inflammable commodities

Interesting interview with the fellow in Pakistan who sells the flags they burn on demonstrations:

In Pakistan, the flags of the US and Israel tend to be most flammable. But when SM hit upon the idea of selling flags to political parties in 2006, every political party wanted to protest the publication of caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in a Danish newspaper but there weren’t any Danish flags to be found.

“I was also very angry about the Danish cartoons but I wouldn’t have gone out on the streets myself. Instead I decided to get Danish flags printed,” says SM. He adds that he had always been a supporter of the Jamaat-e-Islami and so had the contacts to sell them Danish flags. “I charged Rs500 per flag so I was able to make a nice profit out of it.” He adds, “Word spread and soon I was getting more orders for Danish flags than I could get printed.”

Since then, SM has kept up a steady business in flag-selling, with the US and Israel flags being his most consistent sellers. For bulk orders of 100 flags or more he offers a discounted rate of Rs300 per flag.

He's now thinking of getting into the effigy market.

 

Comments

[Richard J]

Given the Chinese tradition in inflammable funerary objects, I suspect creating effigies is not a viable business in Pakistan.

[johnf]

Could you give an example of a Chinese "inflammable funerary object?" The mind candesces.

[Richard J]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/25/nyregion/chinatown-funeral-goods-bring-copyright-infringement-arrest.html

[johnf]

Thank you. That was fascinating.

I remember reading of a graveyard in some Chinese province where the traditional graveyard had completely filled up because the dead were being buried with real consumer goods like colour tvs and dish washers.

Not as much of a problem as South Africa, though, where gangsters like to be buried at the wheel a real Mercedes, but preferably with two or three fellow travellers sitting beside them shot at random on street corners. Company as they drive through the afterlife.

[chris y]

Well when I die, bury me in straight laced shoes,
A black coat and a Stetson hat!
Put a $20 gold piece on my watch chain,
So the boys'll know I died standing pat!

[chris y]

Also, can I just say that Mr Hussain's business acumen is admirable, and if there were more owner-managers around with that level of imagination, the Pakistani economy would leave us all in the dust. Or at least catch up a bit.

[Barry Freed]

OTOH (Funny that I'd actually remembered that as being a real story).

[Strategist]

Many thanks Barry, our man in Rego Park, NY.

[ajay]

Not as much of a problem as South Africa, though, where gangsters like to be buried at the wheel a real Mercedes, but preferably with two or three fellow travellers sitting beside them shot at random on street corners. Company as they drive through the afterlife.

Good grief, really? Very Egyptian of them.