Anchilee Scott Kemmis in Hot Water

 CONTROVERSY: Hardline pro-monarchy supporter and former politician Sonthiya Sawasdee filed complaints to the police on Tuesday, accusing Miss Universe Thailand 2021 of violating the laws by stepping on the Thai national flag in her promotional poster. 

Miss Universe Thailand has been threatened with a lawsuit and potential jail time after a picture of her seemingly “standing on” the country’s national flag went viral. Anchilee Scott-Kemmis courted controversy after the Miss Universe Thailand Facebook page uploaded a picture of her against the backdrop of the Thai flag, and reportedly underfoot.

Standing on a national flag is a crime punishable by law in Thailand.

JAIL TIME AND A HEFTY FINE

Following the photo scandal, Anchilee Scott-Kemmis was slapped with a threat of a lawsuit from Sonthiya Sawasdee, a former political party advisor. He accused her of allegedly violating three sections of the 1979 Flag Act, which warns citizens against desecrating the sacred symbol. If convicted, the act is punishable by up to two years in jail and a fine of up to 40,000 baht (almost R20 000).

He told Bangkok Post: “Miss Universe Thailand has sizable followers on social media. This is considered an inappropriate publication.” However, Sonthiya also claims the beauty queen did “not act maliciously” and could evade punishment.

MISS UNIVERSE THAILAND RESPONDS

Miss Universe Thailand pageant organizers have responded to the controversy. Pageant director Piyaporn “Pui” Sankosik defended Anchilee Scott-Kemmis and the competition against the allegations. She said in a recorded interview: “That was the graphic made to convey the greatness of Thai people, not the real flag necessarily”.

The organization’s Facebook page has since removed the promo picture from its feed.

Can somebody explain the difference between a flag and a graphic in layman's terms so that we may catch the drift of the issue to some degree?

The reason why I was asking that is that there seems to be some confusion in the interpretation of the law. The concept of flag desecration continues to provoke a heated debate over protecting the flag as a national symbol, preserving free speech, and upholding the liberty said to be represented by that national symbol.

As my friend was saying, a  good law should possess the following qualities:

1. The law must be of interest to the Thai people.

2. The law must be applied equally to everybody whether you're rich or poor, famous or just an ordinary citizen

3. It should be reasonable and not be too harsh or rigid.

4, It is known to the public and is acceptable to the community.

5.  It is clearly worded and is fully understood.

It is in number 5 that makes the politician's complaint debatable.  It was not clear to those who organized the photoshoot, that using GRAPHICS that appear or look like the Thai FLAG is tantamount to desecrating or disrespecting the flag. At first glance, indeed the photos shown looked like a Thai flag. 

If the law is vague and ambiguous (and did not contain provisions that include banners. streamers, emblems, ensigns, posters, and in this case graphics that bear resemblance to a Thai flag) then Anchilee maybe can have a sigh of relief.  But if there is ... they have a lot of explaining to do.

The Flag protection law should be clear In order to be understood by the people and if there were amendments and inclusion of the language that would permit the prohibition which may take forms other than burning, such as using the flag for clothing or a gown or even making it as table napkins then everybody is guided.

Seeing this issue as an outsider, the Anchilee's photoshoot team looks like they have no qualms about doing the shoot and they are oblivious that something is wrong or that they were doing something unlawful.  On the other hand are there any advisers that oversee all her activities? A brush with the law is something she should not ask for during her reign.

BALLISTIK BOYZ from EXILE TRIBE / 「All Around The World」Music Video

Commentaries: What Is In The Name

What's in a name?  I know it is just a myth, and I don't believe it for one second, but my friend wanted me to pose this question to everybody?  Does your name affect your destiny? Does your name influence your future and can it change your luck?

DestinyWagner from Belize won one hour ago the Miss Earth 2021 title.  Was her name Destiny has something to do with her destiny winning Miss Earth 2021.  Cinderella Obesina of the Philippines won Miss Intercontinental 2021 and did the Cinderella story determine her fate of being chosen as the winner amidst a bevy of beautiful candidates from other countries?

There is no scientific evidence to prove names do affect our destiny or our future or will give us luck． Psychologically, this phenomenon can be attributed to how we react to our own names. They say people who like their names turn out to be more confident and self-assertive than those who don’t. 

On the other hand, I beg to disagree. It doesn't mean that if your name is Dennis - you end up being a menace.  Or if your name is Jude, you will imbibe the personality Judas Iscariot who became a traitor and a defector.

To play it safe, taking the case of Destiny and Cinderella ... it was just a COINCIDENCE ... no other sinister meaning to it.

Pinoy Humor In Photos

 

IT'S HARD TO SAY GOODBYE TO YESTERDAY - BuDaKhel x Jason Steele (Lyrics ...

SB19 'Bazinga' Official Music Video

Commentary: Online Voting A Patriotic Act?

A reader commented:  IF YOU NOTICE ALL INDO HOTPICKS IN IG HAS A MISS INDO TOPPING the online surveys.

YOU CAN TELL HOW MUCH THEY REALLY WANT TO WIN, AND SO, THAT'S HOW IT HURTS IF THEY FAIL TO CLINCH THE CROWN.

Response: I don't know how they can stomach that.  Being patriotic and loyal to the country is good, but voting without thinking if the candidate really deserves the number one spot is just so anomalous. I never have been to any voting links just to prove to all that I am nationalistic,  You can show patriotism in other means, but voting for the wrong candidate is not.

If Indonesians are expecting a sure-win in every pageant, I wonder how many times they experience depression in a single year. 

I have nothing against Miss Intercontinental Indonesia 2021 Bella Aprilia Sant. I don't know her actually.  But if Indonesians put their bets on her, it's their choice.  AND I RESPECT THAT. But expecting a SURE WIN, boy ... this is the ultimate pageant lunacy!

When life doesn’t turn out the way we’d hoped, planned, or expected, we feel tremendous disappointment. It becomes a big loss.  And worse is when you assume things. When you fancy and infer you are the new beauty powerhouse in Asia ... that's a tall order. Somehow you really have to deliver, or else people will doubt your claims.

When the need to be recognized is thwarted, and the need to win that elusive crown seems to be elusive, some people resort to monkey business or underground hanky panky.  The alleged buying of the crown (this has not been proven yet except for the transcript of the conversations between the protagonists).

But what is worse is when things didn't happen your way, you lost control and here you are making a fool of yourself and creating a spectacle by lashing out making a full-blown scandal for everybody to talk about in the years to come.

I admit, the last three years, Indonesia have sent the best representative in their stable.  But expecting a landslide victory without having to work or make an effort to get the crown is insane.  Have you asked yourself other countries are also moving heaven and earth combing every nook in their land to find their best delegate too?  

It is just too presumptuous of you that the crown will be handed to you in a silver platter without lifting a finger. 

And adding more depth in this thread about expectations and winning, I will leave you some lines from a song. Imagine the person singing is MSO.

1.  You did your BEST ... but I guess your Best ... wasn't good enough.

And there's another one ...

2.   I beg your pardon ... I never promise you a rose garden ...