OPINION

Break the mould

Re: "Dove seeks to end forced haircuts," (BP, May 6).

I congratulate Dove Thailand for taking the front and back pages of Thai Rath to take a stand on the issue of hair in Thai schools.

Dove poses a searching question: Is it only hair that those who represent "authority" are cutting? If the powers that be still see hair as just hair, then all of us should question their one-dimensional thought process. But I am sure the people who are still enforcing these rules, often with deliberate intent to hurt physically and to harm emotionally, can see what a person's hair and their lengths and styles mean, or they would not enforce it so strictly. But to pull back so hard in order to maintain control in these fast-changing times, when thoughts can no longer be controlled, that can only make the leash snap.

Dove talks about self-confidence and being empowered to make choices. Thai educators should be looking at how they can nurture these attributes in their students so future generations know how to make good choices that make them decent people, and with the confidence to be comfortable in themselves instead of fitting into other people's moulds.

'Green lung' wins

Kudos is due to all those who had the vision, the initiative, the creativity and the botanical and engineering skills to ensure that the vast tract of land that was formerly the tobacco conglomerate should become a public park of great appeal. Witness the hundreds of people visiting Benjakitti Forest Park on the recent public holidays -- and the full-to-overflowing carpark -- as testament to the success of this project, which will no doubt in time become a city highlight. Well done, Bangkok authorities!

Misreading Wagner

Re: "Hear works of three master composers," (Life, May 5).

To characterise Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg, one of Wagner's mature masterpieces, as "a lighthearted tale about historical German singers and their singing contests" is so utterly wrong and laughable. This sublime opera is actually not "about" singing contests at all, at anything other than a comically superficial level. Like all great art, whether it be a Rembrandt self portrait, a Shakespearean tragedy or a Tolstoy novel, the story of Die Meistersinger is merely a vehicle to explore some of the universal features of our common humanity. The story may be fiction but the art is true.

What Die Meistersinger is "about" is many things: the nature of creative genius and its bringing about the new through the destruction and reincorporation of what has gone before; the relationship between form and content in art; the arrogance, impatience and misplaced confidence of youth; the pathos of old age and the love of an old man for a young woman; the nature of resignation, sacrifice and renunciation; the process of learning from the old; the madness of crowds; the bitterness of being surpassed and the siren call for revenge; schadenfreude and the nature of forgiveness. And much more besides.

To be sure, Die Meistersinger has its moments of levity and lightheartedness, but equally certain is that it contains some of the most poignant and heartbreaking music in the entire canon. Its 1st Act Prelude is bombastic, conservative and confidant -- wonderfully so -- but it is merely the first stone in a narrative arch that takes us very far away from that. Invest a few minutes to listen to the 3rd Act Prelude and the sublime aria which follows it, "Wahn, Wahn! Uberall Wahn" and the listener will be transported to a very different world indeed.

Wagner is one of the greatest musical geniuses in the history of Western music -- and unfortunately also one of the most misunderstood. Our understanding of this seminal figure in our musical heritage is not helped by misreadings.

Flattering photos

Re: "Regrettable hostess pics," (Opinion, May 4).

The posting of pics by Chaicharn Thavaravej, then-president of Silpakorn University, on his personal Facebook page is not in any way an act of sexual harassment or a violation of individual privacy.

The act of posting someone's photo on your social media because you find them attractive is not harassing, it is a reflection of human nature. How many males have a pic of Lisa from Blackpink because they are attracted to her and want to share this feeling? How many adverts use attractive models to promote their product?

Is this sexual harassment towards the potential consumer?

The job of a female stewardess is, in and of itself, a form of sexual harassment since only people of specific standards of appearance are allowed to fill this job position. Rarely do we see homely, overweight or older flight attendants. To put it bluntly, people deemed "unattractive" need not apply!

There was no violation of privacy since there is no privacy in public spaces in the Digital Age.

At the airport, everyone is surveilled constantly by security cameras and many tourists are frequently taking pics of their adventures along with selfies.

If he approached the attendant and made overt sexual suggestions or touched her inappropriately, that would be harassment -- but he did not. If he followed her home and peeked in her window and took pics, that would be an invasion of privacy. Again, he did not do this.

The salacious narrative about this event is inappropriate and unwarranted. It is having the effect of hampering education at the university because now time and energy has to be spent on this instead of focusing on educating the students.

I am all for protecting women from any harassment, having five daughters myself. I would not feel the need to console my daughters if this happened to them, nor would I be inclined to harass Mr Chaicharn over his behaviour.

Money matters

Re: Thai interest rate policy needs changing," (Opinion, May 5).

Another thoughtful article in the Bangkok Post Opinion section by Dr Chartchai Parasuk.

But why no mention of Thai inbound tourism rebounding now in a big way? Surely this brings in lots of incremental Thai currency buying versus last year and early this year, when it near zero. Also, a lower baht brings clear positives for Thai exports (and tourism) vs before. And for years, so many complained our currency was too strong. Also, US interest rates may not rise as fast as Dr Chartchai assumes, as the US economy is now slowing considerably.

Red tape rage

Re: "Licence to wonder," (PostBag, May 4).

When buying a motorbike seven months ago that had previously been registered in Khon Kaen, I first had to get a certificate of residence from Chiang Mai Immigration located some 190 kilometres from my home in Tha Ton.

On delivery by post to my home I went to Fang DLT to register my bike but was told I needed to go to Chiang Mai for this important undertaking. Having completed 40km of the journey, I carried on to the city and spent a full two days enjoying the sight of a Smart Q sign that informed me my number was many hours distant.

Last week on a trip back to Chiang Mai this number plate sheared from its fixing and was forever lost. As it had been supplied by the city office, I assumed they would deal with the replacement. I only got to the first desk where I was told I must have my registration book, as copies and photos would not do, and that was the end of my enquiry.

When it arrived in the post two days later, I returned to the official, who now took one look at my distant address and told me I must do this in Fang. When passing through Fang on my way home, I tried once more to apply and was told I needed a certificate of residence and my wife's house paper.

On my fourth visit to the DLT, I explained that my address was in the registration book, on both my driving licences that they had issued in this office and in my wife's tabien baan. To get a new certificate would mean a return journey to Chiang Mai (380km) and a two-week wait.

After discussions with the big chief, it was decided they would go ahead and I was finally told to drop by in a month's time and maybe the number plate would be there. But they said I may have to return a few times -- they couldn't be sure because the plate is being made in Chiang Mai. All this in the same province in the era of computers. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Facts only, please

Re: "Criminal hypocrisy", (PostBag, May 3); and "Investigation due", (PostBag, April 28).

Eric Bahrt complains: "As usual my critics distort what I wrote on April 28." There was only one response to his letter, so I'm not sure why he uses the plural. Moreover, the respondent did not distort what Mr Bahrt wrote, but merely expressed astonishment at the letter's bald expostulation in the final sentence. It is Mr Bahrt who is guilty of distortion. As I have commented before, Mr Bahrt fails to understand the implication of some of his recent letters against the very sensitive background of the Ukraine war. Had he qualified what he wrote in April with the last four lines of his May letter, any negative response might have been pre-empted, but Mr Bahrt appears not to favour nuanced argument much of the time. Get it, Mr Bahrt?

Rites and wrongs

Re: "Colourful ex-monk Kato returns loan," (BP, May 6); "Temple graft shows need for reform," (Opinion, April 11); and "Temple swindler' assets to be investigated," (BP, April 5).

If religion did not exist, just imagine how many fewer paragraphs there would be in most newspapers.