OPINION

Hide and Sikh

Re: "Hair saga reflects authoritarian culture", (Opinion, July 13).

Khun Sanitsuda Ekachai addresses the problem of Thai authoritarianism, which is far too big for my poor brain to tackle. But I do have a solution to propose for one small part of it.

How can we make students adhere to a hair-and-dress code that won't be repressive at one extreme and distracting at the other?

The ostensible purpose of such a code is to ensure that students' physical appearance won't distract their fellow students from their studies or teachers from their teaching. In Thailand the issue seems to be largely about hair.

The Sikhs, a proud and noble people, have a custom that suggests a solution. Orthodox Sikh males don't cut their hair. It may grow six feet long but they tie it up in a topknot that they conceal beneath a stylish turban.

Thai students are required to wear uniforms, which makes a solution easy. Add a turban -- or a cap, or a hat -- to the Thai school uniform. It will conceal the hair, which can then be worn as long or styled as weirdly as the student likes, because nobody at school will see it. A badge can be affixed to it that proclaims Thai patriotism and the school's identity.

Surely the Ministry of Education has the creativity to design a type of headgear that will fill the bill.

Problem for Buddha

Re: "Ignoring Buddha", (PostBag, July 13).

Michael Setter, if the Buddha were to reincarnate in Thailand today and start preaching his ideas about right understanding, compassion and the like, not to mention the first precept of Buddhism, he would be charged with causing social panic at the very least, and very likely fomenting sedition. The Computer Crime Act and other Thai rule by law would do its job of silencing unwelcome speech based on sound thinking.

Off the track

Governments around the world are pumping money to help revitalise economies affected by the debilitating effects of lockdowns of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This means less funds for infrastructure development for public transit, which includes compensation for those affected by land acquisition.

In the New Normal post-Covid-19, I respectfully suggest that your government look for low-cost and non-rail alternatives, like China's BRT and Europe's Trambus. Hopefully, the above suggestion will be useful to you in the coming Parliamentary session or the following one.

Searching for utopia

It seems former PM Abhisit and his new sidekick, Thanathorn, want Thailand to turn into a welfare state. It is a wonderful concept. Collect government money for having more kids, unemployment, spree buying, etc.

Why work if you are given handouts? The unemployment paychecks in the United States are higher than the minimum wage, so people would rather collect than look for jobs.

This government might not be perfect but it has established many worthwhile programmes for the poor and so-called "middle class" with its National Savings Plan, subsidies to rice farmers whose lands and crops have been destroyed, and help for those who earn little monthly incomes to support themselves and/or their families. The government has helped rebuild houses destroyed by storms and floods. Nothing is perfect but Abhisit and his sidekick think utopia should be around the corner for all Thais.