OPINION

Time to end this

Re: "By any other name", (PostBag, Dec 29).

In a letter published in PostBag on Nov 21, I wrote the following innocuous sentence: "Curiously enough, Khun Songdej also seems to suffer a serious case of Trump derangement syndrome." Subsequently, an ongoing flood of correspondence on this trivial matter has appeared. PostBag has printed five letters from Khun Songdej in the span of a month in which he refers to a "serious case of Trump derangement syndrome" but always neglects to include the prefatory "seems to suffer" in an effort to enhance his "character assassination" case.

"Seems" is used to make a description less assertive (as in maybe is or maybe is not) and more polite. Unfortunately, Khun Songdej has been troubling himself needlessly for a month over cultural differences and misunderstandings. Khun Songdej continues to be published frequently in PostBag; therefore, we can thankfully be assured that his character is still alive and well.

It's Midnight at the Oasis. Let's put the camel to bed.

Sorely missed

Regarding past subscribers to PostBag, one of those sadly missed is Edith Clampton Mrs. Her letters always brought a smile to my face and cheered me up for the day. Where are you Edith? Did you fall foul of Thai immigration by forgetting your 90-day report? But then, I don't think immigration bothered about that in her days.

More is better

Re: "Thankful for what we've got "(PostBag, Dec 22).

Before 1979, there were two English-language newspapers in Thailand. As time passed, the papers created goodwill in Asian countries and the world.

After 1979, there were the Bangkok Post, The Nation, Business Times and Bangkok World. In most other Asian countries, there was only one English newspaper until the 1990s.

After 1990, there were more newspapers in English and national languages. In the future, we need more quality newspapers in both English and local languages.

I hope we can see more quality journalism in the coming year.

What lies ahead?

Re: "A baseline scenario for the global economy", (Opinion, Dec 28).

As 2024 comes to a silent end and sights slowly turn to 2025, it's a good thing to reflect on what has been and what will be, or possibly be, in the times ahead.

The former Swedish ambassador to the US, Peter Grunwald, wrote an inspiring essay in Time magazine in March 1992 reflecting on certain developments that might dominate the world's attention as the year 2000 emerged.

For one, he predicted that businessmen would enter politics and tend to dominate the political spectrum of countries. He wasn't wrong. Mr Grunwald also wrote about testy times for democracy and the rise of authoritarianism. Let us not forget that in 1925, Benito Mussolini ushered in Fascism in Italy, and we know then what emerged in Europe, Eurasia and the East for the rest of that century. In a clockwise survey of authoritarian leaders either in place or emerging, from countries West to East, authoritarian leaders seem to be having a field day.

Where Mr Grunwald fell short in his predictions was in not mentioning the rise of AI generative capacities and its gaining prominence in many fields more so in business and industry.

To his credit, though, he referred to the growing importance of the Asia-Pacific region and the role of China in global affairs. If China can surmount its current economic woes in good time, it may well lead the world in new directions of Confucian Golden economic growth.

Let's wait and see. Is the best yet to be?

Happy New Year!

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