An open letter to a terrorist:

Well, you hit the World Trade Center, but you missed America. You hit the Pentagon, but you missed America. You used helpless American bodies to take out other American bodies, but like a poor marksman, you STILL missed America. Why? Because of something you guys will never understand. America isn’t about a building or two, not about financial centers, not about military centers, America isn’t about a place, America isn’t even about a bunch of bodies. America is about an idea. An idea that you can go someplace where you can earn as much as you can figure out how to, live for the most part like you envisioned living, and pursue happiness. (No guarantees that you’ll reach it, but you can sure try!)

Go ahead and whine your terrorist whine, and chant your terrorist litany: “If you cannot see my point, then feel my pain.” This concept is alien to Americans. We live in a country where we don’t have to see your point. But you’re free to have one. We don’t have to listen to your speech. But you’re free to say one. Don’t know where you got the strange idea that everyone has to agree with you. We don’t agree with each other in this country, almost as a matter of pride. We’re a collection of guys that don’t agree, called States. We united our individual states to protect ourselves from tyranny in the world. Another idea we made up on the spot. You can make it up as you go, when it’s your country. If you’re free enough.

Yeah, we’re fat, sloppy, easygoing goofs most of the time. That’s an unfortunate image to project to the world, but it comes of feeling free and easy about the world you live in. It’s unfortunate too, because people start to forget that when you attack Americans, they tend to fight like a cornered badger.

So who just declared war on us? It would be nice to point to some real estate, like the good old days. Unfortunately, we’re probably at war with random camps in far-flung places. Who think they’re safe. Just like the Barbary pirates did. They were wrong. So are you. Better start sleeping with one eye open.

There’s a spirit that tends to take over people who come to this country, looking for opportunity, looking for liberty, looking for freedom. Even if they misuse it. The Marielistas that Castro emptied out of his prisons were overjoyed to find out how much freedom there was.

As for you, you’re only the newest problem, not the first. You guys seem to be incapable of understanding that we don’t live in America, America lives in US! American Spirit is what it’s called. And killing a few thousand of us, or a few million of us, won’t change it. Most of the time it’s a pretty happy-go-lucky kind of spirit. Until we’re crossed in a cowardly manner, then it becomes an entirely different kind of spirit.

Wait until you see what we do with that spirit, this time.

Sleep tight, if you can. We’re coming.

To whom it may concern;

I look forward every Thursday (here in Canada ) to see the Pattaya Mail on my computer. I read today the article on Ellesmere Island and was quite surprised that it was not mentioned that this island is part of Canada. It almost sounds that Ellesmere is part of the US. There are probably many readers of your paper that have no idea where Ellesmere is but if mentioned that it is in Northern Canada then many more people would have a better idea I believe.

Just had to point that out.

Thanks,

Editor;

The biggest problem I’ve found with 2 a.m. closing is finding a bar that is open so I can watch football, which kicks off in the evening in Europe. It’s OK at the weekend when the matches start at 8/9/10 o’clock in the kingdom but in midweek it’s a big problem (unless of course the bar is owned by a policeman or relative).

UK

Editor;

Wow, wouldn’t it be nice if the drug and underage drinking problems could be solved by just closing the bars at 2 a.m.? I read on the Pattaya Mail site about the solutions that the minister thinks will solve the problems of drugs and underage drinking. His idea of changing the image of Thailand and making it a family resort has been tried in many other locations in the world. The result has been a decrease in tourists and a new program to try to get the tourists to come back to these locations. It’s a fact; once tourists find a new place to go it’s very hard to lure them back.

Maybe he should take a good look at the place and decide that he is really lucky to have the tourists and money for any reason. I am not sure if he is a world traveler, if he is he would notice that the bar situation is not only common to Thailand. Take a look at Amsterdam, Frankfort, Tokyo, Las Vegas, Washington D. C., Rio de Janeiro, and the list goes on and on.

It’s really nice that the Minister thinks that Thailand can survive in this world economy as it is now without all of those tourists dollars spent in Thailand. Again, who really suffers in this situation? It’s the people of Thailand and their government that is helping put them into poverty. The worse part of this is that when places like Thailand get into a lot of trouble they go to the IMF and get money after their bad ideas cost them their income. Well lets wish him luck as if this idea works he can become the Worlds Drug and Alcohol Minister.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Editor;

Islamic Terrorists attacked not only American freedom, but also yours and mine. But Islam, the faith of Muslims is innocent of this crime. Suicide in Islam is blasphemy. In the old days the body of suicides were wrapped in the skin of a pig thus denying burial in accordance with Muslim rites. Encouraging and indeed not discouraging suicide is blasphemy.

Those in power over the misguided and demented dupes who detonate themselves share their blasphemy. The Quran teaches that only God may chose the moment of a man’s death.

Calling for jihad, a war fought in the Name of God, by man, any man, is a blasphemy. True Muslims know there was only one jihad, called by God in his message to the Prophet Muhammad to wage war against the idolaters in Medina. Jihad is waged against Satan, the adversary of God. Mere men may not call jihad. It is blasphemy.

The Christian Crusades were “Holy Wars” - jihad. This too was Blasphemy.

For those Muslims who misguidedly support or laud, silently or openly, the exploits of Osama bin Laden or his ilk as some sort of Islamic freedom fighter, be careful, in so doing you are guilty of blasphemy.

Earthly causes, no matter how worthy they may appear to their supporters do not permit blasphemy. God in His Infinite wisdom is the only Judge of this.

True Muslims should openly denounce the like of Osama bin Laden and all who support him as blasphemers. The Quran is a clear and precise revelation. Its truth may not be changed by a fraction of a fraction. To Muslims, all true Muslims, to do so is blasphemy.

It is no more possible to be a “little bit blasphemous” than for a woman to be a “little bit pregnant”.

Osama bin Laden, like that great blasphemer, the Ayatollah Khomeini, declared that Muslims who die whilst carrying out their orders become Martyrs of Islam. Who gave Osama bin Laden the authority to change the words of the Quran? There can only be one answer. Satan is Osama bin Laden’s Master.

Editor;

I have read a bit of what is being said and I must say that I’m really surprised at all of you. Forget the bars closing at 2 a.m. & forget all the people going to Thailand. Stop! And think about the Thai people and the lost of income. Is the Thai government going to make up the money these people will no longer have to feed themselves and their families? I don’t think so.

Far be it for me to say that there are far better ways to do things then to put your people in poverty, but if the country loses money, it’s the people who get hurt. Not the high and mighty government.

Think of Thailand’s people, please.

America may have been the target on September 11, a day that will be forever remembered, as is December 7, but all the world was and will be forever affected.

Every living creature is initiated to a safe natural life, and when such beast, as existed September 11, causes life to end so cruelly...it is they who will pay the highest price for perpetrating such evil, anywhere, on mankind. All the world should, and must, gather together in spirit and ensure that in the end only the goodness of mankind will prevail, as we venture into forever together.

Hi,

I’ve just received confirmation from a friend in England that the last of 26 Christmas cards posted in Pattaya on 10th December arrived in mid August! Is this a record for the postal services in Thailand? Being a careful person with my money this effort has shed great doubt on my intent - is it a cheap offer early posting for Christmas 2001 or a late surface mail effort for 2000 at airmail prices?

“Confused of Naklua”