Trotting excuses
Re: "Army chief says no need to intervene if politics stable", (BP, Oct 18).
There were a couple of troubling statements in the new army chief's recent news conference as reported in "Army chief says no need to intervene if politics stable". First, when he says "We [the army] cannot let politics use us," the general appears unaware of the fact that it is, on the contrary, army generals who have persistently played at politics, repeatedly using the weakest of excuses to overthrow Thailand's democratic form of government.
Second, when he asserts the conditional that "If politics does not create conflict like in the past, there is no need for us to intervene", he fails to forswear absolutely such unjust intervention in Thailand's evolution of political solutions to political issues. His loyalty should be to Thailand's democratic constitutional monarchy, which loyalty would seem to preclude a coup against that form of government of the Thai nation.
There are excuses trotted out for every coup against the democratic aspirations of the Thai nation, all of which fail to pass scrutiny. That there is corruption in politics is certain: It is there in both civil and military governments, but only one of these forms values the transparency essential to identify and eradicate the cancer of corruption. It is also certain that protests sometimes turn violent. But to think that these or any other defect in politics can be solved by a non-political intervention that destroys what little democratic maturity has evolved is a mistake. It is equivalent to a Victor Frankenstein who, quite possibly from the best of motives, decides to treat cancer by cremating the patient. This might well give a deceptive appearance of working since, although continuing to infest others, the cancer in those prejudicially targeted subjects who are cremated will indeed be destroyed; but reasonable people might prefer a solution that seeks to treat the cancer in all those infected in a way that is less certainly destructive of what truly matters.
As the history of the US, the UK, Australia, Italy, Japan and all others show, every democracy has problems. As history also shows they can be, those problems should be solved by political means.
Felix Qui
Uppity attitude
I sent a polite letter to the governor of Prachin Buri at the administrative government centre to bring to her attention the deplorable and dangerous conditions of a few neglected streets in desperate need of repair. In my letter I requested that she could perhaps forward my letter to the proper authorities. Should the governor have at least read my letter and ignored it, I would not have minded. But to receive my letter back, the envelope stamped "refused", I take this as rude manners on the governor's behalf. The Augusta probably deems herself above reading and responding to letters. The governor should remember that she is only a public servant, whether elected or appointed. Her uppity attitude is not appreciated.
Jack Gilead
Shoe colour brouhaha
I am enjoying the present brouhaha in Thailand, which at times borders on national hysteria and outrage, over an Italian designer's use of "Thai" colours used in manufacturing a pair of silly looking high-heeled sneakers as reported in local media. Happily, the Thai Flag Museum informed the public that there is no franchise on the use of red, white and blue.
On my last trip to Thailand, I noticed the use and abuse of American flag clothing and Union Jack clothing, both using red, white and blue. Wearing a flag on one's behind on a pair of trousers is disrespectful to those whose national flags are abused in such a way. Yet Thais have the nerve to criticise others for the use of a red, white and blue so-called Thai flag pattern.
If you want others to respect your nation flag, show the same respect for other national flags in return. This is something Thais have no notion of.
David James Wong
Horses for courses
I read that Thais have expressed outrage at foreigners wearing the Thai national colours on their footwear.
Perhaps they should not wear the iconic British union jack on their shorts, T-shirts and elsewhere? Some Thais also seem oblivious to wearing Nazi regalia without realising how offensive that is.
So, horses for courses!
Martin R
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