OPINION

Favourite phrase

Re: "Lop-sided justice", (PostBag, Aug 23).

While I do not disagree with Burin Kantabutra's statements regarding the reduced jail terms for those involved in the Krungthai Bank loan scandal being unjustly lenient, I do not agree with the way he over-dramatised his point by citing the case of the "mushroom-picking couple" as a comparative case.

If you search for the news in the Bangkok Post of May 2, 2017, as referred to in Khun Burin's letter, you will find that the court's verdict on the couple was based on a charge of illegal logging; "felling about 700 trees over a 72-rai area of the protected forest". In fact, "mushroom picking" was just an excuse used by the defendants. It has become a favourite phrase of those who prefer drama to reality.

Re: "Lessons from the Mountain B fire", (Opinion, Aug 24).

With regard to the recent disastrous Mountain "pub" fire and elevated railway infrastructure threats to hapless motorists travelling below, has anyone twigged to the fact that related maintenance and monitoring have likely been minimal, or non-existent, during the pandemic years? I don't think so. Especially as so many businesses were forced to close abruptly but reopened with alacrity at the first sanctioned opportunity, ignoring the necessary oversight for client safety.

What else lurks out there?

Re: "Thanks go to Rushdie's readers", (Opinion, Aug 21).

I was watching a television interview with Salman Rushdie, which occurred before he was stabbed by that religious lunatic.

Rushdie made an interesting point when he said criticising someone's religion is not the same thing as persecuting the people who belong to that religion. I couldn't agree more. Why is it okay to criticise people's political opinions but not their religious beliefs?

Growing up in America I often had friends who I politically disagreed with. And as an agnostic, I've had friends ranging from atheists to born-again Christians. We could respectfully disagree with one another and still remain friends.

The idea that somehow it's wrong to criticise someone's religion is absurd. In fact, learning how to have polite "arguments "with one another is probably the best way to prevent persecution.

Re: "'Few hurdles' likely for revised cannabis law", (BP, Aug 21) & "Customs details June cases", (BP, July 26).

It's encouraging to see the Thai government is clarifying the law regarding cannabis. It is important when new ideas or products come into the market that the government creates the right legislation to protect the public.

However, this contrasts with the lack of action for e-cigarette legislation.

While progressive public health authorities around the world see potential benefits, Thailand refuses to change. This means that normal law-abiding people can only buy e-cigarettes on the black market -- not only buying potentially dangerous products but also depriving the government of tax revenue.

When is the government going to be as progressive about tackling smoking illnesses as it is about cannabis?

Re: "Germany plans to keep last three nuke plants open in policy U-turn," (Business, Aug 18).

The Germans finally realised that the nuclear power plants are the answer to their gas shortage.

It should be noted that nuclear power plants are emission-free and cleaner than gas-powered.