OPINION

Spotlight on racism

Re: Regarding the attentive reader's assertion in "Having it both ways", (PostBag, April 13) and the complaints about the "Govt duty to curb virus hate crime", (Editorial, April 12), it's simple. If a Facebook site is targeting a specific group of people because of the colour of their skin, rather than all people breaking social distancing rules, that is racism.

Furthermore, if these people's opinions on sling-shotting farangs gather hundred of thousands of likes, it is certainly not in the interest of TAT if it comes to the attention of tourists, who provide a large portion of the country's GDP.

Something needs to be done both from a hate crime perspective and for Thailand's image.

Re: "China responds", (PostBag, April 15).

Is there anyone out there in the world who would believe the contents of the letter written by the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok?

International news is now reporting how China is blocking much scientific evidence and research by their own people in China concerning this virus.

Anything reported by the Chinese Embassy has got to be the taken with a grain of salt, or, not taken at all.

After months of suppressing evidence, reporting the virus, and threatening its medical and scientific community, does the writer at the Chinese Embassy really think he/she is credible?

I, and most of the world think not.

Re: "Unis offer parents help on fees", (BP, April 15).

Yes, indeed, there should be just one university exam that combines all four tests currently in use. Each section should cover essential elements to comprehensively assess an applicant's abilities.

The ministry should also consider providing tuition-free undergraduate education for Thai girls.

Having a degree based on highly sought communication and technical skills will help them to prepare for a suitable career and alleviate the charm of easy money that forces them to join the prostitution gangs in Patpong, Patong, Pattaya and Phuket.

In addition to reducing tuition fees, it is also the perfect time to integrate online learning at all levels of higher education.

Each university must develop its own blended learning model. There is no going back to the same thing they have been doing for the last seven decades. It is now or never.

It's hard to believe that Donald Trump has withheld funding from the World Health Organization in an obvious attempt to divert blame away from his disastrous handling of the Covid-19 outbreak in the USA. It's straight out of his play book.

The WHO may not have been correct in all its decision making, but who has been? This is definitely not the time to tighten the purse strings of the WHO and the blame game should be postponed until this crisis is over.

The world needs to come together now and we need agencies like the WHO more than ever.

Since I'm 69 years old, I suppose I'm more likely to die if I get the coronavirus than a younger person would. Well guess what? I don't care!

I'm a non-smoking vegan who exercises and washes his hands with soap and water. Beyond that I'll take my chances. But please stop throwing millions of people out of work and depriving our children of their education. And just let us older folks worry about our own health.