OPINION

Questioning masks

Re: "Covid-19 now becoming a seasonal bug", (BP, Dec 13).

I read Dr Yoon Poovorawan's comments about Covid-19's seeming transition into a chronic, somewhat seasonal, manageable illness. As of this time, a fierce battle is waging over just how effective masks are (or are not) at preventing Covid-19. However, we need to ask the next logical questions as several Asian nations (including Thailand) remain very heavily masked and might choose to remain so for longer than we might have envisioned earlier.

First, face masks were not designed to be worn on a community level. And I do not believe society has seen such long-term use of face masks since the Spanish Flu of 1918. As a result, I don't think anyone has a very good idea what kind of long-term impact face masks might have on our respiratory system or immune systems.

Finally, I am a teacher who was recalled to my school, returning to traditional face-to-face courses. The school's Covid testing showed that I was around Covid-19 several times. I've never had a problem with Covid-19, even though I don't wear a mask much. I've also noticed that my masked colleagues seem to be getting minor illnesses more often than used to. That's anecdotal and requires research, but what might be the cost of cutting exposure to the normal little bugs in life, which usually make our immune system stronger? I think Thai society needs to ask these questions, and I think we need unbiased answers.

Loyal citizen soldiers

Re: "Retain citizen army", (PostBag, Dec 13).

Turning a blind eye to his seemingly overlooked fact that dictators historically tend to use forced conscription to further their aims, Samuel Wright left a couple of points unclear.

Foremost, how is an army made of citizens who willingly sign up to serve their nation any less a citizen army than one where unwilling citizens are conscripted for forced service?

Second, it is most puzzling how being forcibly conscripted into the service of an army that has a long track record of overthrowing the Thai people's popular form of democratic government might in any way serve to support democracy; the well-known historical record would appear to suggest the opposite.

But perhaps if the young conscripts, men and women, were required to swear an oath to uphold and protect the constitution of the Thai people, that would help.

In fact, it would surely be a very good thing for the stable, democratic flourishing of the Thai nation.

Where such a requirement is written into a duly amended latest current permanent constitution of the Thai nation, Mr Wright's theory might then have some merit.