A nation's worth
Re: "Thailand needs middle power ambition", (Opinion, Oct 18).
The comment by Ajarn Thitinan Pongsudhirak is well made and seemingly intends to inspire Thailand's foreign policy formulation by the present government into the future.
While the positioning of Thailand as a "middle power" may be cited as a convenient "testing the waters" strategy, one also has to keep in mind that as a traditional Indo-China regional power, Thailand has anchored several initiatives which propelled Asean to where it is today.
For starters, Western countries have often leveraged Thailand's immediate strengths through wartime manoeuvres and green-field investment since the 1960s and prior to that in the 1940s as the prime choice for engagement.
One also has to keep in mind Thailand's foreign policy roles in the establishment of the United Nations in 1945 and its balancing act in the Cold War era's Non-Aligned Movement in the 1950s.
The strength of Thailand has always been its hospitable disposition and neighbourliness.
Thailand has to signal to the world that while not compromising its sovereignty, it can offer its Buddhist values of mindfulness, kindness and peace as it anchors what it first proposed in the United Nations: its multilateral diplomacy in ushering in new world amity and coexistence.
Vegetarian rules
Re: "Meat-eaters beware", (PostBag, Oct 19).
After a period with no letters from our noted vegetarian friend Eric Barht, and then with his complaint about those attacking him and his ilk with insults, he is now referring to us meat-eaters as scum.
Not quite cricket, old chap. I would suggest getting back on the medication.
Branding slip
Re: "iCon suspects face grilling", (BP, Oct 19).
At least Boss Paul was honest when he named his company "I Con" for that is exactly what he did.
Not falling for it
Re: "iCon suspects face grilling", (BP, Oct 19).
It still has to be proven that the iCon Group is guilty of operating illegally and deceiving people. But if so, the iCon Group must have been laughing its head off by cheekily and brilliantly naming their company iCon as if it's been done to (deliberately) con (or deceive) people into buying its products.
It's a hilarious, but at the same time sad story. Then again, hopefully it teaches naive people to beware of companies with such names.
Last but not least, the company's founder and CEO has turned into a crybaby now that he realises things have turned sour and will have to face the music.
Timeless wisdom
Re: Sick students deserve better", (Editorial, Oct 18).
Perhaps led astray by foreign notions, the Bangkok Post's editorial advocates a most unThai approach to the issue of children being killed, injured or abused in the education system.
In those good old days of yesteryear, no injuries, deaths, sex abuse or the like were suffered to reflect guilt on teachers or their institution. Any mishap was the fault of the student or their classmates or parents.
If students die because they are sick, or are abused because they are vulnerable, how is that the fault of the institution that is doing so much to selflessly educate and nurture? How is that the fault of dedicated teachers setting the hallowed example according to themselves and their institution?
The properly traditional Thai response to all this open talk now undermining respect for teachers and their institution is obvious. What is needed -- what truly comports with venerated Thai tradition -- is to criminalise all negative comments regarding teachers, schools and the education system.
The institution and its figures will then be respected exactly as they have always deserved. Could it be otherwise?
Think twice
Re: "Meat-eaters beware", (PostBag, Oct 19).
In his latest tirade, the tiresome Eric Barht even proposes "the complete withholding of any type of health- or medical care for anyone found to be consuming meat products".
I assume that in a medical emergency Eric would refuse treatment from any meat-eating doctor or indeed any medical professional who is not a vegetarian?
I think not.
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