OPINION

Passing the buck

Re: "Army chief hints 'Kotee' behind blast", (BP, May 26).

It seems to me it is altogether too convenient for this military government to blame political actors like Kotee for the hospital bombing. If the public believes this claim then we must assume it is violent red shirt politicians going about their business as usual. But if the bombing was carried out by the separatists, this means the government continues to be impotent in solving the problem in the South and people will blame it for its inability to put an end to this seemingly intractable problem.

Far better for the government to try and make the public believe that flakey would-be-soldiers like Kotee are to blame.

Re: "Central Plains brace for floods", (BP, May 27).

Every year there is disastrous flooding, and every year there is a shortage of water.

The obvious solution is to create new infrastructure with two essential components: The first is to have something that can retain rain water and channel it to areas that typically suffer from a shortage of water; the second, is to create water-run off systems that can cope with monsoon rains.

The first requires a network of pumping stations and mostly elevated concrete canals, along with reservoirs; the second requires sewer systems and concrete run-off canals with pumping stations.

Sure, these are investments worth billions of baht, but they would benefit millions of people. Current reservoirs are insufficient, so new ones need to be built and filled. Current sewer systems in cities like Bangkok have a capacity that is not even a third of what is needed -- incredible but true. A country that is eager to construct a high-speed/high-tech railway network should think carefully about its water management systems, much of which is pretty low-tech and basically relies on gravity.

Trying to drive this afternoon in central Bangkok I finally understood why the soldiers need submarines; so they can still hunt down dissident students even when Bangkok is flooded.

Re: "Nation of followers", (PostBag, May 27).

Burin Kanatabutra's excellent letter touches on the serious issue of values in a society we all grow up in. We are all products of our conditioning. Two powerful entities in any society that demand unconditional following are religion and the military.

Whenever human beings surrender their reasoning, their souls start wilting. When educational institutions start imposing unnecessary rules and regulations in the name of discipline or cultural values, they also start sowing the seeds of dishonesty and distrust.

Creating discipline may be needed but it cannot be done through coercion or punishment. The "Yes Sir, No Sir" culture of the military should be confined to the barracks. Thai schools should be spared, or rid themselves, of meaningless rituals, salutations to statues and worshiping authority. Such routines are what makes Thai students docile and dull.

Poor performance on all kinds of academic tests is an indicator of the failure of the system. Schools should focus on physical and intellectual growth and excellence.

Excellence can only be cultivated by promoting freedom to question everything, including authority, faith, and religion. Only a free mind can create a vibrant personality.

Re: "Israel not stealing land", (PostBag, May 28).

How could "Major-General" Golani possibly "know" that I've never been to Israel? Not only was I there in 1971 but I spent several days in the Occupied Territories.

Back then there was no "terrorism" or violence. So when the Israelis use "terrorism" as an excuse for not leaving the Occupied Territories, ask them why they didn't leave when there was no violence there.

I am an American Jew who used to be pro-Israel.

But after studying this issue for 50 years I realise that as an advocate for justice and world peace I have no choice but to disassociate myself from those Zionist thugs who are persecuting the Palestinian people.