 |
|
 |
|
MAIL BAG |
|
|
|
Negative Nellies!
Dear Editor,
It was with great enthusiasm I read Sunny’s letter to the editor last issue
in regards to the negative nellies that abound! I have a few in my moo baan
too and they make me crazy. Nothing is ever good enough; either it is too
hot, too much rain or when the weather is perfect they are already
predicting doom for the upcoming smokey season. They can’t seem to enjoy
anything just for today!
I have lived in Thailand for a few years now and the positive outlook on
life is one of the things that makes life here so much better than the
depressed, unhappy and angry people back in my own country. I do not want to
listen to those same people here!
So my advice to Sunny is to make like a duck’s back and let it slide over
you. There is no need to really listen to these people and there is no need
to absorb any of their negativity. I have one particular neighbor, a very
unhappy German, who does nothing but complain to me. Finally I smiled at him
one day and said, “I think it is great here, sure there is bad but there is
bad everywhere and the good here is so much better than the good back home,
don’t you think?” He shut up and left me alone after that but I am sure he
considers me one of the “rose tinted spectacles” brigade that the negative
nellies always natter on about.
Well, better rose tinted spectacles than ones covered in mud!
Yours,
Sunny too!
|
|
 |
Democracy in Thailand,
American style
Dear Editor,
The Bangkok Post has refused to publish this letter. Read it and guess why.
In a mature democracy, there is one simple rule. If you want to run things—win
an election.
In Washington DC, the American Republican Party apparently did not get that
memo.
In Bangkok, the Thai Democratic Party—which has not won a national election in
30 years—is similarly attempting to punch above their weight class.
As a resident expat, I don’t care what party wins an election—that is the
business of Thai people. I DO care about living in a civil society with a
functioning democracy. When Khun Abhisit speaks against reconciliation—egged on
by the Bangkok newspapers, the banks, and the unelected “experts” whose opinions
can always be found in the Bangkok Post—he does not speak for the Thai people.
Incorrect ideas are reinforced by living in an echo chamber where everyone
around you reinforces your thoughts. But the Thai people—and the Thai people
alone-get to decide with their votes the path of the nation. Not The Nation, not
Bangkok Bank, not the PAD.
In America, I have won elections and lost elections. When I won, I governed.
When I lost, I respected the democratically expressed will of the voters,
learned from the defeat, and worked hard to win the next time around. In the
interim, the winner governed.
The Thai people voted overwhelmingly for Puea Thai. Puea Thai represents the
hopes and aspirations of the Thai people. Had the Democrats won they could have
made the same claim.
But they didn’t.
The Mad Falang
Chiang Mai
|
|
“Freak” accident”
Dear Editor,
I am writing in regards to the article in the current edition of Chiang Mai
Mail.
“Sarapee village struck by tragedy, Governor pledges aid; Bus plunges into
ravine; 22 dead”
The reporter refers to this tragedy as a ‘freak accident’ and I am wondering if
he/she knows something about the tragedy that readers don’t. What is freak about
it?
The driver was, it is claimed, new to this dangerous stretch of road. The other
buses in the convoy did not crash. Therefore, it would seem to be either driver
error or brake/steering failure.
Or probably a combination of these factors.
Driver error is not ‘freak’, nor is poor maintenance.
None-the-less, condolences are due to the unfortunate victims of this
all-too-common tragedy.
Yours,
Ron
Maps for Eating Out reviews
Dear Editor,
I do enjoy your publication BUT this is the 21st century and when you review a
restaurant or any other place PLEASE include a link to a map! A verbal
description is fine and the Thai way but I suspect many of your readers will
appreciate accurate map locations too. I know I would!
There are many good examples out there. This is my personal map I keep as an
example: http://goo.gl/DYcn7K. I would be happy to teach anyone how to use a map
to mark locations!
Thanks for listening,
Tom
More info on the Mae Jo Lantern Release
Dear Editor,
Please pass this on to Ms. Rossetti-le Strange
Regarding the Yi Ping festival behind Payap University. I would recommend
checking the date of the festival and balloon lighting possibly at the temple at
the site behind the university. It is usually held a week or so before the
festivals official date of around the 17th. I have been there several times at
has always been held about a week or so early.
Good luck
TR in Chiang Mai
One for Doc Iain!
Hiya ‘Doc’.
Just read your motor sport column in the November 3 issue and have to say I like
all your F1 comments. Especially re the drivers.
The much respected Pitpass website said that Kimi had been told to “get the f***
out of the way” on the radio recently, which is certainly adding insult to the
financial injury in a big way, and indicative of mega-serious problems there.
He is apparently owed 30 million, and I don’t mean baht.
a) why on earth should he see the season out, having apparently been paid NOWT
this year, and
b) who on earth would want to take his seat next year? I do like the way you put
“Lotus” in quotes! Indeed it has nothing to do with that unique, historical
entity.
What a way to treat a World Champion who puts his life on the line every time
those red lights go out!
David
|
|
 |
|
|
