More comment on “unpleasant incident with American soldier”

Dear sir,

It was unfortunate that "A Farang living, etc., etc." had a rude introduction to the U.S. military. In his anger, he seems to have overlooked that there are two sides to every story.

To begin with, he must have been stopped right on the baht bus’s bumper in order for the soldier to step out on his hood. It was wrong for the soldier to walk across his car, and rude of him to raise his middle finger.

But, while the soldier damaged his car, "A Farang living, etc., etc." committed assault and battery on the soldier, always a more serious offense than property damage. If the Thai police had been on the scene rather than the U.S. military police, I think he would have spent the night in a cell.

"A Farang living, etc., etc." seems to have a problem with black people, as denoting the soldiers race once would have been sufficient, rather than repeatedly.

He also seems to have a problem with the American military, referring to the soldier as an "arrogant fighting machine" and a "semi automatic killing machine", U.S. soldiers in general as "American fighting machines", and "brave American soldiers", "aggressors", and "primates". He obviously is unaware that for every soldier engaged in combat, there are nine support personnel, or that all humans are classified as primates.

He refers to American flyers dropping bombs on Iraq, along with the British and French, and Yugoslavia, along with the other members of NATO, as though the invasion and despoliation of Kuwait, and the perpetration of inhumane hardships on one million Albanian Kosovars, are not worthy of response. And that to respond to the Iraqi and Serbian aggressions threatens "the entire world peace".

After his slurs on the American military, he refers to his son as "well oversized, athletic and Ramboesque". It seems he wants to have it both ways.

He should keep in mind that soldiers on pass in Pattaya are young, impulsive, and probably drunk, just like thousands of other visitors here.

The military police almost certainly made a report on the incident. If "A Farang living, etc., etc." will call the military attaché’ at the American Embassy, they will be glad to take his claim for the damage to his car and glasses, and facilitate the soldier paying for his vandalism. Of course, the soldier might want to press his own complaint for assault and battery, and point out that the glasses were broken during a scuffle in which "A Farang living, etc., etc." initiated the physical aggression.

Unlike "A Farang living, etc., etc." I will not hide behind anonymity, but sign my name,

Lawrence Neal
1st Cavalry Div., Retired

Pattaya

Unpleasant: racist and narrow minded

Dear Editor:

I am an American who had the pleasure of visiting Thailand, including Pattaya, last Fall. I plan to come back many times. I am neither black nor in the military.

The incident described in the letter (Unpleasant Experience with American Soldier, Mailbag 5/28/99) was both unfortunate and outrageous. However, the writer revealed his racist and narrow minded attitudes. First of all, he doesn’t know for sure that these were soldiers (or more accurately, sailors). Secondly, he makes much of the fact that they were black, referring to them as "primates" and "Mastodons". Would the incident have been more palatable if they were Caucasian or Asian?

He also slandered Thais, implying that because they are smaller in stature, the authorities could not handle such people. Of course, the writer gives himself away when he goes into a diatribe, at the end of his letter, about American foreign policy. I suspect that if the perpetrators hadn’t been American (if they, indeed, were), the incident wouldn’t have been quite so onerous.

I don’t know what nationality the writer was, but I hope his narrow minded and racist views don’t represent his country.

Sincerely,
Alan S. Brown

N.Y.C.

Get over it

Editor:

Last week’s letter regarding the "Unpleasant incident with an American soldier" was truly pitiful. It is hard to believe that the anonymous (of course) farang’s anti-American harangue was sparked by an incident with a drunken American serviceman that resulted in a few scratches to his car. If it weren’t for the letter’s racist undertones, the writer’s overwrought outrage would have been entirely laughable.

As hard as it is to believe that someone might actually drink too much in a Pattaya bar and cause a scene, condemnation of the entire American military based on this incident is a bit much. On my last visit to Pattaya this past February, I saw more than a few people who had appeared to have exceeded their tolerance levels for alcohol. Believe it or not, Americans were more than outnumbered by other nationalities on that score.

Here in Washington, D.C. we get a pretty fair sampling of tourists from abroad, and while most of my experiences have been positive, I have found that no race or nationality has a monopoly on rudeness. So Mr. No-Name Farang had a bad experience with an American serviceman. On behalf of Americans everywhere, I apologize. Now get over it.

See you in November!
(I will be the sober American.)

Peter Schultze
Washington, D.C.

It is dangerous to stereotype

Editor;

I would like to address the author (farang) of the letter regarding the "Unpleasant Incident with American Soldier."

The so-called "killing machine" you mentioned in your letter is very telling of your frustration with Americans in general. If some American soldier was rude to you, or anyone for that matter, he/she alone should be responsible for his/her actions - not the whole USA. I am sorry about your car. However, this incident is no justifiable reason for you to stereotype anyone. If you wish to make a point, please stick to the subject. Your letter speaks more to what’s happening in other countries (politics) than addressing the unpleasant incident with the American Soldier. It seems to me that your problem was with one American, not the politics of America.

I am a Black American who has visited Thailand every year since 1994. I must say, the country itself is a very beautiful place. The people of Thailand are beautiful as well. I do not visit Thailand for the bar girls - we have bars here in America. There is more to this beautiful country than that. During my visits, I have often encountered a few Thais who were rude, and I have also met many others who were very nice, including farangs who were nice also. However, I do not judge one Thai or farang and use that judgement against all other Thais or farangs, or their country, or their country’s politics. That would be wrong.

To answer your specific questions:

Question: What is it that we have experienced now?

Answer: We have not experienced anything. You have experienced one person being rude to another. It happens every day.

Question: What lesson here is to be taken now?

Answer: First, never grab a "killing machine;" second, let the police do their job. They are responsible for keeping the peace.

Question: What conclusion is to be made now?

Answer: Never stereotype a country for one person’s actions.

Question: How safe are we citizens of this world in the neighborhood of these American fighting machines?

Answer: Americans live throughout the whole world. It is wrong to judge all Americans based on the rude actions of one person.

Question: What kind of protection is it that they pretend to provide to the democratic world?

Answer: Now you’re talking politics, and you are not addressing the rude American.

Question: Is this the appropriate behavior of "the brave American soldier" when knowing that other members of his clan are now dropping bombs in Yugoslavia and Iraq, threatening the entire world peace?

Answer: NATO is dropping bombs on Yugoslavia and Iraq. NATO consists of several different countries. But, you’re talking politics again, and you are not addressing the rude American.

Question: How many more such incidents do we need before we all start hating this American Fighting Machine?

Answer: It seems to me you need none to hate the whole USA. Hate is a bad thing and causes problems. Please don’t try to encourage others to hate because you do. Hate is why Yugoslavia and Iraq are in the position they’re currently facing.

Question: I really would like to know what goes on in the mind of these primates?

Answer: Primates? I thought the problem was with one American - I would say soldier, but you assumed that he was a soldier. However, you know he was a Black American?

Question: Do they really believe this is the right thing to do in a country which is not theirs but which is so hospitable and friendly to tolerate them on their territory for chasing Thai girls in the night bars or Pattaya?

Answer: Right thing to do? I read the Pattaya Mail weekly, bi-weekly at a minimum. Sometimes I read that a law loving farang has been arrested for child molestation, or for exploiting Thai women by video taping them in compromising situations and selling them as movies. There are even articles of incidents involving farangs who perform illegal acts that take from the country’s integrity. More often, I see more farangs chasing Thai girls. However, all farangs are not child molesters nor do they break the law. Personally, I prefer to judge people by their character, and not by their country or their country’s politics.

Question: Do they really believe they ($$$) are so beloved that this kind of insolence is accepted?

Answer: Are we still talking about the rude American?

Question: Is the Pattaya police a match for these fighting machines?

Answer: If you read the Pattaya Mail on a weekly basis, you would know that the Pattaya police are more than a match for any one who breaks the law. Next time, give them a chance.

Question: For how long is the Pattaya municipality ready to offer this kind of privilege to these aggressors, from whom it should slightly become clear that they are not the friends of the Thais.

Answer: First, you are not Thai and you don’t think like a Thai. So, what is clear to you may be clouded by the rude American’s behavior. I consider Thais to be my friends - some of which have even visited my home in America. They are truly loved by me and my friends. Secondly, not all Thai women are bar girls. Everyone I know in America who has visited Thailand has had nothing but positive things to say about their experiences. Americans don’t have to travel 6,000 miles to see bar girls because we have them here. Also, I think that all countries have bar girls. But, never-the-less, they are people, too. I also think it is insulting for you to imply that Thais feel intimidated or afraid. If you are living in Thailand and you think Thai people are intimidated and afraid, then you have not learned anything about Thais. Perhaps they don’t want confrontation, but I don’t believe they are intimidated or afraid.

One last comment: In your letter, you state that you have decided not to return to Pattaya until you are sure that no American naval vessels are anchored in the Bay. I guess your problem was not with the rude American... but with the American naval vessels coming to Thailand.

You are a confused person!

Signed
Ray Foster, USA

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.