OPINION

Caged in misery

Re: "Forget me not", (Online photo, Nov 24).

Your recent photograph of Bua Noi, the imprisoned gorilla, speaks a thousand words.

Actually only two: abject misery.

It recalls images of Guantanamo in the past.

Re: "Staying strong", (PostBag, Nov 10).

Glen Chatelier's letter is correct in implying that Mr Trump deserves credit for winning the 2024 US presidential election

The fact remains that even though he only won a bit over 300 seats in the US Federal Election, he swept the seven key swing states.

That being Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin and Nevada.

On this basis alone, one could say that Donald Trump won the election in a landslide.

Given how polarised the US electorate has become, these seven states were the only ones which were really up for grabs.

All the other states remain either Democratic or Republican bastions, which will remain that way regardless of who is running for office from either of the two main parties.

Re: "Stop name-calling", (PostBag, Nov 23).

I'm sorry Songdej Praditsmanont is unhappy with my comments. As to name-calling, ignorant is not name-calling, whereas labelling someone an ignoramus is. In colloquial parlance, "Trump derangement syndrome" means "irrationally negative reactions to the actions and policies of US President Donald Trump" (Wictionary.com). There is nothing shameful about not knowing something; no one knows everything, and TDS is quite a common predilection these days. I make a concerted effort to discuss issues using data, facts, and common sense. As Khun Songdej rightly points out, I'm not without fault, but name-calling is not one of them. Using his personal offence as a tactic (no matter how politely employed) instead of discussing the issues rationally can be seen as merely an unconscious validation of my statements.

Re: "What's the matter", (PostBag, Nov 25) & Re: "Stop name-calling", (PostBag, Nov 23).

Peter Jeffreys accused me of using Thailand's draconian libel laws to threaten Michael Setter. Michael Setter's name-calling of me was not criticism or fair comment but purely insulting to my character. Though my mother tongue is not English, I know enough of the meaning of "derangement" and "ignorance". I took that labelling seriously. Anyone can call me thin-skinned, and it is no insult but a fair comment because I do not have a thick skin.

Peter Jeffreys is also incorrect to state that Thailand is the only country with this so-called draconian law of criminal defamation. According to Wikipedia, there are 44 countries, starting from Albania to Vatican City. The leading countries are Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey.

Because of my fondness of this forum and fears of it sliding down to personality squabbles when most contributors are rational and capable without name-calling others. It is most refreshing to read letters from new contributors -- few are Thais. Therefore, PostBag will not have only Thai perspectives from the prolific Burin Kantabutra.

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