Re: "Calls mount to amend LGBTI bill", (Opinion, Nov 23).
As a conservative, openly gay Buddhist, nothing would please me more than to see Thailand adopt a civil union programme that would grant identical rights to those held by our heterosexual counterparts. However, the various iterations of this so-called "gay marriage" bill have been a slap in the face, not only to LGBTI people who could benefit from equal marriage rights, but also to Thailand's over-hyped global standing on LGBTI issues.
As it stands, few people have any confidence that this bill will allow for the equal usage of surnames, modernised adoption rights, or for meaningfully progressive immigration rights common to many international marriages.
While there probably should be some checks and balances for people immigrating from regions wracked by terrorism or religious fanaticism, and while one could certainly compromise by calling for "civil unions" versus "marriages", fair-minded compromises would ultimately have to result in equal rights after a reasonable probation period, once the immigrants have demonstrated their willingness to become contributing members to the "Land of Smiles".
This asset-driven bill looks like a cynical attempt on behalf of very old, not very creative men to yet again keep those tourist dollars flowing, rather than by making prudent (and often painful) economic and educational reforms that are clearly very long overdue for our lacklustre economy and social development.
Finally, I cannot help but feel that Vitit Muntharbhorn may sully his reputation if the final proposal amounts to little more than a sellout of the very same progressive values.
Jason A Jellison
Not my cup of tea
Re: "Unite for gender equality", (PostBag, Nov 25).
The Swedish ambassador says that Sweden pursues a "feminist" foreign policy. I can only assume however that he must be very disappointed that their principles have so far failed to make much progress in Thailand, where the various junta-appointed assemblies and committees are all female-free zones.
He does, however, elaborate at length about the issue of sexual violence, and also of gender equality which is a particularly hot topic. Indeed, I can't help but wonder of what hundreds of millions of people around the world would think if they came across such examples of state-sponsored orthodoxies, which often seem to place current Western social attitudes on a higher moral and ethical plane than their own ancient and revered cultural traditions.
"Patronising" and "offensive" are a couple of responses that spring to mind.
The ambassador also lauds the #metoo movement, which has ruined the careers and reputations of many men by making allegations which have not been proven in a court of law, as far as I am aware. What happened to the basic legal principle of innocent until proven guilty?
Of course sexual violence and exploitation is wrong, and those guilty of such crimes should be brought to justice, but there is nothing ethical or admirable about a "lynch mob" mentality.
Robin Grant
A different view
Re: "Racist attitude", (PostBag, Nov 24).
I am happy that Brian Knight sees himself as a compassionate and caring white American. Maybe, he needs to talk to blacks who have been the victims of racism for centuries, and Mexicans, Chinese and others who have been systematically discriminated against for decades.
These groups are not drilled to feel inferior on their own accord. They are surrounded by an environment that perpetuates the notion that anybody who is not white is either an illegal immigrant, a refugee or a criminal.
And let us not go into the history of Native Americans and how they have suffered through the centuries.
There are definitely reasons for being prejudiced against foreigners coming to America illegally, but there is no reason to assert that immigrants in America belong to just one group.
Mr Knight also ignores the unnecessary killings of millions of people across the world by American-led wars.
Kuldeep Nagi
Rights are rights
Every time someone brings attention to the atrocities committed against animals, someone like Jack Gilead will write what about the atrocities committed against humans (PostBag, Nov 24).
I've always been outspoken against human rights abuses (while Mr Gilead is an outspoken defender of the junta). But there is no reason why we can't fight for human rights while simultaneously refusing to contribute to the horrors inflicted upon animals by eating them.
Eric Bahrt
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