Of sports and war

Re: "Why box over a name?" (Editorial, Jan 26).

Reading the Bangkok Post's idealistic call to save sport from nationalism, even a sport so solidly founded on violence as Muay Thai, or Kun Khmer if you prefer, was an entertaining diversion.

Is anything short of war, good old-fashioned slaughtering or even more ultra-nationalistic than the recently reincarnated Olympic games?

Today's modern Greek nation might also dispute the Post's cheery insistence that they cannot own such cultural relics as the Elgin marbles, on the grounds that "No one, nor country, can really own culture". Really? But being neither a human person nor a country, perhaps the British Museum can, therefore, continue to act as the (non-owning?) custodian of those masterpieces of ancient Greek culture. And ancient Egyptian culture, Mesopotamian culture and all the rest that the arguably nationalistic Brits pillaged during their global conquests.

And then there are all those even less tangible cultural myths of special classes of people. It is a refreshing suggestion that they not be taken nearly so seriously as nationalistic Thais are alleged to take them.

Felix Qui
Boxing vs spelling

Re: "Buakaw confirms he's Thai, not Cambodian," (BP, Jan 26).

I have just noticed the strange way the boxer spells his name.

We are familiar with words like claw, jaw, law, raw, saw. The second syllable "kaw" in the name, would be pronounced similarly, which is not the correct pronunciation of the name, which, in turn, is similar to "cow" and "how".

If he or somebody in his camp reads this letter, perhaps he may consider changing the spelling to a more appropriate way like "Buakhao", as in the name "Soi Buakhao", which is known as "home to some of Pattaya's best nightlife".

Thanin Bumrungsap
Natural playmates

Re: "Good chance of being caught on the hop," (PostScript, Jan 22).

When I first arrived in Bangkok, I saw many cars with Playboy Bunny stickers on the front or back shields of many cars. You can still find them today.

First, I wondered if Hugh Hefner was also running his business in Thailand. After all, it is where many girls resemble a bunny, joyful and jokingly hopping around.

And later, I found out that the girls working in massage parlours and saunas proudly wore costumes embroidered with Playboy Bunnies.

Like Hooter girls working the eatery or a bar, they are part of the massage business. What a difference a place makes!

For Hefner, the rabbit had a meaning close to his vision of being a Playboy with many playmates. He explained why the bunny was chosen as the magazine's main symbol. According to him, the rabbit has a sexual significance in America. It is aesthetic, shy, fun-loving and constantly hops around.

Hence the Chinese Year of the Rabbit also represents comfort, vulnerability and desire for hopping. Thanks to Roger for reminding us why Hefner was fearless of being caught on the hop. And for sure, the surge of Chinese travellers to Thailand in the Year of the Rabbit seems natural.

Kuldeep Nagi
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