Inspiring science
Re: "Mars InSight spacecraft lands on Red Planet", (Online, Nov 27).
The news reminds me of a British-educated Thai engineer who said he worked at Nasa in the early 70s and who was a chief designer of landing systems for the Mars space probes Viking 1 and Viking 2.
The Bangkok Post should do another, timely story on Dr Art-ong Jumsai Na Ayudhya, whom I found fascinating and awe-inspiring. According to his interview with a TV variety show 10 years ago, his Mars landing designs failed three times. All tested landers crashed and burned.
Art-ong Jumsai Na Ayudhya: After 100 years, we might be able to live on Mars. (YouTube/Kampung Senang)
Disappointed, he secluded himself on a mountain somewhere in California to meditate. After four days of meditation, a new idea popped up in his head and, you guessed it, he succeeded the fourth time. The Viking 1 lander touched down perfectly on the surface of Mars on July 20, 1976, and was joined by the Viking 2 lander on Sept 3.
According to Dr Art-ong, Nasa offered him US citizenship and a salary 20 times what he was making, from US$2,000 per month to $40,000 per month! (Remember it was 1976). He declined and moved back to Thailand to teach at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Engineering.
Dr Art-Ong now serves as the Chief Administrator of Sathya Sai School in Lop Buri province.
His story should inspire students and young Thais to study more science, especially at a time when we are way oversupplied with graduates of business management, the arts and social studies.
Somsak Pola
America is racist
Re: "A different view", (PostBag, Nov 26).
I agree with Mr Nagi that America is a racist country. Look at it this way: Barack Obama, whom historians have rated as a good president, lost the white vote in both of his bids for the presidency. Conversely, Donald Trump, about whom historians are now debating whether or not is already the worst president in history, won the white vote. One reason he's popular with white people is because of the South which has a history of slavery, racial segregation, the Ku Klux Klan and lynch mobs.
Most white Americans would rather have a lousy, racist president than a good black one.
Eric Bahrt
A real junta lover
Re: "Thaksin's son tipped to help lead Pheu Thai campaign", (Online, Nov 26).
The report quotes Panthongtae Shinawatra saying he plans to "restore democracy to the people".
What democracy does Thailand need restored that we have not experienced before? We have had Thaksin's version of democracy, Mr Suthep's version of democracy, Mr Abhisit's version of democracy, and presently Gen Prayut's version of democracy.
For my money, I'd take what Gen Prayut has to offer. At least there is no war against drugs killing innocent people like Thaksin's version of democracy, or murdering Muslims in the South, lest we forget the Kru Sae mosque incident. (Memories are short).
In Mr Abhisit's version of democracy, parts of Bangkok were occupied by those who supported Thaksin's version of democracy and burned property, closed public transit and disrupted the lives of many. Mr Suthep's version of democracy is nebulous. Gen Prayut's version of democracy has so far given us four years of no civil strife, a fairly good economy, and the introduction of good programmes such as the national savings plan and more transit projects.
There has been little political infighting because in Gen Prayut's democracy, things move ahead. Admittedly, the trains still don't run on time, but they never did, never will. Before I'm accused of being a junta lover, let me confess, it is what I am, and whom I support.
Major General Golani
Save old stations
Unknown, old train stations in Thailand will definitely disappear in the near future. I hope some of these typical, old Thai train stations can be saved from the demolition hammer in the future. Find a safe and nice place to rebuild the stations so the youngsters can see how nice they are.
Hubbie Lowlands
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