Test of old ties
Re: "Can Thailand engage with Trump's US?", (Opinion, June 3).
With the thought-provoking summary of Thailand's special relationship with the US since 1833 from Kavi Chongkittavorn, and the reported feedback from four former diplomats, one should have hope for the outcome of the coming negotiations with the US in reducing Trump's reciprocal tariff of 34% on Thailand.
The 192-year-old oath of the longevity of the friendship, "as long as heaven and earth can endure", will now be tested. Since the inauguration of President Donald Trump on Jan 20, we have seen many earth-shaking events caused by his hyper tariffs and extreme nationalism, worse than the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, which was designed to protect American industries and farmers from foreign competition.
It is worse because this time he has risked the world's stability starting from wanting Canada as a 51st state, his Panama claims, his naming of the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, his desire to take over Greenland, and his worsening of Ukraine's sensitive position amid his reducing Nato's credibility in Europe.
One can only hope one is wrong in questioning the sincerity of that friendship, and the coming outcome could be near rosy.
Songdej Praditsmanont
No magic medicine
Re: "Traditional triumphs", (BP, June 3).
I read Michael Setter's rather pedantic comments concerning my criticisms of Thailand's "weed is great for your health" policy and traditional medical practices, which have caused a cannabis free-for-all as anyone can see on the street. If I may, I'd like to briefly reply.
First, I am not an engineer, but a language specialist and university/high school educator who simply understands how things work, so I volunteered to help aerospace projects for Thai teenagers for no salary.
Second, to Mr Setter's exaggerated point, many modern medicines do come from plants, animals, and even leeches, but that does not mean one puts live leeches on ill people or allows otherwise healthy people to light up with cannabis in public because they have a bruise.
Finally, I have global healthcare coverage from the USA -- the same plan as many congressmen and senators.
My health insurance graciously did pay 486,000 baht in intensive care bills this past January without even a copayment, and they will pay for a chiropractor, but they will not pay for quack medicine by antiquated "traditional" doctors using voodoo, cannabis, rain dances, and tarot cards, nice people though they are.
If you want to know what medicine really works, follow the insurance money.
Jason A Jellison
Tone down identity
Re: "Not so proud", (PostBag, June 4) & "Proud to be out", (BP, June 2).
How refreshing to read a letter from a person who keeps his sexual persuasion to himself, decrying those who prefer to shout it from the rooftops, which ends up projecting themselves as extroverted loonies.
Sadly, this extremism is being fed into the younger generation every day, who may think it is normal and want to jump on the bandwagon, or Gay Pride float, as the case may be. Well said, Sir. You should be proud.
Ron Martin
