Checkups save lives
Re: "Joe Biden thanks supporters for 'love' after cancer diagnosis", (Online, May 19).
We all wish President Biden the best in his journey with prostate cancer, especially those, like me, who have also been on that journey. One positive aspect of his announcement is the attention that his fame will bring, which will lead to others being tested and lives being saved.
Similar examples include Michael J Fox with Parkinson's or Selma Blair with MS, although both of these illnesses have visible symptoms most of the time. There are so many diseases, including cancers, that are not apparent until it's too late, and famous examples do encourage people to get checkups.
Know your family medical history and get any bump, lump or spot checked.
Dennis Fitzgerald
Look Again, Mr Dyer
Re: "Theatre of white refugees from South Africa", (Opinion, May 16).
We all have different experiences, and Gwynne Dyer's experiences of South Africa differ sharply from mine.
There will be worse places in the world, but South Africa is a corrupt and crime-ridden. He can drive around Joburg CBD and see for himself. They have the spectre of the country falling into the same state as Zimbabwe, or does he want to tell us that Zim is also not a s-hole at all.
Coloureds, for the record, are not mixed race but very largely the descendants of Indonesian "indentured labourers". Mr Dyer needs to look into why his ANC mate says what he does.
Norman Byrott
Stop chasing the US
Re: "Thailand pitches trade proposals to US", (BP, May 15).
I read a number of tariff and trade-related articles in the Post with my ageing American eyes. Some comments from Thai business leaders and executives were, in fact, very wise, but I feel I need to point out the obvious-- don't bother trying to woo the US.
The problem the world has with the US right now is that it is not a reliable partner. One day, the tariffs are on with no regard for past favours to the US. The next day, they are paused. Then, maybe the tariffs will be higher, or, next, maybe they will be lower, or maybe they could be going to 0%, if the US loves your nation enough, etc, etc.
As much as I personally like President Donald Trump, one cannot make sense of his erratic, emotional decisions. He changes his mind almost every week, so you may as well set an alarm clock to it. America's population is only about 5% of the world, and it is effectively going bankrupt, so I suggest Thailand looks to new, more reliable markets rather than keep trying to woo an American public that is flat broke anyway.
Jason A Jellison
Let dogs be
Re: "Wake up, dog lovers", (PostBag, May 18).
Khun Eric Bahrt writes that the stray dog problem was caused by humans (overbreeding). A slip of the English grammatical tongue doesn't mean that overbreeding humans are the reason for his latest outpouring of dismay against humanity. Then Khun Eric says, "I find it amusing that all breeds of dogs are killing people", which is not amusing at all. Khun Eric might be best concerned with the overproduction of zucchini rather than dogs, and whether zucchini could be genetically neutered.
Gimme a break
