OPINION

Thinking not a crime

Re: "Netiwit's monument gesture fires up internet", (Thai Pulse, July 20).

The hullabaloo over Netiwit Choltiphatphaisal pledging allegiance to Chulalongkorn University, bowing to the monuments of King Rama V and King Rama VI, then walking away instead of prostrating himself in front of the monuments together with his fellow freshmen goes to the heart of a university's mission and core values. The lad said that he was following King Rama V's order to stop crawling and prostrating oneself in the royal presence, and that "there is nothing wrong with traditions. However, following them without [intellectual] principles would be tantamount to doing things blindly".

I hold that "Education should not be intended to make people comfortable, it is meant to make them think. Universities should be expected to provide the conditions within which hard thought, and therefore strong disagreement, independent judgement, and the questioning of stubborn assumptions, can flourish in an environment of the greatest freedom" -- University of Chicago President Hanna Holborn Gray. For example, during the Cold War, a Communist Party representative was invited to give his party's point of view to University of Chicago students.

Thus, I suggest that while the lad could have been more diplomatic about putting forth his view, the reasons for King Rama V's no-prostration order, and whether or not it should be followed during Chula's initiation, should be calmly and extensively debated and acted upon within Chula. Let us act not blindly, but with rationale.

If I understand the new, electronic "prompt-pay" correctly, one must have money in the bank to begin with. Surprise, surprise, or, no surprise. Nothing is for free. If this was the case, I would expect personal debt to increase to the point where many families would be declaring bankruptcy because the inclination to spend electronically is greater than having to pay cash in hand.

People who register for these free bank transfers should look before they leap and understand the implications of it all. How many Thais transfer sums of 5,000 or 10,000 or 100,000 baht regularly? An out of province or out of district bank transfer costs 25 baht, but it is a small payment for peace of mind. In the USA, a radio announcement directed at parents used to be, "Do you know where your kids are at this moment?" This could be rewritten in Thailand as, "Do you know where your money is at this moment?"

Re: "Prevention is the drowning scourge cure", (Commentary, July 20).

I applaud Ploenpote Atthakor, the writer of this commentary for highlighting the problem. Prevention and education is indeed the solution to reducing these tragic drowning deaths. However, the writers final lines disturbed me greatly. She decided against warning (educating?) the father of the dangers he'd exposed his young son to by leaving him alone in the pool. Now the writer feels regret. So why didn't the writer educate the father in the hope he would learn not to do it again? I would suggest that the writer didn't want the father to "lose face". But better to lose face than lose a son to drowning, right?

The loss of face culture is an underlying problem in Thailand and Asia in general. Fear of losing face should be used as a deterrent and motivation against dangerous practices.

I hope Eric Bahrt read "Doi Suthep cyclists sorry", (Thai Pulse, July 20). Apparently Sam the Vegan only intended to promote a vegan lifestyle and cycling in Thailand.

Sam has just proved to me that veganism causes people to do inappropriate things, such as riding a bike against traffic.

Sam, go have a nice prime rib of beef at a good restaurant tonight. You will wake up feeling much better in the morning. In fact, take Mr Bahrt with you.