FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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A humane society protects its children from violence

A humane society protects its children from violence

Re: “Ban on children boxing could weaken our muay thai heritage”, Have Your Say, November 12.

While Sutipunt Bongsununt could be right that barring youngsters from boxing will weaken Thai muay thai, it is a price that may have to be paid to protect innocent children. It is utterly absurd to have Thai boys fighting boxers who are much bigger and stronger than they are. I understand how poor parents could get the idea that their boys could bring them fame and fortune. Nonetheless, the fact remains that there is a much greater chance that the boys will get brain damage rather than impressive financial gains while engaging in muay thai.   
If poor Thai people are going to sacrifice their boys on the altar of money, then the government has to intervene and protect these innocents. This would be a clear example of laws being made for the good of the people. Surely, banning pro boxing for children under 13 will not cause much undue hardship. If it were up to me, no one under the age of 18 would be allowed to engage in a sanctioned boxing match. 
Of course, members of the muay thai boxing association would be against this law. According to them, boxing keeps boys from low-income families off the streets and out of trouble. While this may be true to a certain extent, a far better way of keeping poor Thai boys off the streets is getting them to behave as their counterparts in Japan and South Korea do, and encouraging them to study hard after school, or at least getting them to engage in a less dangerous sport. 
Medical science has shown that children have a greater chance of getting brain damage from boxing than do adults, since the human skull does not fuse and become fully developed until the age of 20 or beyond.
Paul
Khon Kaen

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