Pattaya Mail — Letters

It is noticed that the letters herein in no way reflect the opinions of the editor or writers for Pattaya Mail, but are unsolicited letters from our readers, expressing their own opinions. No anonymous letters or those without genuine addresses are printed, and, whilst we do not object to the use of a nom de plume, preference will be given to those signed.

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Letters published in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail will also be on our website

Corruption from top to bottom

Dear Sir:
I have noticed the many calls for the present Prime Minister’s resignation. Do people really think this will solve Thailand’s economic woes and change the world opinion that the country is notoriously corrupt?

There is also a call for a cabinet reshuffle. How can a person who was not educated in economics and has no knowledge of fiscal systems improve something they do not understand? Another sad truth is that even if the best economist in the world were to take charge of managing the economy, they would not be allowed to do anything which interfered with ‘special interests’ or ‘influential persons’, who are the cause of most of Thailand’s economic problems.

How can one person change a system which is dysfunctional from the highest levels of Parliament to the humblest civil servant?

Thailand needs to do some serious soul-searching and realise that change will come only when everyone puts the interest of all over personal interest.

The one shining star which redeems Thailand is the worldwide admiration and love for His Majesty the King’s selfless devotion to His people and country. If all the people in Thailand had 1% of His Majesty’s devotion to Thailand and the welfare of the people, the country could be the beautiful and stable country it once was.
A Realist

Pattaya needs a park

Editor,
Most of my letters to you have had something to do with making Pattaya prettier. And most letters have had something to do with the Beach Road Promenade. The reason for this is simple. Here the city really has succeeded to a great extent in achieving its goal. But my letters have generally pointed to improvements that can be made. And just think of the opportunities the city will be given when the building of the promenade southwards becomes a reality. A new clean beach, a longer promenade with, I hope, a small park with benches, trees, bushes and flowers. Pattaya must take advantage of its immense fertile soil and climate. These are assets you can’t buy for money and should therefore be used their fullest extent.

Personally, I cannot stop being amazed when my wife puts leaves in the soil, only to experience to my very great amazement that within a few weeks small plants begin to grow. Given a little time, the plants will in due course bear flowers and perhaps fruit as well.

To really appreciate all this I think one must have some of my background. I was born and raised in a country where it is quite normal that we have 6 months of snow. When people ask me what sort of climate we have so far north, I normally, jokingly, answer: well, we have 6 months with excellent skiing, but the rest of the year it can vary.

Now I can hear the reader, who has managed to read so far, sigh - what does the fellow want with all this writing about greenery and snow? Well, I want Pattaya to have a real big park. The land and the trees are there and at the right spot. I’ve been looking at this place every time I pass it. It’s smack in the centre of Pattaya. When you walk north on the promenade, you will see a newcomer on the other side of Beach Road called Explorer Internet Café. But from there on and about 50 m. or more, only a fence. But behind the fence you will see big trees and green meadows - and nothing more before you glimpse the highest building behind, on 2nd Road.

I marvel at the thought of what a landscape architect and some good gardeners could have created out of this! The park Pattaya City so indeed needs.

Well, that was the dream. Back on earth again I ask myself what would this land cost, taking into consideration the unbelievable price of land in Pattaya. One thing is quite obvious; the city would never manage to find the money, as I am sure they would if it was possible.

There is, however, a solution. Donation! The person who owns this land must be immensely rich. And the sale of the land would make the person far richer - to do what? Riches may be a good thing, but they have a drawback - you cannot take it with you. Therefore, let me dream a little more. Think if this person showed his love to this city by making it even fairer by giving it what it so sorely needs - a Park! I’m sure that if this dream came true, the generous donor would feel happiness which is impossible to describe. The city on its side would name the park after the donor and erect a bust of the generous donor, and he would have his name preserved forever.
Allan

Don't advocate merchants of death

Dear Sir,
As a physician, I was horrified to read the letter on the Baden-Powells & Smoking in the issue V/43.

No responsible person would advocate this filthy habit, and shame on you for publishing it!

The writer is hoisted on her own petard. For very many years smokers, despite being oblivious to the hazards, still developed tobacco related diseases. Even now, many smokers are dismissive of the ill-effects; yet smoke on to get cancer, emphysema, heart disease and so on. So much for the "mind rules the body" idea! It does, of course, in strongly psychosomatic conditions such as respiratory and sleep disorders, but certainly not in those like smoking related ills, snake bite or cyanide poisoning. Animals forced to smoke suffer from the consequences despite having no knowledge or fear of the outcome of the evil process inflicted upon them. There are also plenty of anecdotal cases in ever doctor’s practice which are contrary to the spurious examples quoted by Mai Ben Arai.

She contradicts herself when she wishes to consign concerned people to sterile capsules; yet goes on to advise a fear of AIDS. This is a cheap logical trick, like trying to divert attention from pickpockets because there are bank robbers!

Scarcely anyone is forced to get AIDS; yet we are constantly compelled to inhale the objectionable and dangerous cigarette smoke of selfish smokers. Beaches, swimming pools, restaurants, buses, ships, trains, airports are all contaminated by inconsiderate people who puff their odious junk over all and sundry, often ignoring non-smoking signs.

Contrary to the opinion of Mai Ben Arai, smoking does not calm the nerves. In fact, it has the opposite effect. The one and only benefit of nicotine is that it excites the nervous system, though this is counteracted by the concurrent carbon monoxide poisoning which helps to starve the cells of oxygen.

To advocate smoking in order to help tobacco farmers is facile in the extreme. Would one recommend opium addiction to prosper the poppy growers, or child prostitution in order to help destitute children and policemen? Much better for the land to be used for food crops, thereby helping farmers in honourable employment.

Tobacco smoking is almost invariably taken up by teenagers, and the pushers leave no legal stone unturned in their efforts to seduce them. Luckily, few Thai teenagers are able to read the Pattaya Mail, otherwise Mai Ben Arai and the Mail would be aiding the merchants of death.

I wish Mai Ben Aria many more years of happy smoking but, like farting and defaecating, it is an activity which should be done discretely and in private.

Yours sincerely,
Dr. M. J. Nightingale

End all Pattaya child abuse

Editor,
I applaud recent efforts by public authorities to bring attention to the problem of sexual exploitation of children in Thailand. Sexual abuse is, without a doubt, one of the most devastating experiences to which a child may be exposed, and one which inalterably affects the victim’s life and relationships. However, this issue may be more productively viewed in the broader context of child abuse.

One aspect of child abuse which seems to be tolerated and in certain circumstances glorified in Thailand as in other regions of Southeast Asia is the exploitation of children for financial gain. Any visitor who has strolled the entertainment sections of Pattaya at night is familiar with the spectacle of young children approaching tourists hawking flowers, gum, and other items.

Also a familiar image is that of the destitute mother with scruffy child or children in tow begging in the street from pedestrians. The presence of children is each case is very obviously intended to play on the emotions of passers-by to attract contributions or increase sales.

However, it is not uncommon to see these children dragged (figuratively speaking) through the streets into the wee hours of the morning, flagrantly depriving them of a "normal" sleep/activity cycle, not to mention a childhood. It also exposes them at an impressionable age to a side of our society which is more appropriately reserved for "mature audiences."

If the parents of these children choose to create income in these ways, let them choose so for themselves only and leave their children at home with other responsible adult caregivers. The Pattaya police should crack down upon those who exploit children in this way. The sexual exploitation of children is the natural extension of a view of children as property and an economic asset of adults. Those who use children for sexual as well as economic gratification should be prosecuted and steps taken to protect these most precious and defenseless members of our society from all forms of abuse.

Michael S. Catalanello
Pattaya