Comedy in Action

Last week, Thailand was horrified when a drug fuelled young university student killed three cyclists in Chiangrai ("Drunk student," 2015). I am sure that no one doubts that drugs destroy lives, tear up families, and harm society.

In "Jackie Chan 'supports death penalty' for drug offences," we are told that Jackie Chan, who is "Singapore's first celebrity anti-drug ambassador" and who has been "named official Narcotics Control Ambassador by Chinese police," feels ashamed of his own sons conviction for marijuana related drug offences and supports the death penalty, arguing that drug producers and dealers who harm "thousands and thousands of young children ... should get the right punishment" (2015).

As I read his silly comments, I thought that Jackie Chan would be better off sticking to comedy, which he does very well in such films as Rush Hour, although I preferred his side-kick. I guess his strong support for killing drug producers and dealers fits well with his character in action films, where the hero ignores the law and acts to right wrongs. This works well to make an entertaining movie, and I like a bit of healthy, mindless action as much as anyone, but there is a difference between the fiction of film and the realities of society and ethics: Chan seems unable to notice the difference. Delusions? Perceptual disorders? Emotional disturbances? At least he doesn't seem withdrawn.

I agree completely with Chan that anyone who harms children, even if not thousands, should be strongly punished: Catholic priests, Buddhist monks, teachers and others, usually relatives or close family friends, who abuse the children should be punished for their crimes; parents who mistreat their children should not be let off; employers who abuse under-age labour should be severely punished.

Tucker and Chan in Rush Hour
Is that a drug in his hand?

The trouble is that Chan didn't actually spell out which drug producers and dealers are harming "thousands and thousands of children." The most obvious drug producers and dealers whose products fit Chan's description seem to me the owners of large alcohol businesses: Beer Singha, Johnny Walker and the like. It is alcohol that killed the cyclists in Chiangrai. It is alcohol that was involved in 47% of road accidents in Songkran this year. It is alcohol that incites people to commit rape. It is alcohol that fuels domestic violence against spouses and children. It is alcohol that leads to fights in pubs. These harm children far more than any marijuana smoking that I'm aware of. Indeed, it's hard to see how even something as awful as yaa baa does more harm than alcohol.

If we apply his vague but implied standards, it appears that Mr. Chan thinks that the owners of Been Singha and the like should be executed. And since 7-Eleven are major drug dealers, presumably he thinks that their owners should also be sentenced to death by firing squad.

Now I need a small white wine and a silly a movie to calm me down. Or perhaps I'll just dash off to my appointment with Ea and his dad at Paragon for some relaxing shopping and eating.

__________

Reference

Drunk student charged with reckless driving in deaths of 3 cyclists. (2015, May 4). Bangkok Post. Retrieved from http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/551191/drunk-student-charged-with-reckless-driving-in-deaths-of-3-cyclists

Jackie Chan 'supports death penalty' for drug offences. (2015, May 7). BBC News Asia. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-32620313