Yes, Mr Imtiaz Muqbil, Asia was ahead of Europe in sciences, a thousand years ago! This fact could go a long way to explain the resentment and frustration of Asians today for trying to emulate the western model and feeling ashamed of a good part of their own culture.

As for communicating and its goodness, it seems there is in fact more and more of it, but less and less substance to be communicated, as the world is rapidly losing its cultural diversity. But I fail to see where and when Mr Amartya Sen's remark about "the old tradition of talking to each other' applies. Certainly not in India, his homeland. Everywhere else, perhaps...(save in Washington these days?).

Quoting such and such renowned thinkers of the past and present as you do, you are only picking and choosing the pieces that will justify your pre-established opinion. A different set of quotes, available just as well on the shelves of the learned, could prove just the opposite.

Kuldeep Nagi (1 April 2007) presented an argument for globalisation completely lacking substance, citing sky-scrapers, toll-ways, Toyotas and Suvarnabhumi airport, implying that a sufficiency economy would stop the movement of currencies, goods and services, more exchange of ideas, more Nokias, more Toyotas, Sonys and more Thai restaurants; then telling us globalisation brought us Google, emails, blogs, Nokias, Internet phones, Internet TV and Boeing and Airbus planes.

Kuldeep Nagi is in a strange globalisation cult mesmerised by shiny, new bobbles and bangles, unable to see the reality: globalisation is a delusion that has been exposed as such, and everything cited above is fully consistent with a sufficiency economy.

I find it quite telling that Perspective chose to illustrate its March 18, 2007 article on the Ministry of Culture with pictures of young, very sexy women.

Why is it that women are always the ones to bear the brunt of "morality" codes? Where's the picture of all the lying, scheming rip-off men I've come across in Thailand, who apparently aren't subject to the same code of ethics as women? Why is the Ministry of Culture even involved in people's sexuality?

Being proud of being sexy is normal, as sex is normal. It's the stifling of it that creates stress within a culture, manifesting itself in frustrated males that use testosterone coupled with alcohol to act violently, committing crimes instead of having sex.

I'd also like to ask this question to those that feel Islam somehow demeans women more so than western culture: Just what is the difference between being forced to cover one's hair or face in order to avoid being thought of in a sexual manner and being coerced by social norms to cover one's nipple with an uncomfortable elastic band known as a bra? Please think about that.

And please allow me another comment. I thought Team America was probably the funniest movie I ever saw, particularly the uncut version with all the puppet sex scenes! It was brilliant satire.

I disagree with Chavalit Van (Postbag, March 3) that Thaksin has a duty to prove himself innocent of the tax evasion charges brought against his family. In civilised society it is the obligation of those bringing charges to prove them and, until they do, the rest of us are supposed to presume the accused to be innocent.

Exactly why Thailand is a country in disarray, and with little hope, could not be illustrated more clearly than it was in the 2 April Post article about the second trip for the CNS members to Chiang Mai to see a fortune teller - supposedly all at the taxpayers' expense.

I should laugh because this venture is an absolute, complete fraud and a joke but, instead, I am left to weep for a nation dutifully blinded in ignorance by the established powers-that-be.

Being an Indian-Indian student as opposed to a Thai-Indian student studying in a reputed Thai university, I am often frustrated with the way things are run around here.

Although there are hundreds if not thousands of issues that I could raise regarding the student life here in Thailand, the one that is most angering to me personally is the uniform.

Uniforms are the ultimate symbol of conformity; they symbolise obedience and unity under a single leading force. Going through college is supposed to help one discover who they are and that it is okay to be different from others and display individualism. Why don't Thai students rebel against this? Is it that they plead ignorance of their rights that are being stomped over, or is it that they are just indifferent about what goes on around them? I can't count the number of times I have been proscribed from using university facilities simply because I wasn't dressed in uniform and frankly I'm quite sick of it.

I fully agree with the Constitution Drafting Committee's putting a stipulation that the government set up a political development fund for civic groups, to promote political activities in society. This must be a neutral, non-party-affiliated fund, and as CDC member Pisit Leeatham warned, we must prevent politicians from siphoning off money for their own hidden agendas.

As the US League of Women Voters noted, informed and active citizens, joining together to explore common problems and identify shared goals, can resolve the tough issues that confront our communities.

They must encourage public discussion of these problems and citizen participation in resolving them and, ultimately, take action to achieve solutions that contribute to the benefit of all.

Education and advocacy are the keys to opening the door to participatory democracy. These keys give citizens the information, the skills and the opportunity to influence the outcome of policy debate and shape the future of their communities.

I suggest that we study how to adapt the League's mission and methods to our needs, especially in keeping it non-partisan, so that we may have a vibrant democracy that serves our nation's long-term goals and is answerable to us.

and address, in confidence, to show good faith. A box number, fax number or internet address is insufficient. All letters should be clearly written or typed double-spaced on one side of the paper only. Please note that any letter we agree to publish will be subject to editing at our discretion.

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