Re: "Any fool can criticise and several do", Postscript, June 24.
Once again the Old Crutch entertains us with anecdotes of critics. One of my favourites concerns the prominent British musician and conductor, Sir Thomas Beecham, who apart from his musical talents, was renowned for his acerbic wit.
In rehearsal for one of his famous prom concerts, he suddenly slammed down his baton, stopped the rehearsal, and glaring down at a young female cellist boomed: "Madam, between your legs is a fine and delicate instrument, capable of lifting us to divine heights or plunging us to the depths of despair. All you have done all day is scratch it."
David Brown
Critics beware
Re: "Any fool can criticise and several do", Postscript, June 24.
Critics are like prostitutes who force on condoms to protect themselves from the onslaught of the creative juices of writer, artists, singers and other magnificent performers.
Bobby Knight, American basketball coach once said "When my time on Earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want they bury me upside down, and my critics can kiss my ass!" And of course, who could forget Margaret Thatcher who once said "If my critics saw me walking over the Thames they would say it was because I couldn't swim."
Kuldeep Nagi
Humanity speaks
Peter Atkinson should know that the Muslim way of slaughtering animals for consumption is the most humane method in the world. The cruelty, the scandals, and the savage treatment caused to animals by non-Muslim countries is rampant.
A Moroccan fellow from Chumphon
Power of propaganda
A young female was detained for inadvertently straying into the US from Canada while she was out jogging. After being caught by ICE and explaining that there were no warning signs, that she had no intention of crossing the border and saying she was sorry she was then held against her will by border patrol agents for two weeks! Isn't this an outrage?
Doesn't US immigration policy seem racist and an unnecessarily harsh violation of human rights?
Aren't open US borders the humane solution for all those seeking asylum from oppression and lives of better opportunity?
If the reader thinks that this is so then it is proof positive of the power of propaganda.
The United States is a sovereign nation. As such it is not responsible for the failures of other sovereign nations to provide good governance.
The US is not the world's parent. It is time for everyone to wake up to the steady stream of leftist propaganda that would have us believe otherwise.
Michael Setter
Pier noise upsets
It was nice to read that the piers on the Chao Phraya River are to be upgraded (BP, 23 June). I hope they will also install a GPS system and display screens so commuters have more information on boat arrivals and departures.
The present method uses a very loud PA system and for 12 hours a day, every few minutes the Chao Phraya Express Boat company blasts out details of boats arriving and departing.
This is in Thai only and does nothing for tourists using the boats.
I live on the Thon Buri side of the river opposite Sathorn Pier where the noise is at such a level that it is louder than my TV -- even if I have all doors and windows closed.
One of the lady announcers even shouts and screams at the commuters.
The boat company provides an important service to commuters but it would be much better if they were to be neighbourly and keep the volume down.
Victor Batchelor
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