OPINION

Let pupils design uniforms

Re: "Casual dress allowed at college exams," (BP, Nov 5).

So, it seems the unfortunate yin-&-yang we've seen over recent years pertaining to school uniforms continues. On one side, traditionalists like Atthaphon Sangkhawasee are opposed to any change. On the other, an increasing number of students insist on change, both sides have valid concerns.

Well, here's a novel idea: Why not meet in the middle and have the educational ministries host a grand national competition where the students themselves could propose new, tasteful, elegant, uniforms designs?

This might be preferable to maintaining an outdated top-down approach which always stifles innovation.

A man of his word?

Re: "Crimes of the state," (BP, Nov 4).

I fully agree with Felix Qui that new 4th Army region commander Lt Gen Santi Sakuntanark's orders that his troops must exercise patience with insurgents in our restive South and avoid use of force aren't credible for his men or southerners.

Bangkok mandarins always say that we love southerners and value their cooperation. But how can we expect them to believe Lt Gen Santi when we allow our military to use violence against local people, without holding those accountable to justice.

At Tak Bai, for example, 85 protesters -- tied hand and foot -- suffocated to death while being transported by soldiers commanded by Lt Gen Santi's predecessor. This was 18 years ago, yet no general's been even charged, let alone court-martialed.

Court-martial the commanders at Tak Bai and Krue Se (32 dead, also in 2004) first, then Lt Gen Santi's men will start to believe and obey him.

No iniquity in Pattaya

Re: "No gambling dens in city: police chief," (BP, Nov 3).

National Police Chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas did not need to announce that there are no gambling dens in Bangkok.

Everyone knows that there is no gambling, prostitution or drug abuse here. No activists have been murdered, no human trafficking takes place and there is absolutely no illegal firearms trade going on. In fact, the only serious crime is related to spitting on the sidewalk and cigarette butt disposal.

Everyone always already knows the police, justice department and all government ministries are so illustriously perfect that nothing more can be said to enhance their image.

This has been proven true generationally with one exoneration after another.

Sunak a national icon

Re: "Sunak adds charm," (PostBag, Nov 2).

Kuldeep Nagi lavishes praise on the UK's new, yet totally untested, prime minister. Finally, there is something Mr Nagi agrees with. One wonders if his generous accolades are simply because Mr Sunak is from Mr Nagi's own country?

Papers more than journalism

Re: "Bag of laughs," (PostBag, Oct 29).

Michael Setter seems to have a very narrow definition of a newspaper as "a part of journalism".

Certainly the journalistic content of a newspaper -- the news stories, the opinion columns, the editorial and the photographs -- are the mainstay of a newspaper's content and help to keep us informed of current affairs both at home and abroad.

But crosswords, cartoons, political cartoons and other amusements feature large in most newspapers today, reflecting a growing trend over the last 300 years.

Ben Franklin's political cartoon commenting on the turmoil in the British colonies was published in the Pennsylvania Gazette on May 8, 1754.

"The Yellow Kid" is generally credited with being the first comic strip, and was published in the New York World in 1896.

And the New York World is also credited with publishing the first crossword on its "Fun" page on Dec 21, 1913, and in the 1920s, the New York Times crossword editor commented: "Solving crosswords eliminates worries; they make you a calmer and more focused person".

In 1941, after cruciverbalists started writing to the Daily Telegraph in the United Kingdom bragging how quickly they had solved the puzzles, the newspaper ran a competition, which resulted in 25 crossword aficionados being invited to the newsroom for a competition on speed in solving crosswords.

Who killed our comics?

Grief is a painful emotion when it involves the loss of dear friends, especially when one has spent time, day after day, enjoying those dear friends.

Suddenly they're gone: Frank & Ernest, Insanity Streak, Animal Crackers and WuMo. And, this not by Act of God, but, presumably by the uncaring decision of some fiscally responsible financial officer.

Somehow, the gamers got their Target back but we comics lovers had to sacrifice four of our favourites to finance the deal.

Please resurrect our dear friends.