To the Editor:
I would like to comment on the letter by Anne Matheson (Vol. 3 #18).
Mrs. Matheson, I don't know what really happened to you in Hainburg, but accusing Austria for this incident is simply childish. I have never seen in Slovakia or most other countries to which I have travelled street signs in other languages beside the local. When I am in Slovakia, I pay attention to where I park.
You have never seen Austrians fined by Slovak police? Then open your eyes. A few months ago, a friend of mine was driving outside Bratislava and following cars with Slovak license plates as they changed lanes. There were police who let everybody pass by but him. It was his Austrian license plate. He was supposed to pay 200 Sk - don't ask me for what - but had no Slovak money on him. So, the two officers discussed the matter in Slovak before asking for schillings.
My friend gave them 100 schillings, which they gladly put in their pockets and took off.. No bill, no paper. What do you call that?
I like Slovaks and their country (which I know rather well) a lot, and I'm happy about our region. You as an expatriate won't manage to blow that because of your stupid little story. You felt like a criminal - how can I hold back my tears? You failed to understand that not understanding a language doesn't give you the right to disobey our laws!
Thomas J. Resch, Vienna
