Pla Dib

Special of the Day: Intolerance

Literally, intolerance was on the first page of the menu at Pla Dib tonight. Most menus begin with the restaurant's name, possibly accentuated with an enticing minimalist insignia of some sorts. At Pla Dib, however, the first thing you see is a blue circle encompassing a red square, with a diagonal blue line cutting diagonally across the square--basically the 'prohibited' sign you see applied to handguns and cigarettes in airport security lines. Below this suggestive geometry is one line: "Give back my Bangkok." The implication being, the redshirts have taken Bangkok away from...from who? Well, the elite hi-so clientele that frequents both Pla Dib and Paragon, of course--not the several MILLION bangkokians who could never afford such indulgences, and who would probably sympathize with the red shirts. Pla Dib's message was clear: red shirt sympathizers are banned; yellow shirts and indifferent profligates only (in fact, one man wearing red was accosted for his choice of attire).

In the end, what kind of message is this sending? Communication is discouraged? Be intolerant? We cannot accept money from people who freely express their ideas? Extend the implications of this form of intolerance to other groups, and ask yourself 'would I patronize a restaurant that said 'whites only,' 'liberals only,' 'buddhists only"? Of course not, that would be bigotry. But if it is bigotry you want, go to Pla Dib, it is the first thing on the menu.