OPINION

Stirring the pot

Re: "Defiant student activist returns to school, again", (BP, June 19).

It appears that the 15-year-old student who climbed over the school fence to attend classes without the school's permission has been indoctrinated to rebel against the school and society.

But one question remains: Since this is a politically motivated issue, why aren't we seeing any sons and daughters of those behind-the-scene politicians and activists come out and demand the same things as Miss Yok does?

If these rabble-rousing politicians believe so much in their cause, they should have convinced their kids to behave in the same way as Miss Yok is doing. But we haven't seen any of their kids coming out protesting. This is hypocritical!

Purpose of school

Re: "School rule row", (PostBag, June 18) & "Know your activists", (PostBag, June 20).

Burin Kantabutra made an irrelevant suggestion in the context of freedom of expression in school, and Vint Chavala was polite to disagree by listing the past activities engaged by Yok, many of which are offences against the law.

Parents like us send our children to school to be educated, enhance their knowledge, and be disciplined. We don't send our children to school to argue with the teacher whether they have the right under the constitution not to wear a uniform to school or to do things no other students do (news just came in that Yok refuses to present her school work on paper, but on an iPad instead).

If a school has regulations that require students to wear school uniforms or ban long hair, students have to abide by them, or they can freely, under democracy, choose another school down the road that suits them.

Pursuing freedom and democracy inside the school are not reasons to argue for Yok. By saying that "education is not like filling a pail, but like lighting a fire", is misleading. That fire, if mishandled, can set a bad example to thousands of other students.

Students learn discipline in school. They also learn the meaning and history of democracy that Burin advocates in order to practise democracy after they leave school properly.

The problem with these kids is not just their disposition. In many cases, the behaviour is related to their family background and conflicts. Outsiders should leave the school to handle each student's case and let the staff discuss the matter with the student and her parents or consult a psychologist. Democracy is irrelevant.

Uniformed approach

Re: "Conflicting values", (PostBag, June 23).

In his discussion of the historical and current pros and cons of school uniforms, Sam Wright makes both accurate and pertinent points, with all of which I agree. I would, however, make one correction. In my letter as published, I did not mention school uniforms nor express any opinion on their merits or demerits.

I went to private schools for my primary and secondary education, and we wore uniforms. As private institutions, I think my schools had the right to set such a policy and expect it to be followed.

Later at university, it was fun to don academic robes for special occasions, but my education there proceeded perfectly well in regular dress.

Therein lies the problem with uniforms in Thailand. They are associated with the ugly mindset of being superior, with being a member of a "better", even a sacred, group in society. In many cases, that presumed superiority is an empty illusion, however prettily dressed up.

The uniform that doctors and nurses wear rightly reflects that the wearer is more competent in medicine. In the case of politicians dressing up like army officers on a formal mess night, it is not clear that those uniforms reflect anything of value and perhaps contradict the fact that the wearers represent the great variety of the people who elected them.

As for schools, teachers should stop setting the unfortunate example of sometimes dressing up as though they were military personnel, complete with ribbons of rank and gilded epaulettes.

That aping of military discipline sends the wrong message entirely to students.

No Soviet redux

Re: "Faltering swimmer", (PostBag, June 22).

I do not think the evidence supports the letter of Ken Albertsen that President Putin wishes to rebuild the Soviet Union.

If Russia had indeed intended to conquer, occupy, and assimilate all of Ukraine into Russia, the Russian invasion force would have been far larger than the initial 150,000-strong army which invaded Ukraine in February 2022. There is no way an army of 150,000 could occupy and consolidate control over a country as large as Ukraine, much less rebuild the entirety of the Soviet Union.

In my analysis, Putin has no grand ambitions to recreate the Soviet Union. Rather, it seems far more likely to me that Russia's limited objectives in this invasion of Ukraine were three-fold: to sever the growing relationship between Ukraine and Nato, to guarantee protection for Russian people living in eastern Ukraine, and to force Ukraine to recognise Russian control over Crimea.

I fear that Nato's intervention has done nothing but exacerbate this conflict. Ukraine, in particular, is drowning in a sea of blood, and the end result of this war will likely be worse off for Ukraine than the original Russian peace proposal from March of 2022. Ukraine and Nato are in the most trouble, not Russia.

Road safety basics

Re: "Road safety still a running sore", (Editorial, June 18).

As a man who drove passenger vehicles in around 30 countries without an accident, I feel it's time to mention the sad facts about Thai driving. There are three main components to good driving.

The first is the ability to manipulate your vehicle properly. This is as far as most Thais get; they do it without instruction and often miss the brake, fail to change gears, have a few bumps and falls, and finally feel they have learned to drive.

The second is learning the rules to safely share a road with many other people. Which side to drive on, when to give way, what position to take when turning left or right from a main road, learning what the signs mean and following plain good manners and courtesy.

The third is to understand driving needs constant attention and skill, a permanent watch both in front and back, alertness to perceived dangers, a clear head free of drugs and 100% attention.

It's these last two components that go unlearned and ignored here. Drivers coming down a soi and meaning to turn right on the highway will often position themselves firmly on the right-hand side. Drivers turning left off the highway often maintain a position well out into the middle while slowing down.

And we all know that mirrors are for checking make-up or spots and that anyone can drive whilst trying to scroll a telephone or even watch a video. Let's not get into overloading, one-handed bike riding and poor attention to vehicle brakes, steering and lights.

While Thailand is stuck on the first point, things can not and will not improve.

Pubs of repute

Re: "History comes alive in those pub names", (PostScript, June 18).

Well, talking about pub names, Cheers became an American sitcom TV series on NBC from 1982 to 1993. The show was set in the titular bar Cheers in Boston, where locals met to drink, relax, and socialise. Nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series for all 11 seasons on the air, it earned 28 Primetime Emmy Awards from a record of 117 nominations. During its run, Cheers became one of the most popular TV series in history and received critical acclaim till its end.

Some strange bar names in San Francisco include The Bitter End, Durty Nelly's, Pig & Whistle, and Wilde Oscar's. Similarly, plenty of other pubs across the USA have goofy names. We have Please Don't Tell (aka PDT in East Village) and Boobie Trap (Bushwick) in New York. And, of course, there is Goofy's Sports Bar in Seattle.

Finally, do visit a few bars in New Orleans to experience something unique -- Three-legged Dog, 21st Amendment at La Louisiane, and Hi Ho Lounge. Like in the UK, every bar in a town in the USA has its unique history.

The advent of craft, microbrews, and local wines produced in various states has created unique neighbourhood pubs serving excellent beers and local wines all across the USA. And, of course, there is no dearth of goofy bars in Bangkok.

Someone came across a bar on Khao San Road called the Hardly Davidson. In Pattaya, you come across very strange names, such as Piss Bar and Stupid Bar.

Thank you, Roger, for bringing back the good pub memories. Cheers.

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