Fickle friends
While I praised the prime minister for his stance in wanting to promote the Bang Kaew dog breed, I'd also like to draw attention to our late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who adopted a stray dog presented to him, which became Thailand's number one, most famous dog.
One does not have to adopt a pure-breed dog. In the 2018 calendar by Pick-a-Pet-4-Home dog shelter in Bangkok, there are pictures of hunky Thai men with dogs. Two captions caught my eye. "You can't change a dog's past, but you could rewrite his future," and "A dog does not need to be purebred to be pure of heart."
While I am acknowledged to be meaner, more grumpy and snarly than the prime minister, (I don't remember the last time I smiled, neither do my few friends), and have fewer friends than him as well, my dogs love me unequivocally, especially those that came from the shelter.
And, I'd like to remind the prime minister that one day, when he steps down, most of his so-called friends will vanish on the wind. He best pals will be his dogs, because they'll love him for what he is, not for who he was.
Charcoal Ridgeback
Zoo park needed
Re: "A view on the new zoo", (BP, Jan 3).
There has been much discussion on the pros and cons of the planned relocation of the Dusit Zoo to Pathum Thani, which I can well appreciate.
For me, however, assuming the relocation is a foregone conclusion, the big question is what will happen to the land currently occupied by the zoo? The plot currently housing the zoo would make a lovely park, which would partially fill the gap for the public that the zoo's relocation will leave. Bangkok is woefully lacking in green spaces.
My fear is the area will be "developed" to include more luxury condominiums or a shopping mall – the last things that Bangkok needs at this point.
Samanea Saman
Lord's trinkets
Re: "More fantasy from lord of the rings", (Opinion, Jan 7).
An ironic column by Umesh Pandey is exactly true. Why Gen Prawit Wongsuwon was unable to explain everything in clear. He is a professional soldier and he should say himself that "God protects honest people".
Generally, bills for corruption must be borne by taxpayers, and this case might be no different.
Ohayo Tokyo
Not so smart
Re: "Trump: I'm a 'very stable genius'", (World, Jan 6).
In answer to allegations that he has an unstable character, US President Donald Trump answered in his tweets: "Throughout my life, my two greatest assets have been mental stability and being, like, really smart."
"… I went from VERY successful businessman, to top TV star, to president of the United States (on my first try). I think that would qualify as not smart, but genius … and a very stable genius at that!"
That was absolutely the wrong way to dispel public doubts!
No top government executive can claim to have been a genius in business, or a top-notch star on TV, to qualify himself as a statesman-like political leader -- especially in a genuine democracy such as the United States.
President Trump should have thought twice before coming out in an off-the-cuff manner to disprove the allegation by simply saying that he is a "genius".
Doing so proves nothing.
It even makes matters worse for him.
The first and most important lesson for Mr Trump is: Never dispel allegations about your leadership qualities by offering an argument -- just demonstrate your abilities.
Chavalit WannawijitrChiang Mai
More bent than bent
Re: "'Politician' PM muddies waters yet further", (Opinion, Jan 6).
Who would have thought it? Thai military politicians appear to be less straight even than the civil politicians.
Who, given Thailand's decades of well-watched historical evidence, would not have thought it?
Felix Qui
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