Prayers from afar
Re: "Border conflict test big powers' resolve", (Opinion, Dec 23).
Thank you to the Bangkok Post and Kavi Chongkittavorn for the incisive and clear discourse in the piece, and for the writer breaking down the situation for those of us located abroad and who don't get regular updates on the news of this ongoing tragedy.
Having travelled on both sides of the border in better and safer times, I can't believe that this is happening. The situation is heartbreaking, given the beauty of both countries and the natural, spiritual, and historical blessings both countries share.
My wife and I will be praying for peace and for the blessed Thais who demonstrated such kindness to us when we were younger, rough-and-tumble, overland travellers who tramped and bused through the areas now affected.
Thank you to the Bangkok Post and to those who truly bring us the news that is meaningful -- even though it is difficult to hear and shocking to digest!
And thank you to all the Thais who have now been so horrifically affected by the conflict for your past kindness; you're in our prayers!
Mike Sluchinski
Christmas reclaimed
Re: "Irresistible deals put them in debt. Now they're trying to kick the shopping habit", (World, Dec 3).
The frenetic buy-more lead-in gifting to Christmas yet again testifies to its annual commercialisation that guts Christ's birth of its true worth.
Christmas online shopping mania to the tune of billions, anxious hand-wringing about delayed deliveries that don't make it in time for the Christmas tree gift unwrapping, the mad rush to avoid shopping mall crowds to buy gifts online, all testify to Australia's erring consumerist belief that physical gifts are the truest manifestation of goodwill towards our dearest and fairest.
How about emailing a snapshot of a hand-written letter that manifests our heartfelt thoughts and mindscape, or an e-Christmas card that supplants hand- or plane-delivery to neighbours or recipients on the other side of the world?
The eco-friendly currency for truly meaningful and priceless Christmas exchanges is manifest in the authenticity of thought expressed in handwritten celebration cards and end-of-year letters snapshot for speedy cyber-delivery.
This year, my family has banned Christmas gifting because we believe that this is not the true meaning of Christ's birth. It's a small first step away from colossal gifting, kids excepted, of course. The saved funds will be disbursed to those without, in need, in grief, in hunger and in pain.
Joseph Ting
Messy rice riddle
Re: "Foreigner cheated in winning eating challenge, pocketed B30,000 prize", (Online, Dec 22).
This story is worthy of Monty Python. How do you manage to stuff rice into your pockets, while eating, without anyone noticing, unless the staff present were glued to their mobiles? Is he the Houdini of ingestion?
Presumably, the rice was infused with curry sauce, so it would have been a very messy business sartorially. Also, how did he wash his hands to remove the gooey evidence and accept the substantial prize?
I also wonder about the human capacity to ingest 8kg of food in such a short time. Mr Creosote would have been very impressed.
Ellis O'Brien
