I have been living in Malaysia for the past few years and even when I was away I kept in touch.
The problem with you and like-minded people is that you tend to buy lock-stock and barrel what’s written in the alternative media as gospel truth. Mkini, Malaysian Insider,etc are set up not to propagate media freedom but with the sole aim of promoting Pakatan and undemine BN. They tend to amplify and blow up issues to appear as though Malaysia is falling apart and the ethnic divisions are cratering. They also try their hardest to portray UMNO as right-wing terrorists out to oust non bumis from Malaysia. They in effect turn the exceptions into norm. People like Perkasa are fringe group and they do not represent UMNO. Utusan for example do not represent UMNO’s thinking either. Berita Harian also belongs to UMNO but I don’t see anyone saying BH represents UMNO’s views.
It is not that people like you don’t understand this, but merely use Perkasa as bogeyman to fish votes for Pakatan.
I don’t understand when you say about “UMNO going on a rampage against non Muslims”. Please give examples to support your accusations. And don’t say this person said so or Utusan wrote so. When you say UMNO, it has to the official position. Otherwise one can also say Mat Sabu or Nik Aziz’s views Pakatan’s official stance.
If not for UMNO, Malaysia would have turned into an Islamic republic like Iran for that’s the ultimate aim of PAS. No doubt the corner stone of UMNO’s struggle has been race but they had been remarkably moderate about it. Non bumis tend to forget the privileges that they enjoy in Malaysia. I can’t think of another country in the world where minorities have their own schools, temples, radio/tv stations, newspapers,etc. Surely not in Australia. Yet they keep bitching about being discriminated against.
I am a non-bumi and I have yet to see a fellow minority in any part of the world enjoying the kind of benefits that we take for granted in Malaysia.
Also, while many people condemn Perkasa, what is not criticised is the behaviour of some non bumis that many bumis consider highly provocative.
The discourse in Malaysian on-line media is highly one-sided as t covers only from the perspective of non bumis.
I tend to concur with rockjianrock on most of the points. However I have some additional comments to add.
1. Malaysian civil service is bloated I agree. Compared with Singapore’s definitely we are over-staffed. However, the Singapore’s system, as I understand, is not about paying all civil servants top dollars. It is only the mgmt level staff are well remunerated. The rank and file do not get to enjoy such privileges. Another interesting aspect of the Singapore system is a reversal of what we have in Malaysia. The rank and file of the public service is staffed by mostly the minorities (Malays and Indians) while the top mgmt are held by the Chinese. You could call this as “Ketuanan Cina”.
2. I would not support the Singapore system of paying only top dollars to top mgmt. We should pay the decision makers much more but the salaries of rank and file should be also revised to match the private sectors. This will bring on some positive impacts.
a. Attract more non bumis to the public service thus increase diversity, improve image and promote unity.
b. Attract better talents (both bumis and non bumis) so the overall quality can be improved
c. Eliminate / Reduce corruption
3. Another key initiative is making processes transparent so that they are less / no chance for corruption. Open tenders, on-line applications, etc are some of the steps that could be taken. I think Pak Lah did well when he cut down a lot of avenues for corruption when he reformed the CF process. I would suggest we should have a body similar to Pemandu in identifying and eliminating corruption.
4. Political parties : Probably you all read how the councilors from Shah Alam boycotted council meeting because they cannot get contracts. And this happened in Selangor, a state under PR. Most of these guys are politicians from PR. Those who are familiar with Selangor and Penang will know that such cases are rampant.
My point is unless all political parties are committed to eliminate corruption, it will be difficult to banish bribery. As such PR cannot claim to oppose corruption but allow such cases to happen and then defend / sweep these under the carpet.
The very real and visible culture of corruption and bribery across Thailand is 1000% more offensive than the gyrations and lewd actions of a Thai singer. Go to any festival urban or rural and you’ll see scantily clad girls grinding and pouting. Its everywhere. Ja turbo just made it more out there and more offensive. As she says people like it.
If there were real moral standards and ethics from Thai leaders and elders across the country this sort of behavior in public may not be so prevalent.
Yet this is unfortunately not the case with Thailand’s elders who in most cases are as morally corrupt as those that promote the seedier side of Thai culture as there’s easy MONEY to be made . This kind of sub- culture is accepted by a large percentage of the population, as its existed and thrived for decades.
Whenever I hear Khun Wood-ee I am reminded of Mr Leo, Adrian Cronauers camp fashion correspondent in “Good Morning Vietnam”.
Cronauer … “We’ve got a special man in the audience today right now…it’s Mr. Leo. He’s a fashion consultant for the Army.”
Cronauer as Mr. Leo … “Why thank you, Adrian. I’m just very happy to be here. I want to tell you something. You know, this whole camouflage thing for me doesn’t work very well.”
Cronauer … “Why is that?”
Cronauer as Mr. Leo … “Well, because you go into the jungle, I can’t SEE you! You know, its like wearing stripes and plaid! For me, I want to do something different. You know, if you go in the jungle, make a statement! If you’re going to fight, CLASH!”
…..But then I am just a no-class, low-class fahrang philistine, immune to his ever-so, hi-so, charms.
Some older fahrangs here may remember the English TV Presenter baffled and offended by “The Sex Pistols” many years ago. That may be on Youtube too for comparison.
The Times They Are A-Changin as septuagenarian Bob Dylan sang oh so many years ago.
Plus ca change……
” For those interested in the politics of language and body language, it would make a fascinating study to compare Woody’s treatment of Princess Chulaphon with his treatment of Nong Ja.”
Would you expect Bert Newton to ask the same question and act the same way when he interview Dalai Lama and Lady Gaga?
Your point is neither neutral nor intelligent..at least politically.”
You are making laugh most of the forum s readers with this ridiculous comparison (Dalai Lama and…)
When U Thant was the SG of the UN. He managed to deflect, successfully all the negative aspects on then Burma Government of Ne Win/BSPP.
Similarly atrocious and trigger happy nature as this present regime were, let to slide by the west under the “Laissez-Faire” approach with rare exposé of Ne Win as ‘enigmatic’ ‘odd’ etc., yet accepted as a dignified Head of a State (HoS) every where.
Truly undeserving, tongue in cheek, dignity accorded to Ne Win and his BSPP/Military Cohorts.
U Thant however in private treated Ne Win with unspeakable disdain. A well know historical fact, thus incurring Ne Win, a true megalomaniac, personal grudge.
The dead of U Thant and the subsequent funeral arrangements allowed & disallowed by Ne Win sparked the important students revolt at the RASU that result in the well known facts. One of which is ‘propelling Daw AUng San Suu Kyi’ to the forefront as an opposition leader with “Democracy” as her banner.
Subsequent bad choices that she made that again show absolute disrespect to the power that be now, has led Myanmar to the present quagmire.
The reasons to these regurgitates:
1) No Burmese especially the HoS will ever endure disrespect especially by their own, without consequences, as proof is continuing Than Shwe’s personal treatment of anything DASSK’s. To a certain extend Khin Nyunt.
2) Indignities inflicted by any none Burmese will be endured until such time, as strengthened enough to be ‘defiance and intransigent’. In the process the HoS will embrace even the devil.
AUng San embracing the Fascist and again The British as historical proves is now being repeated in N.Korea and to a certain extent China.
The approach, to Myanmar should be, is well suggested in New Mandala’s tongue in cheek article on Indonesia support.
The indignity shown to this country’s HoS resulting in the unspeakable suffering of the citizenry must be reversed and revised.
The willingness of this present Government to foray to the international forum/ASEAN chairmanship must not be met with past anti SPDC crowd’s apathy.
Continuing these well documented indignities, in the past similar “jump this hoop” or “Carrot and stick” approach will mean continuing “circle the wagon” mentality of this regime.
There are plenty of positive evidences, that will justify a “dignified” engagement.
[…] Mahadthai who has a popular song called “р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣” (or itchy ear). New Mandala explains the song:** The song itself is a tale of a young lady with an itchy ear (khan huu, р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣) […]
Firstly, I think “hu” in this place doesn’t mean “juu” but a twist word of “р╕лр╕╣-р╕Щр╕╡р╣Й” (hu nee = hee nu)
Secondly, Prince Chulaporn, Dali Lama, Lady GaGa, whoever, should not they all be treated the same if we really serious about equality?
I am not suggesting that Woody need to use a hard tone as he used with nong Ja when he speak with the princess or vice versa. He should just treat them equally with respect, sees them both as a human being with dignity which every single person on this earth no matter princess or dancer has the same. What he actually did was treating the prince with so warm and admirable tone while treating nong Ja, an ordinary girl, badly and look down on her just because he doesn’t like her.
The more important point, I think, is also because Woody sees nong Ja as someone who violate a code of morality in this society while sees the princess (actually, the royal family as a whole) as a leading example of Thai morality. Or even if he happens to know something about the princess, he just wouldn’t dare to ask.
I am supposing if Thailand has no Lese Majeste law and monarchy is not this powerful, would Woody still do the same? I think not, he would even ask about…whatsoever rumor in a cannery story.
I think the point Andrew tried to make is to show us that a double-standard not only effects in politics of our society, but also in a cultural area as well. The elites can do whatsoever contrast to their own code of morality and still claimed themselves to be high in morality and get treated as Gods. Sorry, but can’t you see how fake this society is?
I am not suggesting also that whatsoever rumors in cannery story is true, but we all should have a right to ask, isn’t it? Especially in a case that they are public figures that claimed themselves to be a good example of what they taught us everyday. They should answer about all of this rumors and clarify them if they still need us to believe what they said.
If Woody really wants to protect morality of a Thai society, why he just don’t do the same to princess; put pressures on her, encourage her to answer about whatsoever rumors. Of course, Woody couldn’t do that because if he do, he would be in a crocodiles’ digest system already!
The real problem is not at Woody (if I were him, I would do the same as well – I don’t want to be in a crocs’ stomach!). The problem is a controversy in morality claim between the elites and the commoners. If you are the elites, you would always be handled by a different standard. This is the same for both everyday life and politics… double standards is just everywhere!
The legitimacy for the ASEAN 2014 chair argument is interesting, but what happens after 2014? The cerebral atmosphere generated by Selth’s article leads one to the conclusion that the Junta will revert to its despicable ways! I think a lot more needs to be known about Thein Sein.
Amazing how the same basic plot has worked for 200k years since the dawn of homo sapians: hot chick shaking her booty gets male to shake uncontrollably. Civilizations have and gone, species have gone extinct, religions have appeared only to fall away, and yet this simple video shows how we all share one everlasting constant.
Wonder how many of the Thai cultural police have this video bookmarked…
I’ve always thought the 2014 ASEAN chair was the best leverage the international community had to encourage political reform in Myanmar. I don’t see too many other options really, short of removing sanctions.
Countries like Australia will need to tread carefully to capitalise on this opportunity. Push too hard and the Myanmar government may decide it’s not worth it, but at the same time it shouldn’t be given a free ride. It would be wise to keep the discussions/negotiations as low key as possible, in my opinion.
Woody is a representative of Thai culture’s repressive moral authority superego acting out. But the standard sanction of the Thai state on culture has not simply been a matter of controlling ‘unwanted’ behaviors, but rather a double-faced hypocricy of representing one thing (the ideal norms, national culture – whatever you want to call it) while leaving lacuna of the transgressive (of those norms) to exist AS LONG AS they aren’t too obvious, or too loud, or, as they say, as long as they don’t stir the public harmony/face. Ja and her itchy ear is ‘too loud’ I guess – but it also shows that, with the internet, it’s harder and harder for the state to control this surface (not merely behaviors). At the same time, as with the case of 112 and the ICT, the Thai state has shown its ability to adapt and expand its disciplining scheme in the internet era. Thus, we may see more decentralized, norm-challenging practices sprung up here and there, but also the ever-reaching state control. Back to Ja: it’s a bit of a shame when she, in the interview with Woody, half-admits her guilt and succumbs to this cultural superego working through Woody (although, at times, she also cites the real, everyday situations of working in clubs and bars and thus exposes, if implicitly, the hypocricy of Woody and the Thai state). IMHO, it’s these double standards (in culture, politics, etc) in Thailand that need to be exposed, openly discussed, challenged. Thus, my support to Ja and Turbo to stand on their firm ground and release more of such superb wordplay songs.
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Corruption in Malaysia and Singapore
Greg
I have been living in Malaysia for the past few years and even when I was away I kept in touch.
The problem with you and like-minded people is that you tend to buy lock-stock and barrel what’s written in the alternative media as gospel truth. Mkini, Malaysian Insider,etc are set up not to propagate media freedom but with the sole aim of promoting Pakatan and undemine BN. They tend to amplify and blow up issues to appear as though Malaysia is falling apart and the ethnic divisions are cratering. They also try their hardest to portray UMNO as right-wing terrorists out to oust non bumis from Malaysia. They in effect turn the exceptions into norm. People like Perkasa are fringe group and they do not represent UMNO. Utusan for example do not represent UMNO’s thinking either. Berita Harian also belongs to UMNO but I don’t see anyone saying BH represents UMNO’s views.
It is not that people like you don’t understand this, but merely use Perkasa as bogeyman to fish votes for Pakatan.
I don’t understand when you say about “UMNO going on a rampage against non Muslims”. Please give examples to support your accusations. And don’t say this person said so or Utusan wrote so. When you say UMNO, it has to the official position. Otherwise one can also say Mat Sabu or Nik Aziz’s views Pakatan’s official stance.
If not for UMNO, Malaysia would have turned into an Islamic republic like Iran for that’s the ultimate aim of PAS. No doubt the corner stone of UMNO’s struggle has been race but they had been remarkably moderate about it. Non bumis tend to forget the privileges that they enjoy in Malaysia. I can’t think of another country in the world where minorities have their own schools, temples, radio/tv stations, newspapers,etc. Surely not in Australia. Yet they keep bitching about being discriminated against.
I am a non-bumi and I have yet to see a fellow minority in any part of the world enjoying the kind of benefits that we take for granted in Malaysia.
Also, while many people condemn Perkasa, what is not criticised is the behaviour of some non bumis that many bumis consider highly provocative.
The discourse in Malaysian on-line media is highly one-sided as t covers only from the perspective of non bumis.
Corruption in Malaysia and Singapore
I tend to concur with rockjianrock on most of the points. However I have some additional comments to add.
1. Malaysian civil service is bloated I agree. Compared with Singapore’s definitely we are over-staffed. However, the Singapore’s system, as I understand, is not about paying all civil servants top dollars. It is only the mgmt level staff are well remunerated. The rank and file do not get to enjoy such privileges. Another interesting aspect of the Singapore system is a reversal of what we have in Malaysia. The rank and file of the public service is staffed by mostly the minorities (Malays and Indians) while the top mgmt are held by the Chinese. You could call this as “Ketuanan Cina”.
2. I would not support the Singapore system of paying only top dollars to top mgmt. We should pay the decision makers much more but the salaries of rank and file should be also revised to match the private sectors. This will bring on some positive impacts.
a. Attract more non bumis to the public service thus increase diversity, improve image and promote unity.
b. Attract better talents (both bumis and non bumis) so the overall quality can be improved
c. Eliminate / Reduce corruption
3. Another key initiative is making processes transparent so that they are less / no chance for corruption. Open tenders, on-line applications, etc are some of the steps that could be taken. I think Pak Lah did well when he cut down a lot of avenues for corruption when he reformed the CF process. I would suggest we should have a body similar to Pemandu in identifying and eliminating corruption.
4. Political parties : Probably you all read how the councilors from Shah Alam boycotted council meeting because they cannot get contracts. And this happened in Selangor, a state under PR. Most of these guys are politicians from PR. Those who are familiar with Selangor and Penang will know that such cases are rampant.
My point is unless all political parties are committed to eliminate corruption, it will be difficult to banish bribery. As such PR cannot claim to oppose corruption but allow such cases to happen and then defend / sweep these under the carpet.
Burma’s parliamentary prospects
Thank you Ko Kyaw Kyaw
for the summation.
Please continue with this line of exposé.
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣ : Nong Ja ahead of Democrats!
The very real and visible culture of corruption and bribery across Thailand is 1000% more offensive than the gyrations and lewd actions of a Thai singer. Go to any festival urban or rural and you’ll see scantily clad girls grinding and pouting. Its everywhere. Ja turbo just made it more out there and more offensive. As she says people like it.
If there were real moral standards and ethics from Thai leaders and elders across the country this sort of behavior in public may not be so prevalent.
Yet this is unfortunately not the case with Thailand’s elders who in most cases are as morally corrupt as those that promote the seedier side of Thai culture as there’s easy MONEY to be made . This kind of sub- culture is accepted by a large percentage of the population, as its existed and thrived for decades.
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣ : Nong Ja ahead of Democrats!
Whenever I hear Khun Wood-ee I am reminded of Mr Leo, Adrian Cronauers camp fashion correspondent in “Good Morning Vietnam”.
Cronauer … “We’ve got a special man in the audience today right now…it’s Mr. Leo. He’s a fashion consultant for the Army.”
Cronauer as Mr. Leo … “Why thank you, Adrian. I’m just very happy to be here. I want to tell you something. You know, this whole camouflage thing for me doesn’t work very well.”
Cronauer … “Why is that?”
Cronauer as Mr. Leo … “Well, because you go into the jungle, I can’t SEE you! You know, its like wearing stripes and plaid! For me, I want to do something different. You know, if you go in the jungle, make a statement! If you’re going to fight, CLASH!”
…..But then I am just a no-class, low-class fahrang philistine, immune to his ever-so, hi-so, charms.
Some older fahrangs here may remember the English TV Presenter baffled and offended by “The Sex Pistols” many years ago. That may be on Youtube too for comparison.
The Times They Are A-Changin as septuagenarian Bob Dylan sang oh so many years ago.
Plus ca change……
Royal complaint and Prachatai
[…] to be unaware of which comment to Prachatai was the subject of Mom Panadda’s accusation. Royal complaint and Prachatai Zitieren + […]
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣ : Nong Ja ahead of Democrats!
“The story is interesting until I read:
” For those interested in the politics of language and body language, it would make a fascinating study to compare Woody’s treatment of Princess Chulaphon with his treatment of Nong Ja.”
Would you expect Bert Newton to ask the same question and act the same way when he interview Dalai Lama and Lady Gaga?
Your point is neither neutral nor intelligent..at least politically.”
You are making laugh most of the forum s readers with this ridiculous comparison (Dalai Lama and…)
Sheridan and Selth on Burma today
When U Thant was the SG of the UN. He managed to deflect, successfully all the negative aspects on then Burma Government of Ne Win/BSPP.
Similarly atrocious and trigger happy nature as this present regime were, let to slide by the west under the “Laissez-Faire” approach with rare exposé of Ne Win as ‘enigmatic’ ‘odd’ etc., yet accepted as a dignified Head of a State (HoS) every where.
Truly undeserving, tongue in cheek, dignity accorded to Ne Win and his BSPP/Military Cohorts.
U Thant however in private treated Ne Win with unspeakable disdain. A well know historical fact, thus incurring Ne Win, a true megalomaniac, personal grudge.
The dead of U Thant and the subsequent funeral arrangements allowed & disallowed by Ne Win sparked the important students revolt at the RASU that result in the well known facts. One of which is ‘propelling Daw AUng San Suu Kyi’ to the forefront as an opposition leader with “Democracy” as her banner.
Subsequent bad choices that she made that again show absolute disrespect to the power that be now, has led Myanmar to the present quagmire.
The reasons to these regurgitates:
1) No Burmese especially the HoS will ever endure disrespect especially by their own, without consequences, as proof is continuing Than Shwe’s personal treatment of anything DASSK’s. To a certain extend Khin Nyunt.
2) Indignities inflicted by any none Burmese will be endured until such time, as strengthened enough to be ‘defiance and intransigent’. In the process the HoS will embrace even the devil.
AUng San embracing the Fascist and again The British as historical proves is now being repeated in N.Korea and to a certain extent China.
The approach, to Myanmar should be, is well suggested in New Mandala’s tongue in cheek article on Indonesia support.
http://www.newmandala.org/2011/08/03/indonesia-and-burma-strong-and-dignified-states/
The indignity shown to this country’s HoS resulting in the unspeakable suffering of the citizenry must be reversed and revised.
The willingness of this present Government to foray to the international forum/ASEAN chairmanship must not be met with past anti SPDC crowd’s apathy.
Continuing these well documented indignities, in the past similar “jump this hoop” or “Carrot and stick” approach will mean continuing “circle the wagon” mentality of this regime.
There are plenty of positive evidences, that will justify a “dignified” engagement.
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣ : Nong Ja ahead of Democrats!
[…] Mahadthai who has a popular song called “р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣” (or itchy ear). New Mandala explains the song:** The song itself is a tale of a young lady with an itchy ear (khan huu, р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣) […]
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣ : Nong Ja ahead of Democrats!
Firstly, I think “hu” in this place doesn’t mean “juu” but a twist word of “р╕лр╕╣-р╕Щр╕╡р╣Й” (hu nee = hee nu)
Secondly, Prince Chulaporn, Dali Lama, Lady GaGa, whoever, should not they all be treated the same if we really serious about equality?
I am not suggesting that Woody need to use a hard tone as he used with nong Ja when he speak with the princess or vice versa. He should just treat them equally with respect, sees them both as a human being with dignity which every single person on this earth no matter princess or dancer has the same. What he actually did was treating the prince with so warm and admirable tone while treating nong Ja, an ordinary girl, badly and look down on her just because he doesn’t like her.
The more important point, I think, is also because Woody sees nong Ja as someone who violate a code of morality in this society while sees the princess (actually, the royal family as a whole) as a leading example of Thai morality. Or even if he happens to know something about the princess, he just wouldn’t dare to ask.
I am supposing if Thailand has no Lese Majeste law and monarchy is not this powerful, would Woody still do the same? I think not, he would even ask about…whatsoever rumor in a cannery story.
I think the point Andrew tried to make is to show us that a double-standard not only effects in politics of our society, but also in a cultural area as well. The elites can do whatsoever contrast to their own code of morality and still claimed themselves to be high in morality and get treated as Gods. Sorry, but can’t you see how fake this society is?
I am not suggesting also that whatsoever rumors in cannery story is true, but we all should have a right to ask, isn’t it? Especially in a case that they are public figures that claimed themselves to be a good example of what they taught us everyday. They should answer about all of this rumors and clarify them if they still need us to believe what they said.
If Woody really wants to protect morality of a Thai society, why he just don’t do the same to princess; put pressures on her, encourage her to answer about whatsoever rumors. Of course, Woody couldn’t do that because if he do, he would be in a crocodiles’ digest system already!
The real problem is not at Woody (if I were him, I would do the same as well – I don’t want to be in a crocs’ stomach!). The problem is a controversy in morality claim between the elites and the commoners. If you are the elites, you would always be handled by a different standard. This is the same for both everyday life and politics… double standards is just everywhere!
New prison for political prisoners in Thailand?
WonderMan – 2
Then what kind of “devastation” by political prisoner is considered as a crime?
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣ : Nong Ja ahead of Democrats!
[…] […]
Sheridan and Selth on Burma today
*** erratum: not that it has really moved much from its despicable ways, but reverts to what it was before where it has moved to at present.
Sheridan and Selth on Burma today
The legitimacy for the ASEAN 2014 chair argument is interesting, but what happens after 2014? The cerebral atmosphere generated by Selth’s article leads one to the conclusion that the Junta will revert to its despicable ways! I think a lot more needs to be known about Thein Sein.
New prison for political prisoners in Thailand?
[…] New Mandala, Tyrell Haberkorn has a post that is chilling. Earlier today, PPT posted on Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung and lese […]
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣ : Nong Ja ahead of Democrats!
Amazing how the same basic plot has worked for 200k years since the dawn of homo sapians: hot chick shaking her booty gets male to shake uncontrollably. Civilizations have and gone, species have gone extinct, religions have appeared only to fall away, and yet this simple video shows how we all share one everlasting constant.
Wonder how many of the Thai cultural police have this video bookmarked…
Sheridan and Selth on Burma today
I’ve always thought the 2014 ASEAN chair was the best leverage the international community had to encourage political reform in Myanmar. I don’t see too many other options really, short of removing sanctions.
Countries like Australia will need to tread carefully to capitalise on this opportunity. Push too hard and the Myanmar government may decide it’s not worth it, but at the same time it shouldn’t be given a free ride. It would be wise to keep the discussions/negotiations as low key as possible, in my opinion.
Burma’s parliamentary prospects
Another report on Weekly Eleven:
http://eversion.news-eleven.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1448:workers-to-form-labor-organizations-under-new-bill&catid=43:biweekly-eleven-eversion&Itemid=110
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣ : Nong Ja ahead of Democrats!
To: A thai student in Melbourne.
Very good point. But I don’t think Nong Ja is as famous as the Dalai Lama.
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣ : Nong Ja ahead of Democrats!
Woody is a representative of Thai culture’s repressive moral authority superego acting out. But the standard sanction of the Thai state on culture has not simply been a matter of controlling ‘unwanted’ behaviors, but rather a double-faced hypocricy of representing one thing (the ideal norms, national culture – whatever you want to call it) while leaving lacuna of the transgressive (of those norms) to exist AS LONG AS they aren’t too obvious, or too loud, or, as they say, as long as they don’t stir the public harmony/face. Ja and her itchy ear is ‘too loud’ I guess – but it also shows that, with the internet, it’s harder and harder for the state to control this surface (not merely behaviors). At the same time, as with the case of 112 and the ICT, the Thai state has shown its ability to adapt and expand its disciplining scheme in the internet era. Thus, we may see more decentralized, norm-challenging practices sprung up here and there, but also the ever-reaching state control. Back to Ja: it’s a bit of a shame when she, in the interview with Woody, half-admits her guilt and succumbs to this cultural superego working through Woody (although, at times, she also cites the real, everyday situations of working in clubs and bars and thus exposes, if implicitly, the hypocricy of Woody and the Thai state). IMHO, it’s these double standards (in culture, politics, etc) in Thailand that need to be exposed, openly discussed, challenged. Thus, my support to Ja and Turbo to stand on their firm ground and release more of such superb wordplay songs.