Heartiest congratulations to all those involved in the successful rescue of the 12 young footballers and their young coach.
But what we can learn from this success that will help our country move forward?
(1) Everybody shared the same overarching, clear, measurable objectives: rescue the 13 victims. (2) Key performance indicators were clear, measurable and objective-related: progress toward Pattaya Beach. (3) There were no conflicts of interest. All gladly sacrificed to achieve the same goal, eg the farmers whose land was flooded, volunteers, Thai and foreign teams put vested interests aside. (4) Those in power generally kept their noses out and let the workers work. (5) The person in charge, the Chiang Rai governor, fortuitously was well-qualified in managing national disasters.
Let's remember these lessons and apply them to the reforms which we badly need in so many fields.
Burin Kantabutra
No circus in cave
Re: "Disaster now a circus", (PostBag, June 27).
Let it not be said that a disaster in Thailand is any different from a disaster anywhere else in the world. (Fukushima, Chernobyl and the infamous tsunami in Thailand years ago are examples). I do not agree, however, that it's turned into a circus.
The Royal Thai Army, the police, those foreign experts involved, are all doing their best, and the military are keeping the "circus atmosphere" quite far away from rescue operations. The whole world somehow seems sincerely interested, perhaps because those who were missing were mostly children.
Everyone has a soft spot for children. But the most important thing is that no matter who and how the rescuers are involved, it is a single-minded, determined and coordinated effort, and that is what counts most.
Jack Gilead
Food favouritism?
I have read the halal hullabaloo on the question of whether it should be declared as such when served, etc. To my thinking, the real question is: Are we seeing a case of favouritism to one group while ignoring the equal right for others to know what they are eating.
Personally I don't much care if the meat was blessed and would be happy with a pig roast at a bar mitzvah, but the right to know and to choose should be offered to all, not just one section of society.
Since vegans, vegetarians, kosher and others all seem to have equality these days why is it not all-inclusive with a menu guide giving details of the normal fare served on the route and a choice of "special order" meal options for everyone when booking?
Fair is fair after all, is it not?
Peter Fairless
Bang Khen
Melania's second act
Re: "Melania Trump returns to border, without the jacket" (BP, July 1).
How ironic that Melania Trump travelled to the American southern border, claiming support and concern for families torn apart by her husband's inhumane policies. "I'm here to support you and give my help, whatever I can for behalf of the children and the families," she is quoted as saying.
I wonder just what support she has in mind? Hopefully, something more than packages of cookies and boxes of crayons. A good place to start would be to talk some sense into her misguided husband with respect to long-established American principles of compassion, empathy and tolerance.
Samanea Saman
That Figueres
Re: "Army-free, and stable", (June 29, 2018).
John L Sheppard's June 29 letter on Costa Rica is well taken. Costa Rica went through a bitter civil war in 1948 as the result of a disputed presidential election. Out of this maelstrom a figure by the name of Figueres emerged victorious.
A new constitution was drafted which did away with the army and in a stroke of pure selflessness, Figueres transferred power to the legitimate winner of the 1948 presidential election.
Costa Rica has had an uninterrupted democracy since then. And what eventually became of Figueres? Under the new constitution, he won the 1953 election.
Kemadist Chiaracharuwat
A 'Thai pint'
I know the measure "pint" differs in the US (473ml) from the UK (568ml). There is also a dry pint (551ml) but i did not realise there was a "Thai pint", which basically means "beer in a big glass or large bottle" regardless of the number of millilitres.
Confused Farang
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