OPINION

Justice? What justice?

Re: "Time on their side", (Opinion, March 18).

Reading this article really makes you wonder about the legal system, to say it mildly. Not so long ago it was reported that an elderly couple were sentenced to prison very quickly because they had plucked some mushrooms in a protected area. But killers and cheaters are running free enjoying life.

The case of the black panther is particularly mind boggling. The hunter is found sitting next to the carcass with weapons around him, having panther soup in his bowl and claiming complete innocence.

He must consider the legal authorities to be either absolutely stupid or corrupt.

US President Donald Trump showed a wishy-washy stance when he failed to step up and stand beside close allies such as the UK, France and Germany in condemning Russia for poisoning a British spy in Britain.

If there wasn't enough evidence to show that Russia was responsible for the poisoning, Prime Minister Teresa May would not have made the damning statement in the first place.

However, despite US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, and former secretary of state Rex Tillerson, coming out with strong words in condemning Russia for having a hand in the poisoning, President Trump simply commented: "As soon as we get the facts straight, if we agree with them, we will condemn Russia or whoever it may be."

Mr Trump's lack of leadership in the global arena has cast doubt as to how the world can avoid major wars in the future. The US in the eyes of the world currently is becoming more and more weak and irrelevant.

As former US first lady Michelle Obama once said: "The presidency doesn't change who you are, it reveals who you are."

Re: "Shaggy dog story", (Letters, March 18).

I have read, with trepidation and concern, the letter defending the actions of a United Airlines crew member who placed a live dog in an overhead compartment, causing the animal's death.

The dog's owner protested, and so did a few other passengers in the immediate vicinity. Most were unaware of the incident until after the flight landed.

If this is a measure by which airlines hire their crews, then letter-writer Mr P should hang his head in shame, not defend such moronic actions.

Should Mr P have been dragged off a plane, or asked to ride in the cargo hold beneath the passenger deck, I'm sure he would have been as mad as all hell. There is no defence for stupidity.

My response to Mr P who tried to make excuses for United Airlines staff for placing a small dog into an overhead hand luggage bin is to stop trying. You may be convinced of United's caring and friendly service, but the rest of us aren't.

Re: "Fanciful gun stats", (PostBag, March 17).

John Wells may refer to Jon Fernquest's Bangkok Post article of Aug 13, 2015 concerning gun violence in the kingdom and Nationmaster.com for overall murder rates in Thailand (49 per 100,000) compared to the United States (42 per 100,000).

The point is not to suggest that murder is not appalling whether it is children in school or youth on the streets of Chicago, Baltimore or Inglewood.

It is rather that Singapore and Japan, for example, have a low murder rate because their societies are prosperous, their people happy and the rule of law is well established.

It is these factors which need to be addressed -- not gun control or its absence.

The mainstream media relentlessly applies their political agenda to the way news is reported thereby transforming what should be a factual report into hysteria-driven propaganda.

This is especially true when it comes to a mass school shootings.

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