Re: "Online reading grows", (BP, Sept 9).
"Thai readers now spend an average of 152 minutes a day reading online, more than three times the 51 minutes spent with actual books, according to the Education Ministry."
It seems the ministry needs to spend more time reading up on their numbers, from whatever source.
Re: "No 'New World Order', only global disorder", (Opinion, Sept 9).
Just last week, President Donald Trump proposed renaming the US Department of Defense the Department of War. Since the intention is now understood worldwide, President Trump wants to align the name with what he sees as the department's real, longstanding objectives.
To the United States, war is treated like an industry -- one through which its powerful interests can profit. The goal is not necessarily to "win" in the conventional sense -- indeed, the US has struggled to achieve decisive victories in many recent conflicts -- but to sustain the machinery of war.
Current "war on drugs"–style initiatives, including aggressive counternarcotics pressure targeting non-existent cartels allegedly linked to Venezuela, are designed to advance the US war business: expanding budgets, contracts, basing rights, sending signals to potential defiant states, and influence, regardless of whether the stated problem is real.
In 1939, Thailand -- driven by a desire to modernise and a quest for peace -- renamed its War Ministry the Ministry of Defence, affirming a posture of goodwill and peace that reflects who we are and what we stand for as a nation to this day.
In today's geopolitical hotbed, when "war" appears in the prospective partner's name, we had better choose our friends carefully.
Re: "Fist bumps of hatred", (PostBag, Sep 7).
Joseph Ting claims to have been victimised by anti-immigrant protesters. If he dreams of living in a country where his feelings will not be hurt, perhaps he should sign up for Elon Musk's Mars colonisation project. Oh, wait a minute -- there will be the same problems there without a doubt.
There is always a course of action that allows one to become responsible for oneself. Gautama Buddha gave relevant instructions. It involves realising a positive disillusionment with the world and its inevitable disappointment, fear, loss, sorrow, and pain.
This place cannot be made into a utopia, but the human heart always offers a place of perfect respite, much like the refreshment of cool water on a moonlit night. Your choice, Mr Ting.
Re: "Anutin govt's options on global stage", (BP, Sept 9).
Now that Anutin Charnvirakul has taken over as leader of the nation, let's hope that there is more to his policy than just continuously promoting cannabis as a medical and recreational drug among adults!
He bears heavy responsibility for the Pheu Thai Party no longer being in power, as he failed to support Paetongtarn Shinawatra's leadership over her supposed deference to Cambodia's strongman Hun Sen.
Nonetheless, it is not at all surprising that he behaved as such, bearing in mind that he comes from Buri Ram, a place fairly close to the Cambodian border. It was easy for him to act tough and paint Thaksin's daughter as being a lightweight. But let's see how he now fares in the real world of politics, where good policy trumps everything else.
09 Sep 2025
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