Time to be up-front
Re: "Panel set to begin probe into warship tragedy," (BP, Dec 27).
Navy chief Adm Choengchai Chomchoengpaet has set up a committee to find out why the corvette HTMS Sukhothai sunk in a storm.
Our military routinely has panels to investigate tragedies -- but then the media spotlight moves on, and the reports aren't made public.
So, we never know what happened, who's been held accountable, and what's being done to prevent a re-occurrence.
For example, nobody's been held accountable for Tak Bai (85 bodies), Nong Chik (four bodies), the Rolls Royce bribery of THAI officials to buy RR engines, or the G2000 fake bomb detectors.
PM Prayut's hidden the Vicha Mahakun panel report on police and public prosecutor reform from us for two years now.
Why do taxpayers let the military get away with not being held accountable?
Burin Kantabutra
State of mind
Re: "It is time to stop worrying about being happy," (Opinion, Dec 27).
Yes, the pursuit of happiness has become the main goal in our lives.
It is thrust upon us by our beliefs and trust in various religions, scriptures, gods, goddesses, deities, and a myriad of philosophical and psychological theories.
Sadly, we also have been spoiled by Western consumerism to equate happiness with a bouncy optimism brought by escaping to the mall or hopping on a long flight to the Land of Oz.
Lord Buddha did try to teach people to watch their minds and actions.
He taught us to train our minds not to react to our surroundings or remain equanimous.
Our insatiable desires and longings are the leading cause of unhappiness. Buddha said the law of nature is such that unhappiness arises simultaneously as soon as one generates negativity.
It is impossible to feel happy and peaceful when we generate negativity in our minds.
Just as light and darkness cannot coexist, peace and negativity cannot coexist. Hence, happiness will always depend on the state of our mind.
Kuldeep Nagi
Border hoppers
Re: "Casino warning," (PostBag, Dec 27).
The letter casts understandable caution on Thais seeking employment across the border in Cambodia.
I have lived in Thailand for 20 years in the province of Sa Kaeo, which borders Cambodia and locals have special dispensation, which eases crossings and makes employment there relatively hassle-free.
The problem here is finding employment since tourism is still fragile, and any available work, be it factory or construction work, is inevitably poorly paid.
So, the dilemma is real and prudence required, considering the country's record.
But you have to eat and things aren't getting cheaper.
Ian
