OPINION

People power

Re: "PM to hold direct talks with citizens", (BP, Aug 20).

So, the current government has decided that it is now time to learn about citizens' concerns by directly talking with the people. Ahh … why has it taken more than three years for the country's leadership to recognise the importance of listening to the citizenry?

Re: "The third Chinese curse", (Opinion, Aug 20).

As Alan Dawson points out, the late King Bhumibol spoke and stated that enforcement and punishments (against those accused of lese majeste) rebound against the King himself, and said that "The use of the lese majeste law ultimately damages the monarchy."

So, as the offence of lese majeste still exists, there is an argument to be made that anyone bringing lese majeste charges is not only going against the wishes of the late King, but also, by bringing lese majeste charges, that person is also guilty of damaging the monarchy which is, under the lese majeste law, an offence.

Re: "Air force plans to put armed marshals on planes", (BP, Aug 20).

Air force guys? No girls? What can go wrong? Only one month of training. If men are undercover why are their faces on the front page of the Sunday Bangkok Post and online? How about a list of high-threat flights so I can plan my travel?

Re: "Goodbye, America", (PostBag, Aug 19).

Marigold speaks critically of America disassembling parts of the "great American past". Marigold's attempt to associate this with political correctness is way off the mark. I am against politically correctness gone wild, but Marigold is being a bit daft while over-simplifying and exaggerating the effects of removing the Confederate statues and flags. Other countries don't celebrate treason. Nor do you see statues celebrating Hitler in Berlin. Society should not accept nor tolerate violence by groups founded on hatred of other people.

Yes, slavery and the Civil War are a part of American history; they should be remembered and taught as they are an important part of US history. However, they should not be viewed as part of the "great American past" and remembered nostalgically.

Re: "Going back in time", (PostBag, Aug 21).

Phil Cox mindlessly parrots mainstream media's anti-Trump propaganda and provides absurd exaggerations while doing it.

Trump "takes back America a whole generation", he writes, perhaps referring to the Reagan era, and one of the greatest presidents in modern times.

President Trump disavowed white supremacists numerous times on many occasions yet the MSM pretend that it never happened. Accusing Mr Trump of being a white supremacist sympathiser is scurrilous at best. Calling someone a racist is not an alternative to reasoned argument even though liberal thinking would have one believe it so.

I urge Mr Cox to look beyond the popular news in order to learn the facts.

A Nikkei Review story is headlined: "Bangkok getting locker-box fever". It features a large picture of the yellow lockers going up in subway stations along the skytrain stations in parts of Bangkok.

How utterly stupid this is, if one considers the possibility of hiding a bomb in these lockers. Years ago the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration got rid of trash cans along major streets for just such a reason, (prompting people to just throw bits of garbage onto the sidewalks, further prompting others to spot and rat on them for half the fine money).

It's a never-ending cycle of the dog chasing its own tail. What a wonderful place to store a dead body after a murder. It's coming folks. Don't think it cannot or will not happen. Bangkok is, after all, known for its oddities and absurdities.

Re: "World of sociopaths", (PostBag, Aug 20).

While a nuclear conflagration might not be desirable, I would like to thank Marigold for pointing out it might have a silver lining: It would at least put Eric Bahrt out of his misery.