Editor;
Re: Dark irony as Pattaya, Marine Department lecture 100 boat operators on safety 24 hours before deadly speedboat crash (PM Friday, 13 September 2013) – Run & Hide – The great Joe Louis, a famous American heavyweight champion said these famous words before a bout in 1941, “you can run but you can’t hide”. Sadly, here in Thailand we see many instances of the “run & hide” strategy. Apart from the horrific boat accident where two tourists died, a few months ago in Pattaya two speedboat drivers crashed causing injuries to a boatload of Chinese tourists, one lost his leg; naturally they used the “run & hide” strategy. Then we see the Red Bull heir brutally run down & kill a Bangkok policeman, then use the tried & true “run & hide” strategy. Recently four senior Bangkok policemen kidnapped two Italian tourists and when apprehended, two of them apply the “run & hide” strategy.
We all shake our heads on seeing this cowardly behaviour then applaud when the perpetrators are brought to justice. We also hope after seeing justice applied that young Thais receive a positive lesson in life showing that running away from problems is not the answer. Any and all lessons, however, go down the drain when front pages of newspapers all around the world show a Thai Airways plane had skidded off the runway at Suvarnabhumi late last Sunday night which left 14 people injured, then some foolish executive decided to have workmen paint over the name and corporate logo on the aircraft in an effort to use the “run & hide” strategy. Now of course you can’t run with a damaged Airbus but you can try and hide. That single stupid reaction has sent one of the most negative messages about this wonderful country, not only to Thai youngsters who learn from their elders, but to people and businesses all over the world. The idiot responsible should be made to write 1000 times on a blackboard on a footpath beside the busiest intersection in Bangkok, “you can run but you can’t hide”.
David Herd
