OPINION

Migrants' plight

Re: "Migrant workers get a raw deal," (BP, Feb 7).

The results of recent polls assessing the attitudes of Thais towards migrant workers are appalling, but hardly surprising to anyone familiar with ingrained Thai mindsets. Unfortunately, these negative attitudes will prevail until such time as there is a major rewrite of the narrative from the highest levels of government and media. Unfortunately, instead of highlighting the numerous positive contributions that migrant workers make in Thailand, too many politicians and officials find it convenient and politically expedient to stoke nationalism and xenophobia. Attitudes of people can be changed over time, but it is virtually impossible when the country's leaders and influencers chronically reinforce negative stereotypes of migrant workers and perpetuate the notion of Thai superiority over others.

Re: "Man hacked to death by drunk friend," (BP, Feb 7).

Alcohol is such a nice drug, unlike those wicked narcotic drugs that drop users into blissed out stupor. It is fitting that the dealers of this particularly nasty drug of addiction are so richly rewarded by society with wealth and acclaim.

Bearing in mind the blunt assessments reported in such research as: "The Australian drug harms ranking study" (2019, Journal of Psychopharmacology, 33(7)); and in the earlier "Drug harms in the UK: a multicriteria decision analysis" published in The Lancet (2010, 376(9752)), it is nothing new to learn that alcohol is again causally implicated in a gory killing among friends or relatives.

Fights, domestic abuse of spouse and children, rape, murderously reckless driving (think Thai national holidays), and so on have long been known as common symptoms of alcohol use, whether moonshine or champagne. Alcohol is not the most harmful drug to users, with heroin, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine beating it by a little, but when it comes to drug-harms to others in society, alcohol is far and away the winner. As the authors of the 2019 paper conclude: "Overall, alcohol was the most harmful drug when harm to users and harm to others was combined." And it is surely only harm to others that justifies the state interfering in personal behaviour, isn't it? It makes you wonder what just laws that regulated drugs according to the evidence would be like.

Re: "An unforgettable tale of romance," (PostScript, Feb 13).

It is often said that Valentine's Day is when people "fall" in love. My friend once asked me that when people "fall", it should hurt. It must be challenging to rise after a serious "fall". It is often assumed that love smells like roses on Valentine's Day. But we all know roses wilt and wither very fast. But what the heck, this February, the Super Bowl and Valentine's Day fall on the same day. Sadly, American men have to choose between love and touchdowns. And of course, during the Covid saga, the Valentine's Day romance will be substituted by betting, beer, banging, bouts and brawls.

Re: "Unusual Grab prices," (PostBag, Feb 14).

I not only fully concur with Angus Macgillivary's comments regarding Grab's charges but try booking two trips, one leaving at 7:30am and another at 5:45pm on the same day; you cannot! Also, they're quick to charge for a no-show but you have no recourse if a driver doesn't turn up or is late!