PostBag
I am urged to express a different point of view from that posed by Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak as quoted in "Thai Politics" (BP, July 3). He described Mr Thaksin's opponents (of whom I am one) as a group of "old money" who "stood to lose from Mr Thaksin's attempt at redistribution [of wealth] and... fought it." This is a grossly simplistic and quite frankly insulting categorisation of an entire group of people, many of whom are not moneyed - old or otherwise - and certainly do not object to the concept of wealth redistribution.
I would like to suggest that a great majority of Mr Thaksin's opponents objected to the fact that he allegedly redistributed wealth to himself and his cronies rather than to the electorate, hid assets he was not legally allowed to hold, and used his executive powers to add value to those assets.
Other people will have their different reasons for opposing Mr Thaksin and will readily confirm that they would support him if he was not corrupt. Some others object to the extra-judicial killings and human rights abuses in the deep South.
Still others question his loyalty to the monarchy as well as his apparent willingness to sacrifice national sovereignty in return for business favours.
Finally, perhaps there are indeed some old-moneyed codgers out there who really believe and are upset that Mr Thaksin helped redistribute wealth to the poor. Perhaps Prof Thitinan can introduce me to one, for I know of none.
KORN CHATIKAVANIJ
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Warfare of the mind
I don't know if there are any military coups being planned, but it does appear that there is some kind of psychological warfare going on, using rumours of one to make Mr Samak feel nervous and insecure.
Since Mr Samak seems very susceptible to believing these rumours, I think he needs to ask himself if staying in this job at his age is worthwhile, especially since he doesn't seem to be accomplishing much, and since, if there were a coup, it appears that his options are even fewer than those Mr Thaksin had.
PSYCHOLOGIST
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First-date behaviour
I read with interest the article "What not to do on your first date" by Assoc Prof Dittakarn Boriboohirunsarn (BP, My Life section, July 3). But with all due respect, I disagree with his opinion. I had the distinct impression that Prof Dittakarn felt his suggestions were the only right behaviour to follow on a first date, something every woman should do.
Perhaps because I come from a different country with a different culture, I find myself looking at the subject from a very different point of view. I say different, not necessarily right, not necessarily better. But let me get to the point.
"Let him be in charge - he is the man..."
When I ask a woman what she would like to do, it's because the two of us are going out. I think it's fair if we decide together where to go. I would find it very selfish to make this decision without involving her. Yes, I would like to please her, but I would not be worried about being rejected.
"Let him be in charge - he is the man..."
Does this imply that only men can make decisions? I respect women too much to think this way and I am quite happy to have next to me a woman who takes part in the decision-making process.
"Don't pay." When I go out I like to pay the bill for myself and my companions, male or female; on a date or not. But this has nothing to do with the sex of the person going out with me. But I don't like it at all when someone, man or woman, takes my generosity for granted; I don't like it when they don't even try to pay or share the bill.
On the other hand, I appreciate a woman who tries to pay the bill when she goes out with me, even though I would not let her do so anyway. A woman who takes for granted that I have to pay just because "I am the man" would definitely not make a good impression on me.
"Don't have sex." I agree that not having sex on the first date won't harm your relationship if your partner really cares about you. I also think there is no harm if you did have sex on your first date. If your partner really cares, she probably won't be judgmental about it.
I would say, if you feel like having sex on your first date, why not? If you really want to, go for it - but only because you feel like doing so and not because you think you have to.
To sum up, I would close with a translation of an old saying from my country: "Hundred heads, hundreds hearts," meaning everyone has a different opinion and they might all be right.
DOTT MIRKO LANGIU
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Bets one cannot lose
l am frankly perplexed and astonished at the official line taken in Thailand concerning gambling and gambling debts. There is, of course, no misunderstanding that gambling here is illegal. That surely means it is illegal both to place as well as to accept bets.
Your article (BP, July 3) states that a 21-year-old student ran up gambling debts of more than 100,000 baht betting on football matches, which he could not pay. Following a complaint filed by the student after being harassed by debt collectors, he has been given police protection, and the debt collectors are to be charged with extortion and intimidation, and the student is also to serve as a witness in the case.
l assume that had the student won his bets he would have expected to be paid his due winnings. Yet the official line here is that people need not repay gambling debts, and they are also being urged to call the police if they are being sought by debt collectors to repay their debts.
This misguided policy will only serve to further encourage people to gamble, whereby they can continue to place bets illegally and be free from prosecution, safe in the knowledge that they cannot lose!
LAWRENCE TILNEY
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Benzine exposure
I was amazed to read the article about finding excessive levels of an indicator of exposure to gasoline/benzine (BP, July 2). The Disease Control Department was likewise apparently amazed to find these indications so far from Rayong. Do they not keep up with scientific observations from other countries?
Several years ago the US made all gas stations dig up storage tanks and redo them to make them leakproof because of findings that benzine travels like lightning along any groundwater sources or ground faults. Not only the US published these findings, several European countries did the same. Does no one in the Thai government read English? Where were all the Thai scientists, asleep? Or did they inform the government and get ignored?
This is the type of environmental problem that should be focused on by the government - not the farce of global warming which does not exist! The Earth is two degrees cooler than last year, the Antarctic is much colder than normal. Doesn't anyone pay attention to Nasa?
PAUL
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THAI ad misleading
Thai Airways' recent launch and expensive advertising campaign for "Buy 1, Fly 2" represents a new low for this airline in its "bait and switch" tactics. Nowhere in the small print of the ads does it suggest that this offer is available only with a grossly inflated price for the first ticket.
Having recently booked an international flight in first class, I was excited to see the ad and quickly invited a friend to accompany me. A ticket that was quoted at 170,000 baht was, upon application for the promotion, hiked to 305,000 baht. Buy one at an outrageous price and fly two!
Shame on THAI.
FORMER THAI FREQUENT FLYER
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