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Published on November 12, 2007

Reports of Suree Sukha's signing next Friday are indeed welcome, both for him and for those who want to see Thailand's profile in football boosted.

For the first time a Thai player has been offered a place in the Premiership, which will no doubt, as you say, cause "a real buzz".

But I can't help but speculate that this is again so typical of deposed prime minister Thaksin's timing: just a month prior to the election, Thai people are being buoyed by a sense of excitement about the move.

I wish the lad well but "spreading the Blue word", as Eriksson put it, could well be all about cynical exploitation in true Thaksinesque style, so as to influence the run-up to the "big event".

James Groveway

Bangkok

Don't let prejudice guide marriage/ID regulations

The way I understand it, the arguments against changing gender designation on identity documents for those who have undergone sex-change operations go something like this:

1) "One might be duped into marrying a man instead of a woman (or vice versa)."

I think if you get that far along in your relationship and have yet to figure it out, you must be stupid, a virgin, or unable to discern the difference anyway. So, what's the objection? You are in love and the plumbing matches your requirements. If it is a matter of a few DNA strands, how shallow your love must be!

2) "It might encourage more of these sorts to flaunt their femininity."

Just the use of the word "flaunt" discounts this argument by revealing it's inherent bias. Frankly, I'm offended by straight men flaunting their sexuality by being uncouth and ill mannered on public sidewalks.

3) "Folks might change sexes back and forth as they get tired of one or the other."

Much like politicians change parties back and forth based on where they can make the most money and have the most power? I think it's not quite as easy as that (the multiple sex-change reversal, with interchangeable parts). Let's solve that problem when and if it arises.

I propose a very simple solution to make everyone happy. Don't change ID cards, but rather allow anyone to marry anyone they please, regardless of sex. Then, if a man falls in love with a lovely transsexual, he is free to marry her (him?) openly. I would finally be able to marry my Thai male partner of 15 years. Why not? It's nobody's business but ours.

Bruce Janis

Chiang Mai

Responsible dog owners key to a quiet Thailand

There is a guy from Mexico who came to Los Angeles and developed a lucrative gig where he educates people on how to take charge of their dogs. His clients include such celebrities as billionaire talk-show host Oprah Winfrey - who jets her dog to him for disciplinary sessions. Back home here in Thailand, I lament the fact that some Thais don't discipline their dogs. Either they don't think to do it, don't know how, or they don't care - thinking, perhaps, that it's a dog's nature to bark and be randy, so who are we (as a different species) to compel them to do any different.

There's a joke that goes something like this: if you fancy yourself a big shot, go and test it out by seeing whether you can shut up your neighbours' dogs when they act up. I don't fancy myself a big shot, but I do actually shut my neighbours' dogs up when they bark. They are three high-strung small dogs that bark at anything, day and night. The neighbours don't have a clue.

Here are some suggested rules for having a dog as a pet:

1) Don't adopt a dog unless you understand what having a pet is about and are prepared to take full responsibility for the animal and its offspring.

2) Let the dog stay with its mother as long as possible. If plucked from the litter too soon, it will be high-strung and irritable.

3) Try to avoid furry dogs. Actually, most dogs love frigid weather. Even a short-haired dog like a Labrador, if it sees icy water, will jump right in joyfully. A Bangkok-type climate is awful for most dogs. Better to get a pet lizard.

4) Try to love your dog beyond its puppy stage. Many people take their dogs outside the town limits to abandon them once they are no longer cute pups. On any given night on just my one rural road, there are between one and four new dogs wandering around aimlessly, scared after having been abandoned. There are virtually no animal shelters in Thailand, which is a sad state of affairs.

5) Get your pet neutered.

Thai temples are supposed to be, among other things, serene places where laymen can visit to meditate or otherwise tune in to their spiritual and peaceful nature. In reality, Thai temples have largely become the territories of mangy and mean bands of dogs. There are many temples in my town that I don't visit purely because we don't like being harassed by packs of barking dogs.

Ken Albertsen

Chiang Rai

Money earmarked for jets could help aid poor

Recently we read the news about the Thai military's plan to buy Swedish jets. Someone who has some knowledge about military planes said that this is not a very good choice. His reasons included questions related to the suitability of the planes in hot climates like that of Thailand, questions surrounding their reliance in other countries, as well as the difficulty of obtaining spare parts since the most widely available parts are for American planes, the most dominant country in this particular market.

Has the military researched this thoroughly before spending the country's money on these planes while the poor do not have enough to eat, let alone provide for the education of their children?

The children of the poor in other countries have proven successful, for example Singapore's former prime minister Goh Chok Tong and former Canadian deputy prime minister John Manley. Does Thailand provide these opportunities for the poor?

Some military personnel in this country are rich, some extremely rich, while many of this country's poor remain so for generations. Can authorities use some of this money to help the poor rather than spending it on weapons?

Sue Tan

Bangkok