Adolph Hitler Removed From Pattaya

[john b good]

I find it interesting how people here can act surprised with things like this, but get so terribly upset with anything that might 'tarnish' the image of Thailand. Interesting.

Scott you have taken the word's from my mouth.

It's all to do with face my friend.

[Jimjim]

I have a good friend whose Polish mother barely escaped being imprisoned or taken to a camp by the Nazis. As such, it is a soft spot her.

When I first came to Thailand, she and her husband had just moved here as well. She always got mad and raved about it in private after she'd see Thai people wearing t-shirts with the swastika on them. "Don't they know what it means?!" she would yell. It was not until later that I realized the Nazis had stolen the symbol from Eastern religions, basically, and it was a widely known symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism to represent universal harmony, among other things. These days, many in the East continue to use the symbol as it has long been used and rightly so.

Just goes to show some of the differences between Asian and Western culture. In the case of this story, it shows how far removed Thais are from emotional reactions to Nazi Germany and Hitler. But it's good they're removing the statue.

[erezsp]

Probably a bunch of Jews complaining is my guess. Funny thing is how they've gone and done basically the same thing with Palestine, albeit in a more politically correct and less brutal manner.

Bunch of Jews/Juden ...It seems as you've almost forgotten to cover your delicate /liberal views in some politically correctness..or is it only my dark and illiterate mind?

[ThaiFelix]

Nothing upset´s me anymore when it comes to Thai´s .. you just have to love them! 555

Little did i know about Thailand and Thai culture 10 years ago so how could they know about this .. told GF about Hitler , WWII etc. couple of years ago and she had never heard about it so dont blame Thai People , blame the regime!

Really? I think, you should blame your gf....

My wive (also Thai) knows very well about Hitler and Nazis - learned at school in Thailand

Back in Oz a few years ago I had a 16 yo (girl) neighbour who had never heard of Hitler or the holocoust before I brought it up one day. And she was no dummie!

[surfaxxis]

Well, I've seen another large bill board of Hitler on the Patternakan / Srinarkarin junction at the PSTV office. Seems he's a popular guy for advertising in Thailand.

Who ever organised the advertising for this needs a bonus,, all this free worldwide advertising for the wax museum.

I think he or she, knew all along what was going to happen, and everybody has missed the point.

[JSPS]

My Thai wife had never heard of the Holocaust and Hitler when she first arrived in the U.S. in 1972. I suppose that now people might have seen references to it on TV. But it's not a major topic in Thailand.

My wife learned about it when the miniseries "Holocaust" was broadcast on German TV in the late 70s. They followed each episode with call in discussions. Several people called to turn in War Criminals.

But all the Thais have to do is look to Cambodia to see what happens when 'true believers' try to achieve an earthly paradise.

[AndersJensenThailand]

Hitler is living in the Isreal now........... or some kind of Hitler. If they gave back the land belonging to the palestine people then i would look at these people as humans. The people of Isreal did not learn from historie because they are neerly doing the same as Hitler was doing !!!

[Thai at Heart]

Astonishingly ignorant and offensive.

I bet the owners have never had so much publicity; good or bad.

It made the pictures of the day in a UK newspaper even before it made it into the Thai papers.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegal...tober-2009.html

[ThaiFelix]

I assume that the authorities will also remove/cover up anything re George W. Bush and Tony Blair who collectively waged an unlawful war (on the pretext of WMD which never existed) and which led to the death of thousands of innocents in Iraq.

Agreed wholeheartedly!

[Sisaketmike]

As a citizen from Germany I'm really wondering how many brain damaged people are out there wearing stupid helmets. (And other forbidden stuff) The most Nazis are in the States, which is really scary after Ku Klux Klan & Co.

Adolf Hitler was from Austria and he had black hair and black eyes. Stop that stupid Adolf shit now.

[Jingthing]

Hitler is living in the Isreal now........... or some kind of Hitler. If they gave back the land belonging to the palestine people then i would look at these people as humans. The people of Isreal did not learn from historie because they are neerly doing the same as Hitler was doing !!!

Jews are not people? Oy vey. Touched a nerve, eh?

I have had the misfortune to meet people who sound like you. They say things like too bad Hitler didn't finish the job. Is that your viewpoint, just asking?

Edited October 20, 2009 by Jingthing

[moskito]

Nothing upset´s me anymore when it comes to Thai´s .. you just have to love them! 555

Little did i know about Thailand and Thai culture 10 years ago so how could they know about this .. told GF about Hitler , WWII etc. couple of years ago and she had never heard about it so dont blame Thai People , blame the regime!

Thai people are very free and positive about the way they see the world, they are so easyt about their lives, and you Farangs who live in Thailand many years should know better...Just tell the Thai and let them know about your hurtful feeling. After that they will do the appropriate action for you...

After 911 incident I got a call from my Thai friend who wanted to send me Bin Laden Tee shirts. She said they sold them in the markets...I was not too happy about this but, could not laugh so hard about her well intention, she really meant no harm just want to give me stuffs...after I explained to her she apologized

and felt so bad. I knew she did not mean no harm...well that is my take and opinion.

NOT ONLY THAIS !! remember how long the Vietnam war is over? just a couple of years 1975 and today Americans are very Welcome (or does only one American have negative Experiences?) Pol Pot, just twenty years ago, same thing. Asiens are obviously not unforgiving.....different from the Joo`s

Are the North American Indians like that? are the Southamericans still angry with the Spanish Inquistadores? the Indians with the English? etc. etc. etc. Just Hitler is a NO GO forever unforgiven f...g Germans LOL

Every Nation has its dirt behind

Wonder who was first in complaining, Germany or the Israelis ....or is it the same in the meantime ?

[Putu94]

A case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater? As one of the posts on the original discussion commented, there is nothing offensive about having a wax image of Hitler in the museum. He is a historical figure albeit an odius one. History should be promoted, not censored.

to many bla bla about this historical criminal , if you know more about the holocaust, you will find it a shame and something to cry.

"he is well- known" of being responsible of killing many many millions.

[asiawatcher]

Any publicity is good publicity - what? The world has to keep apologising to the sensitive? If this was a historical museum and displayed Hitler without the logo - probably no issue. Also as a tourist attraction showing Thai craftsmanship (very good) as sculptors, you would think those with complaints would put aside their sensitivities and look at it from a creative POV. If the poster depicted Pol Pot as the 'Hitler' I bet if Cambodia complained the Thai's would simply thumb their noses. Horses for courses.

[Jingthing]

A case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater? As one of the posts on the original discussion commented, there is nothing offensive about having a wax image of Hitler in the museum. He is a historical figure albeit an odius one. History should be promoted, not censored.

to many bla bla about this historical criminal , if you know more about the holocaust, you will find it a shame and something to cry.

"he is well- known" of being responsible of killing many many millions.

The wax image STAYS. The billboard ads GOES. Lets keep this reality based, OK?

[Donnyboy]

Truly the best choice would be Bawreck Hussein Obama. The Nobel Prize winner who has done nothing, nothing in his 9 months in office. Bawreck is wrecking the USA economy. Bawreck and the Democrats said Bush's deficet spencding would wreck the US economy, $498 in 2008. Bawreck and Democrats tripled it in one year to the tune of $1.48 Trillion Dollars in the Red. Oh yes the big prosmise to end Iraq War and remove all the troops less than a year from Iraq. Guess what, peace is still not being served in Iraq and now most of the "Combat Troops" won't l be removed later in 2010, with 50,000 support US Troops remaining in Iraq, though Bawreck promised ALL the US Troops would be out of Iraq. Bawreck never promised the world or the people of the USA thast he would expand the war in Afgan, but he is doing that as of today. Bawreck has already added 25000 US Troops to Afgan since he took office 1/09 and may soon add another 45000 troops into Afgan, bring total US Troop level to over 100,000. Peace, that sounds more like war. So I think Bawreck face should replace Hitler's face for his winning of the Nobel Peace (War) Prize for doing absolutely nothing in the furtherance of World Peace, same as Hitler.

I take it you're not a fan then?

Bawreck? never heard of that before

Obamanazi has made the urban dictionary

Obamanation has also

anyway, good coverage world wide on the OP, so Thailand has once again made it into the headlines, albeit not in the best of light

[SomchaiCNX]

My Thai wife had never heard of the Holocaust and Hitler when she first arrived in the U.S. in 1972. I suppose that now people might have seen references to it on TV. But it's not a major topic in Thailand.

My wife learned about it when the miniseries "Holocaust" was broadcast on German TV in the late 70s. They followed each episode with call in discussions. Several people called to turn in War Criminals.

But all the Thais have to do is look to Cambodia to see what happens when 'true believers' try to achieve an earthly paradise.

A.D. 2009 some Americans don't know or want to know about Global Warming.

But as I see you live in Oregon so I geuss you know.

[babuhavas]

why don't they put Mr taksin on billboard,the protestors in pattaya will love it,and he is not dead yet.

[marsteele]

The museum has not yet decided who will replace Hitler on the billboard.

Wonder if they've considered Bin Laden...?

Truly the best choice would be Bawreck Hussein Obama. The Nobel Prize winner who has done nothing, nothing in his 9 months in office. Bawreck is wrecking the USA economy. Bawreck and the Democrats said Bush's deficet spencding would wreck the US economy, $498 in 2008. Bawreck and Democrats tripled it in one year to the tune of $1.48 Trillion Dollars in the Red. Oh yes the big prosmise to end Iraq War and remove all the troops less than a year from Iraq. Guess what, peace is still not being served in Iraq and now most of the "Combat Troops" won't l be removed later in 2010, with 50,000 support US Troops remaining in Iraq, though Bawreck promised ALL the US Troops would be out of Iraq. Bawreck never promised the world or the people of the USA thast he would expand the war in Afgan, but he is doing that as of today. Bawreck has already added 25000 US Troops to Afgan since he took office 1/09 and may soon add another 45000 troops into Afgan, bring total US Troop level to over 100,000. Peace, that sounds more like war. So I think Bawreck face should replace Hitler's face for his winning of the Nobel Peace (War) Prize for doing absolutely nothing in the furtherance of World Peace, same as Hitler.

Yes I agree with you America is the most evil country on the planet. If you don't do as they say they will bomb the shit out of you but what does this have to do with a picture of Hitler? I guess he was an angel compared to the USA.

[loupe]

Nothing upset´s me anymore when it comes to Thai´s .. you just have to love them! 555

Little did i know about Thailand and Thai culture 10 years ago so how could they know about this .. told GF about Hitler , WWII etc. couple of years ago and she had never heard about it so dont blame Thai People , blame the regime!

How could she not know about it? WWII is part of thai history. Thais sided with the Japanese, Japan sided with Germany (Hitler) Has she never heard of the infamous Thai/Burma Railway and the bridge over the River Kwai? We learnt in schools of the treatment afforded to allied prisoners of war at the hands of Thai and Japanese soldiers during the building of the Thai / Burma Railway from Bangkok through to burma

You should have listened a little more carefully to your schoolteachers. The Thais did not side with the Japanese during WWII, they were invaded by the Japanese, and there were no Thai soldiers mistreating allied POWS on the River Kwai. If you actually go there, you will discover the villains were the Japanese and their Korean cohorts.

[moe666]

Knowing the American education system there are a few Americans who do not know about Hitler.

O, there were more Thais killed and who died building the death railroad than allied soliders, they don't have graves

[barry]

of course what few people are taught

or remember

is that thailand declared war on the U.S. so as not

to be occupied by japan in WW2...like it or not

they were part of the "Axis" back then

[CMFarang]

MY Wife (Thai) knows who Hitler is...

My niece , who is a 23 Year old University Graduate in Computer Sciences has know idea who Hitler, The Dali Llama or Gandhi are..

In Thailand, Education varies from school to school , District to District ..

Don't blame the Locals for their ignorance.

Some of you seem to ride pretty High Horses as well , Flogging us with you OPINION and hiding behind your knowledge and education, but I think they could both be put to much better use .. I know that being educated does not mean you are Smart.. SEE EXAMPLES ABOVE..

Use you educations to make thinks better, not to EGO Trip on the less privileged..

Maybe then things here will improve in little steps a bit at a time.

Opinions are just that , Opinions , and I have stated mine, HITLER can stay.. I LOVE the Thai Advertising , Comedy at it's best , no Harm intended or taken.....

[arco27]

maybe they should have used that other well known Fascist Ariel Sharon, not dead yet, just hovering

[enemedin]

good and bad should be there... it's past its history anyway. is there any aL_Kapon,

always heard about him never actually seen his face

[Thanh-BKK]

Hi.

I am German and had to suffer from the racism and neo-nazism in that country. It is one of the reasons i left Germany and vowed never to return again. However here in Thailand i am not the least bit offended by the Nazi-cult that shows at places - how often did i see motorbike riders wearing the "Wehrmacht" type helmet, complete with the swastika sticker (and the correct, Nazi, one - not the Hindu one!) or people wearing t-shirts with that same swastika and even the words "Sieg Heil" below it - they obviously have no clue at all what it means.

I once had a taxi driver ask me where i am from - they all do that, and usually after my "Germany" they come back with either "oh, Bundesliga!" or "oh, BMW!"..... but this guy came back with "oh, Germany... Adolf Hitler still your president? He good man!" I was kind of baffled.

And yesterday evening, when this story was on TV, my boyfriend (Thai) asked me seriously "why Jews complain about Hitler, did he do something bad..?" THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW IT!

But then - in Germany we didn't cover "Rama V" in History, either....... yet he (Rama V) didn't start a world war and killed millions in his home country at the same time, too.

Don't blame the Thais - blame their education system.

Kind regards.....

Thanh

[mrtoad]

You should have listened a little more carefully to your schoolteachers. The Thais did not side with the Japanese during WWII, they were invaded by the Japanese, and there were no Thai soldiers mistreating allied POWS on the River Kwai. If you actually go there, you will discover the villains were the Japanese and their Korean cohorts.

Whilst there is no doubt that it was the Japanese and Koreasn who did the mistreating of the allied POW'S, Thailand was not officially invaded, and gave right of passage to the Japanese so that they could enter Burma and Malaysia. It is also worth noting that Thailand did declare war on Britain and the United States after signing a treaty of alliance with Japan, so maybe you should have listened a little more carefully.

Edited October 20, 2009 by mrtoad

[Jingthing]

Don't blame the Thais - blame their education system.

Interesting. Is there some other nationality in charge of the Thai education system?

[dude007]

"Museum director Somporn Naksuetrong said: "We didn't choose Hitler with the intention of praising him, but because he is well-known. But we understand. It is sensitive for some people and countries."

I believe the director is being honest here. I also understand why the billboard would be offensive to some people. Good idea that it is being removed but I would not remove the wax figure. He was part of history. However, there are plenty of ways to advertise without being offensive. Plus those offended certainly would not be visiting the museum, so it additionally makes financial sense.

Indeed, he was probaby honest but incredibly dumb as well and extremely tasteless. There are better jobs for honest people like him in Thailand than running a wax museum... because honest candidates for Thai jobs, you cannot find too much!

[mrtoad]

good and bad should be there... it's past its history anyway. is there any aL_Kapon,

always heard about him never actually seen his face

Al Kapon - he's the Thai/Italian mafia lord isn't he?