Editor;
In response to Mr. Deins’ "shaming of
Pattaya" for the sale of Osama Bin laden t-shirts I think he should be
reminded that this is Pattaya, not New York. It is also, thankfully, a
democracy with freedom of expression and if that’s not to Mr. Deins’
liking maybe he’d like to pop next door to Myanmar and observe the
alternative on offer there.
He surely doesn’t have the arrogance to presume the
right to dictate what should and should no be acceptable for a country in
which he is a guest, based on his own sensitivities.
Admittedly Nine-Eleven was a tragedy and in no way am I
anti-American. In fact some of my best friends hang around with Americans.
But okay, joking apart, Bin Laden t-shirts may be deemed
to be in bad taste. But that’s all they are - bad taste. As are a vast
array of other controversial t-shirts and paraphernalia openly available in
Pattaya and throughout the Kingdom.
You can probably find a t-shirt here in Pattaya that will
insult just about everything and everyone you care to think of. If not, you
can have them made in their thousands for next to nothing.
It’s interesting to note Mr. Dein’s silence on, for
example, the proliferation of the Nazi and SS insignia and, horror of
horrors pictures of Der Fuehrer himself. Bearing in mind the millions who
lost their lives to that guy’s aspirations it’s a shame this bears no
mention in Mr. Deins’ shaming of Pattaya.
As some of my immediate family perished in the Second
World War, I for one would have reason to make this an issue, but I don’t.
Whereas I would never personally wear a nazi emblem on my chest or head I
would defend the rights of anyone inclined to do so, however stupid,
offensive or distasteful I think it may be. The point is people are buying
this stuff.
Osama Bin Laden t-shirts are no doubt being snapped up by
Pattaya residents and visitors who, without meaning to offend Mr Deins, are
among a vast number of people who, especially at the moment, don’t like
Americans, the USA or anything it stands for.
As indeed there are those who can’t stand the British,
the French, the Germans or anyone else you care to mention. I’m British
and I don’t give a toss about what others feel about me or my country and
it would take more than a t-shirt depicting Saddam Hussein in a compromising
position with the Queen to upset me.
Mr Dein’s issue should not be with the vendors of
offending t-shirts, Pattaya itself or the government of Thailand but with
those individuals who are actually buying the items. And good luck to him in
that pursuit.
One of Thailand’s greatest strengths is its tolerance
and live and let live attitude to the variations, persuasions and
perversions of the human race that find their way here.
Mr Deins, lighten up and just be grateful for that fact,
and let’s get back to the really important issues of Pattaya life such as
the deck chairs on Jomtien Beach...
Whitey
