of the problem" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2582754/bizarre-claims

No fan of religion

re: "Malaysia seizes ‘Pride’ watches" (BP, May 24, 2023) 

Dear editor,

It is well-known, millennia of evidence across cultures attesting to it, that religion reliably leads to false beliefs and moral stunting masquerading under arrogant claims of unquestionable infallibility. Still, the sad seizure by Malaysian authorities of "Pride" watches bearing a design inspired by nature's beautiful rainbow is seriously kooky behaviour for the faith-driven as they seek to despotically impose their faith-sodden ideology on an entire society. 

Sadder by far, however, is that their unreasoning intolerance and contempt for basic human rights leads ineluctably to the creation, in the name of their ruthlessly commanding gods, of all too real hell on Earth for actual human beings. 

 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 May 26, 2023, under the title "No fan of religion" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2578784/reckless-riders

re: "Legalizing Marijuana Is a Big Mistake"

re: "Legalizing Marijuana Is a Big Mistake" (The New York Times, May 17, 2023)

Although he does not mention that popular drug that is far more harmful to both users and society than marijuana is, Mr Douthat is presumably aware that that is the case. The silence is odd. Anyone who opposes marijuana legalization on the grounds that it is personally degrading will logically be a rabid abolitionist when it comes to the more toxic and degrading alcohol. 

As for the argument that cops "simply substitute some other pretext when the law changes, leaving arrest rates basically unchanged," what this shows is that more laws need to be amended or revoked to prevent such racialized abuse by police. 

But Mr Douthat's founding premise is hazy unto murk. He appears to think that if X is known to cause some harm to some adult users, that is a sufficient reason to ban it for all. There goes not only alcohol and parachuting, but cars and swimming pools. The degradation is seeping in everywhere. 

 

_______________________________

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

It is published there at https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/opinion/marijuana-legalization-disaster.html#commentsContainer&permid=125154054:125154054