Page 14 - The Economist Asia January 2018

14
Letters The Economist January 27th 2018
institutions, an ever-increasing Say what you like about Wash-
Unhappyanniversary Singaporean values
partisanship, greatersocial ington Dulles, JFK and Miami,
I fundamentally disagree with divisions and the consequen- “Rules are thickerthan blood” but you left out one American
the conclusion ofyourleader tial breakdown in the ability of (January13th) derided Singa- airport that has managed to
reviewingDonald Trump’s society to find solutions to pore’s norms on what consti- earn the wrath ofboth Donald
first yearin office. You let him pressingproblems. tutes a family as “Victorian”. Trump and Joe Biden: LaGuar-
offtoo lightly (“One yearold”, JONATHAN TURNER Ourvalues and social norms dia. Both men have said travel-
January13th). The critical point San Francisco on what makes fora stable lingthrough LaGuardia is like
comes in the final line ofyour family unit are conservative beingin the “third world”.
argument: “He and his admin- Shame on you. Yourblinding and shape the government’s MIKE GALLAGHER
istration need to be held prop- desire to highlight the liberal policies and rules on adoption. Doha, Qatar
erly to account forwhat they left makes you write articles, They differfrom today’s West-
actually do.” Yet you reject such as yourpiece on Mr ern norms, which are histori- No list ofthe world’s worst
what you describe as an Trump’s first year, that are cally recent and by no means airports is complete without a
“obsession” ofMrTrump’s incorrect and totally inaccu- uncontested, even in Western special mention forcertain
opponents with his character, rate. Liberals (Democrats) need societies. Singaporeans will terminals at Paris Charles de
and suggest that his lackof to learn how to lose. You’ll be determine theirown pace of Gaulle. In these Houses of
principles actually creates an backin powerone day and any change in family values. Dread, the ratio ofborder
opportunity formakingdeals. you’ll have yourchance once Apush forrapid social officials to passengers is some-
In a country still torn by more. Forthe time being, let Mr change, especially on conten- times one to a thousand. Pick-
racial divisions, MrTrump’s Trump do his job. His potential tious moral issues, risks polar- pockets and hustlers zero in on
comments afterCharlottesville mistakes may give you abun- isingsociety and producing you underthe sight ofun-
mattera great deal. In a coun- dant ammunition to demon- unintended results. In Singa- concerned policemen. Taxi
try whose constitution en- strate that he is wrong, but let pore nearly all children are drivers insult you copiously if
shrines free speech, labelling the guy prove you right. Be born and raised in wedlock, you want to pay by card. The
the press as “the enemy ofthe good losers and remember starkly different from what airport’s Wi-Fi gives you an
people” matters a great deal. that the country comes before now happens in the West. We advance taste ofescargots.
Blatant disregard forthe truth any political ideology. make no claim to know which ROMAIN POIROT-LELLIG
matters a great deal, as does ANDY VAN WALLEGHEM values are best forevery Paris
encouragingviolence by the Cypress, Texas society. The Economist may
police. The list goes on and is thinkSingapore is quaint and
as longas yourarm. Marginalised communities old-fashioned, but time will
You are wrongto imply that tell ifa cautious approach to
callingattention to this type of It was very welcome to see a social change is wiser.
behaviouris frivolous. Democ- thoughtful article on the dire FOO CHI HSIA
racy and its institutions are situation ofGypsies and High commissioner for
fragile and precious. The Travellers in Britain who find Singapore
presidency matters more, themselves newly ineligible to London
domestically and overseas, apply foran authorised
than the simple tally of encampment (“No place to Terminal decline
legislative achievements. All roam”, January13th). The most
democratically elected leaders unjust effect, however, is on The main issue that prevents I nominate Atlanta. It has the
should be held to account for the most vulnerable—those America’s airports from pro- longest queues and most
theircharacter, theirhonesty who cannot travel forreasons vidingthe best possible pas- bolshie officials, even by
and theireffect on the fabric of ofill-health orextreme old sengerexperience is a woeful- American standards. When
theirnations. As the leader of age—and who now cannot rely ly understaffed Customs and my feisty French wife
the free world, America’s on any national planning BorderProtection agency expressed concern at missing
president should be held to the advice ofthe sort which used (“Departure gates ofhell”, ourtransit flight, the gentle-
highest standards ofall. to enable them to continue to January 6th). To ensure greater man replied, “Lady, at this
In some ways, yourargu- live within the Gypsy and efficiency and security, air- point youronly concern is: am
ments demonstrate the extent Travellerethnic way oflife. ports, includingMiami Inter- I goingto allow you into my
to which oursociety has been I should add that ethnicity national, have called forin- country ornot?” My British
anaesthetised by MrTrump has been legally established, in creases in CBP front-line staff, passport full ofvisas to Russia,
and his kind. Many ofthose the case ofRomani Gypsies forwhich Congress needs to Qatarand so on, required an
who hold him to account for (Commission forRacial Equali- provide the funding. CBP has explanation foreach stamp.
his ethics and his words do so tyvDutton, 1989) and Irish foryears faced a shortage of Yes we missed ourflight. And
not “as an exercise in wish Travellers (O’Leary v Allied thousands ofofficers across all they lost ourluggage.
fulfilment” to remove him Domecq, 2000), which is why ourair, land and sea ports. This DAVID LING
from office but because they they should be spelt with is a problem that will only get Eguisheim, France 7
have a grasp ofthe magnitude capitals G and T. You wouldn’t worse when enhanced border-
ofthe issues facingthe United want to write “jews” or security measures further
States, a love oftheircountry “sikhs”, would you? delay the traffic transiting Letters are welcome and should be
and a beliefthat integrity, JANET WHITAKER through these ports. addressed to the Editor at
The Economist, The Adelphi Building,
morality and characterare Co-chair KEVIN BURKE 1-11John Adam Street,
important. The president’s All-Party Parliamentary Group President and CEO London WC2N 6HT
weakcharacterand dishones- for Gypsies, Travellers and Roma Airports Council International, E-mail: letters@economist.com
ty contribute greatly to the House of Lords North America More letters are available at:
erosion oftrust in democratic London Washington, DC Economist.com/letters