Perhaps I am just too idealistic in thinking that voters should rise above self interest, or that a ‘committee of the virtuous’, similar to Plato’s philosopher kings, would be a better system than todays ‘democracy’.
Hi dear in the dhamma
I would like to know how practice mindfullness as well
I have been study abhidhamma and also vinaya and sutta in forest monestary in thailnd.
I am so appreciate to attend to this confefrence.
Please let me know how should to get necessery steps to attend on this conference.
“The notion that Westerners should protect those of other less-developed cultures from basic information about the forces at work in their lives because it may demystify is patronising in the extreme.”
I say,
It has been my experience that contacts between the indigenous and “outsiders” usually result in the indigenous being mystified, and while this is not always the intention of the outsiders it is somehow a resultant condition.
Once mystified, and presumably open to suggestion, if the indigenous are then somehow brought to believe that their own paradigm is false and a new paradigm is introduced, I would consider this as a classic (yet perhaps formulaic) version of Colonialism, regardless if the intentions of the Colonizers sought to help the indigenous.
I tried a similar project in rural Cambodia by simply trying to increase crop yield in one very small village. Upon return to the University my colleagues were astounded at the stupidity of what I was attempting. I believe the comment was,
“YOU DONT KNOW WERE THAT WILL LEAD!!
One Professor was actually writing a paper on the leveling mechanisms inherent in cultures and suggested that, if I was to be ethical and actually succeed in doing good, years of research needed to be done before the inception of my project.
PS-I never meant to suggest, as you said that, “that Westerners should protect those of other less-developed cultures from basic information about the forces at work in their lives”
Actually I think your comment serves to perhaps prove my point that that intervention is a very serious responsibility perhaps best handled by a team of experts from various disciplines.
[…] to Samak Sundaravej Posted by Colonel Jeru under Folitics Two days ago I posted at New Mandala a condemnation of Samak Sundaravej as a mega-corrupt . . . to which I was immediately chastised, […]
Yes, intellectual arrogance indeed! To suggest that the regime needs guidance from the mafia when they’ve got Lo Hsin Han and (until recently) Khun Sa to advise them.
nganadeeleg, where are all these people directly supporting PPP and Samak? I think its your imagination. That’s ok. Although I am pretty sure though that you could say that New Mandala is partial to democracy. With all this sarcasm flying about willy nilly it seems like your real problem might be with democracy… So by continuously highlighting Samak from your anti-democratic position aren’t you associating him with academia’s notion of a purer democracy? Thats quite a compliment for Samak!
serf, I was going to make comment about the King fitting your description of Thaksin and that this exceptionalism of course must remain unrecognisable – but I just read the guide to Thai etiquette and have decided against it.
If only the world was run by philosopher kings… but its not- it’s run by big business – so I can see the logic of these potential philosopher kings: if you can’t beat em’ join em’! This commendable moral position could have only been given precedent by the American Association for Asian Studies who are the right civilized sort with a clear ethical($?!) basis for benevolent intent.
Srithanonchai: It was sarcasm – the lowest form of wit.
An attempt at restoring the balance, as here on NM it seems that generally only one side of the political divide is open to pot shots.
“..the refusal of delegates to the EuroSEAS conference to adopt a [my] Resolution…”
Do you believe in democracy or don’t you?
“…It is interesting to note that Naples is the homeland of the Camorra, the crime organisation responsible for drugs traffic and many other illegal activities in the region. Camorra bosses, like the currently imprisoned Raffaele Cutolo, who recently fathered a baby despite being denied congugal visiting rights for more than two decades, it is said by artificial insemination (his wife’s name is Immacolata!), have strong links with legal and illegal and semi-legal businesses (they run 2,500 illegal bakeries and are involved with illegal waste management as well), and the local extremely impoverished economy depends importantly on the Camorra. There is also an important business selling fake clothes on to the US market.”
Maybe this could have been a second resolution and why stop there?
i think the real issue is intellectual arrogance, western intellectuals are but one little group/interest in a big wide world, whose self-conceived universal importance, is not universally recognised
“Never fear Srithanonchai, Historicus & Teth:
PPP & Samak will be the savior, and lead the country into the light.
(We are so lucky that there are no hypocrites on that side of the political battle)” >> I don’t understand this remark.
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Horror in pink
This is brilliant. Pink man is like Willy Wonka’s evil alter ego. An extraordinary statement about the pink sheep.
New Mandala goes …….
Pink’s out – Green’s in
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/11/14/p1news/images/30055992-01.jpg
“Royalist populism”
Srithanonchai: Your name was just there because you were one of the three most recent posts in the thread at the time – no offence intended.
Grasshopper: I see continual criticism of one side as, at least, indirect support for the other side.
Yes, you are correct – I do have a problem with democracy, and my thoughts on this have been expressed here:
http://rspas.anu.edu.au/rmap/newmandala/2007/01/19/one-vote-one-value/
Perhaps I am just too idealistic in thinking that voters should rise above self interest, or that a ‘committee of the virtuous’, similar to Plato’s philosopher kings, would be a better system than todays ‘democracy’.
Justin Wintle’s response to Robert Taylor
What a gasbag.
I won’t even glance at his book.
Interview with Paul Handley
Harrumph!
Shan conference in London, December 2007
Hi dear in the dhamma
I would like to know how practice mindfullness as well
I have been study abhidhamma and also vinaya and sutta in forest monestary in thailnd.
I am so appreciate to attend to this confefrence.
Please let me know how should to get necessery steps to attend on this conference.
PPP unmasked?
That’s OK! He’s NOT my King!
Interview with Paul Handley
reply to: landof snarls // Nov 4, 2007 at 8:38 pm
You Said,”
“The notion that Westerners should protect those of other less-developed cultures from basic information about the forces at work in their lives because it may demystify is patronising in the extreme.”
I say,
It has been my experience that contacts between the indigenous and “outsiders” usually result in the indigenous being mystified, and while this is not always the intention of the outsiders it is somehow a resultant condition.
Once mystified, and presumably open to suggestion, if the indigenous are then somehow brought to believe that their own paradigm is false and a new paradigm is introduced, I would consider this as a classic (yet perhaps formulaic) version of Colonialism, regardless if the intentions of the Colonizers sought to help the indigenous.
I tried a similar project in rural Cambodia by simply trying to increase crop yield in one very small village. Upon return to the University my colleagues were astounded at the stupidity of what I was attempting. I believe the comment was,
“YOU DONT KNOW WERE THAT WILL LEAD!!
One Professor was actually writing a paper on the leveling mechanisms inherent in cultures and suggested that, if I was to be ethical and actually succeed in doing good, years of research needed to be done before the inception of my project.
PS-I never meant to suggest, as you said that, “that Westerners should protect those of other less-developed cultures from basic information about the forces at work in their lives”
Actually I think your comment serves to perhaps prove my point that that intervention is a very serious responsibility perhaps best handled by a team of experts from various disciplines.
c
New Mandala goes …….
Somsak Jeamteerasakul,
“More seriously, I heard, so far, two “explanations” of this ‘pink campaign’, one quite official, the other rumor (but interesting nonetheless).”
Does this mean the monarchy is turning into a ‘pop culture’?
Thepchai Yong on normality in Thai politics
[…] to Samak Sundaravej Posted by Colonel Jeru under Folitics Two days ago I posted at New Mandala a condemnation of Samak Sundaravej as a mega-corrupt . . . to which I was immediately chastised, […]
Horror in pink
[…] Thailand’s Pink Man could be right on the mark.┬ The Thai people has no sense of history. […]
The invisible country of SEA
Yes, intellectual arrogance indeed! To suggest that the regime needs guidance from the mafia when they’ve got Lo Hsin Han and (until recently) Khun Sa to advise them.
“Royalist populism”
nganadeeleg : I suspected that it was sarcasm, but I had problems connected me to it.
“Royalist populism”
nganadeeleg, where are all these people directly supporting PPP and Samak? I think its your imagination. That’s ok. Although I am pretty sure though that you could say that New Mandala is partial to democracy. With all this sarcasm flying about willy nilly it seems like your real problem might be with democracy… So by continuously highlighting Samak from your anti-democratic position aren’t you associating him with academia’s notion of a purer democracy? Thats quite a compliment for Samak!
PPP unmasked?
serf, I was going to make comment about the King fitting your description of Thaksin and that this exceptionalism of course must remain unrecognisable – but I just read the guide to Thai etiquette and have decided against it.
PPP unmasked?
I concede defeat! My overly active imagination!
The invisible country of SEA
If only the world was run by philosopher kings… but its not- it’s run by big business – so I can see the logic of these potential philosopher kings: if you can’t beat em’ join em’! This commendable moral position could have only been given precedent by the American Association for Asian Studies who are the right civilized sort with a clear ethical($?!) basis for benevolent intent.
“Royalist populism”
Srithanonchai: It was sarcasm – the lowest form of wit.
An attempt at restoring the balance, as here on NM it seems that generally only one side of the political divide is open to pot shots.
The invisible country of SEA
“..the refusal of delegates to the EuroSEAS conference to adopt a [my] Resolution…”
Do you believe in democracy or don’t you?
“…It is interesting to note that Naples is the homeland of the Camorra, the crime organisation responsible for drugs traffic and many other illegal activities in the region. Camorra bosses, like the currently imprisoned Raffaele Cutolo, who recently fathered a baby despite being denied congugal visiting rights for more than two decades, it is said by artificial insemination (his wife’s name is Immacolata!), have strong links with legal and illegal and semi-legal businesses (they run 2,500 illegal bakeries and are involved with illegal waste management as well), and the local extremely impoverished economy depends importantly on the Camorra. There is also an important business selling fake clothes on to the US market.”
Maybe this could have been a second resolution and why stop there?
i think the real issue is intellectual arrogance, western intellectuals are but one little group/interest in a big wide world, whose self-conceived universal importance, is not universally recognised
“Royalist populism”
nganadeeleg:
“Never fear Srithanonchai, Historicus & Teth:
PPP & Samak will be the savior, and lead the country into the light.
(We are so lucky that there are no hypocrites on that side of the political battle)” >> I don’t understand this remark.