Re: "Rappers in hot seat", (Online, Oct 27).
Rebellious youth. And what is the reaction of those dinosaurs in power and their supporters? Threaten both the group and anyone who shares the viral music video with five years jail and a 100,000 baht fine, by using the junta's appalling Computer Crime Act.
Welcome to Thailand 2018. In just a few days there are now 5.7 million views on Youtube. And a great touch, having the October 1976 massacre by the military as a backdrop to the MV.
Sir George
Question of honour
Re: "Political graveyards", (Postbag, Oct 27).
Somsak Pola wants me to name Thai politicians in the past who have died in honour. Allow me to offer an example.
Former prime minister Pridi Banomyong was highly respected not only by Thais; in an indication of his broader appeal, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) also included the centenary of his birth in recognition of his political and economic achievements.
In my humble opinion, if we want to know if any Thai politician, past and present, deserves such an honour, we should conduct an opinion poll held in every region nationwide to decide their popularity and achievements.
For example, if we want to know how popular Thaksin Shinawatra is, we should conduct a poll in every region to find out.
Vint Chavala
Phone games over politics
Re: "A mind for democracy", (PostBag, Oct 27)
written with a utopian thought. Young people are not interested in democracy or any other form of government. They are oblivious to, and ignorant of what used to be taught in schools. As long as their expensive mobiles work, as long as they can spend hours texting, playing phone games, watching game shows, and whatever else, there seems little else of interest to occupy their minds.
Democracy, dictatorship, coups, all on the back burner. But God help them if their mobile service providers are down. The result is chaos, like when there is a power outage. Their brains are short-circuited from what goes on around them. Many cannot cope.
Lobzig
Soros criticism out of order
HHB, in his Oct 26 letter, "The evil of Soros", epitomises what's wrong in society, where conspiracy, superstition and utter absurdity become much more mainstream. That HHB believes nonsense manufactured by performance artists and outright nut-jobs on the internet is proof of just how addled brain many Westerners -- and Americans in particular -- have become.
Regarding George Soros and his "behaviour" during World War II: When his nation was invaded by Nazi Germany, Soros was 9 years old. When the war ended he was 14.
One wonders how HHB acted when his country was invaded when he was nine and people of his faith were being exterminated. Of course that never happened to HHB.
Soros' actual behaviour is rather different from how the internet Pied Pipers present it. Still, having such a seminal and horrific event in one's childhood is root cause for all sorts of introspection, even guilt.
As an adult, Mr Soros has donated upwards of US$9 billion (297 billion baht) to charities, medical organisations, aid groups, and institutions that promote democracy and freedom around the world.
One needn't go out on a limb and suggest Soros' record of doing good dwarfs anything HHB or those of his ilk have ever done or will ever do.
Orde
SE Asian 'dream' sours
It looks like the embassy letters of income "verification" for annual extensions of stay are on their collective death bed. An expat uproar is expected.
But the bigger threat to retired farang -- and not only in Thailand -- is the rising cost of medical care.
Given that most are uninsured because of the sky-high or impossible premiums for men in their 60s, 70s and beyond, the much quoted 800,000 baht in-the-bank to show the immigration bureau is peanuts if you are unlucky enough to be in a traffic accident or suffer a heart attack.
It used to be said that Southeast Asia was a dream destination for old expats on limited budgets.
Given local inflation and the decline/collapse of many international currencies, a rethink may be on the cards.
Barry Kenyon
Airport security poser
Re: "Run by thugs", (PostBag, Oct 26).
I suspect I am not alone in finding Tom Ballard's letter lacking credibility.
Does he really expect us to believe that he has been flying around the world for the past 20 years with a folding knife-cum-scissors, among other sharp objects in his cabin luggage, and has not had it confiscated before? Yes, confiscated, not stolen, Mr Ballard.
Even if he somehow eluded airport security systems for so many years, has he been blind to the notices in every airport I have been to warning against carrying such objects.
On top of that, when you check in you are asked specifically if you have such things in your cabin baggage. Airport security measures are a nuisance, but unfortunately necessary for peace of mind and flying safely.
Remember the 9/11 attacks, which resulted in 2,996 deaths and injuries to a further 6,000, were executed with small cardboard cutters.
Goodbye Mr Ballard. I doubt that Thailand will miss you.
David Brown
Get with the programme
I suggest Tom Ballard gets with the programme and packs carry-on luggage with intelligence. Not noticing big clear perspex boxes of items deemed to be worthy of confiscation is no excuse for prior flukes.
Chris in CNX
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