OPINION

Politics' racist slurs

Re: "No excuse for racist slurs", (Editorial, Jan 8).

Regarding these unbelievably xenophobic observations about Africans by a former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra does not have a very pointy nose himself. Indeed, he apparently also experienced breathing difficulties, among other life-threatening ailments, a few months ago on return from a lengthy but not financially demanding absence from the country.

How did he cope with interaction among African leaders at various summits when he was boss? I'm sure the late Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, for example, would have hooted at such ignorance and lamented the embarrassment caused to Thailand by such slurs in an otherwise mostly enlightened world.

De facto power play

Re: "Energy Minister Pirapan's job safe: Thaksin", (BP, Jan 5).

Thaksin's continual acting as de facto PM reinforces the conviction that he's manipulating the de jure one -- giving the boys in green an excuse to "rescue" us from being a sham democracy. For instance, he -- not his daughter -- interviewed Energy Minister Pirapan and reported via page 1 headlines that the minister's job was secure.

He's now campaigning for PT to rapturous crowds that are at least equal to those of his daughter's in size. The world isn't fooled as to where the power lies. Last November, when Forbes held its Global CEO Conference here, Forbes chairman and CEO Steve Forbes interviewed not our de jure PM one-on-one, but Thaksin. Also, Anwar Sadat invited him -- not her -- to be his informal adviser. Thaksin should restrict himself to caring for his grandchildren like he promised when he returned from self-exile rather than give our boys in green an excuse to oust his clan yet a third time.

Is it climate or cash?

Re: "Climate crisis is also a costly one", (Opinion, Jan 8).

There is no climate crisis. The whole thing is fraudulent. The global elite want more money and control. A single sentence from the above article tells all, "Rather than being treated solely as an environmental issue, climate change must be central to economic policy."

They want us to believe that climate is causing inflation, not the reckless borrowing and misguided spending of the socialist left. Recognising climate change lies are easy if one knows where to look. When these supposed environmentalists leverage climate change to justify their control of ever more money, the stench is unmistakable.

Repeated vegan tales

Re: "Vegan vow", (PostBag, Jan 5).

Mr Bahrt starts his letter with, "Since I'm often asked why I'm a vegan..."

It begs the question as to why people ask him, why is he a vegan?

It reminds me of the classic vegan joke:

Q: How do you know if someone is vegan?

A: Don't worry, they'll tell you within the first 2 minutes of meeting them.

Maybe if Mr Bahrt stopped telling others that he is a vegan (he has been telling Bangkok Post readers for many, many years that he is vegan), then they wouldn't keep asking him as to why he is a vegan!

If I had a baht (no pun intended) for every time he told the readership that he is a vegan, it would be enough to pay for a 5-course meal at a five-star hotel in Bangkok.