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Haunted Westerner
Dear Editor,
Re: Farang conceit (PM Mailbag Friday, 10 January 2014) - The comment of Mr.
Barry Kenyon is rather disconcerting but probably sent by someone with a
wife or girlfriend strongly connected to the party in the street since two
months.
More surprising as it is generated by a westerner who, in his mother
country, would complain without compromises a behavior like that.
I am not in favour of yellow, red, black or blue shirts but I would like to
see in Thailand a true democracy in full respect of popular sovereignty and
a respectable opposition.
Do you really believe that Thai people, politicians or government officers
are listening critics, suggestions or advices of westerners living in
Thailand? Forget it. They never read any letter or comment published in the
local newspaper. They simply go their own way. I cannot forget what happened
three years ago with 90 deaths, hundreds of injured and millions in damage.
Is that you want Mr. Kenyon?
I suggest the sender of the email to start reading carefully the recent book
of Tom Tuohi “Watching The Thais”. He will learn a lot on mentality and
attitude of Thai society.
Also should be useful to have a look to the 2 articles posted on Pattaya
Mail of January 10th Political Unrest; and Tourism Ministry on page 11.
Finally, the appellation of the archaic word pompous is totally not suitable
to my first email. The word means on a grand scale, ostentation, showy,
magniloquent, all attributes unsuited to a plain observer. Not my case.
Kind Regards,
Concerned Farang
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Smoking and the law
Sir,
Like many others I detest nanny government. It has taken a lot of
the joy out of life and has led to an increase of juvenile drug taking,
internet abuse, mobile phone abuse and other anti-social behaviour, but I
was astonished to read Arturo’s letter (10/1) in which he claims to dislike
people who want to enforce the law. Presumably he would not mind being hit
by a drunken motorist ignoring the law!
Arturo displays an utter contempt for others who have to suffer the misery
and harm inflicted by his foul smelling habit and it has to be pointed out
that any government has a primary duty to protect its citizens. Hence the
only satisfactory outcome is for all smoking to be prohibited in public. It
is interesting that the Philippines, hardly a nanny state, has already
several non-smoking cities.
How about it City Hall; why not make Pattaya the first non-smoking city in
Thailand?
Michael Nightingale
Correcting a correction
Dear Editor,
On 14th November 2013 the Irish Minister for Justice Equality and Law
Reform, Mr Alan Shatter T.D. issued a press release advising that from 18th
November 2013 all Thai citizens holding a valid UK visa would be permitted
to enter the Republic of Ireland. (Reference www.inis.gov. ie>media
centre>press release)
Hopefully this agreement with the UK will encourage many Thai visitors to
the UK to take the short trip to Ireland where they will receive a very big
Cead Mile Failte (A hundred thousand welcomes).
Your correspondent Sean Murphy (Mailbag 27th Dec issue) may not have known
about this development ,which is understandable when one is living so far
away.
Yours sincerely,
Max Wilson
Beaufort, Killarney, Co. Kerry
Ireland
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