OPINION

How to make babies

Re: "Raising questions", (PostBag, March 28) & "B30 fertility treatment to tackle low birth rate", (BP, March 24).

Ellis O'Brien has got it wrong in linking the size of the LGBTQ community in Thailand to a declining birth rate. And, yes, it does smack of homophobia to make such a suggestion.

We can be generous and assume Mr O'Brien genuinely believes the non-heterosexual community is "expanding" and there is, therefore, less procreation going on, but it is actually the acceptance of alternative gender identities which have always existed but were previously suppressed that makes the LGBTQ community appear to be on the increase.

Fanciful as it may sound, my Thai wife's 8-year-old nephew has another take on why Thais are making fewer babies. When asked if he wanted a little brother or sister, he replied that he didn't think it was likely to happen because his parents spent more time on their mobile phones than, shall we say, cuddling.

Maybe a few deliberate internet outages would help boost the birth rate.

Words are slippery

Re: "Democratic society", (PostBag, March 28).

I am at a loss as to why I rated a mention in JC Wilcox's disjointed rant about democracy.

In my recent letters, I did not use the word "democracy" but rather commented on current political machinations in Thailand, which are not about democracy per se.

But as he has mentioned my name, I will respond.

My Oxford dictionary defines democracy as "a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives."

This definition does not include references to Buddhism, laws, constitutions or monarchies, as Mr Wilcox's rambling letter does.

But one thing he writes really puzzles me: "It is democracy alone that established universal suffrage".

I would have thought it was the other way around, with universal suffrage establishing democracy. But I am a simple soul and don't really understand Mr Wilcox's argument.

Perhaps that erudite epistler Felix Qui, who is also mentioned in the letter, would be kind enough to share his thoughts on the matter.

Defining democracy

Re: "The rule of law" and "Democratic society", (PostBag, March 28).

Letters written by Vint Chavala and JC Wilcox convey that enacted law is supreme and the mainstay of democracy and righteousness. However, in searching for the definition of democracy since Aristotle's day, it needs only a few words to define its important meaning appropriately. The frequently quoted words of President Abraham Lincoln are "…of the people, by the people and for the people". Law is only an intermediary to reflect the will of the people. There are other numerous thinkers with sayings such as:

"Dictatorships are one-way streets. Democracy boasts two-way traffic."

"Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary."

"Democracy doesn't recognise east or west; democracy is simply people's will. Therefore, I do not acknowledge that there are various models of democracy; there is just democracy itself."

"A functioning, robust democracy requires a healthy, educated, participatory followership, and an educated, morally grounded leadership."