Comments

To those who insist that I am indulging in, encouraging or else capitulating to an impermissible “clash of civilizations”, or am in the grip of “Islamophobia”, may I address a few further words? Make a final attempt to set things straight, especially the crooked thinking of some of my interlocutors!

For my part, I simply try to explain things as I see them — and how I think others need to begin to do also.

I am not “for” or “against” on all the simplistic questions that most people these days want to argue about.

But many people — especially within our great universities — insist that I am now in the grip of anachronism or some sort of anti-Islamic fury.

Well, that’s their view.

My essay, as those who read it intelligently will understand, was not an attempt to outline the whole history of Islam, nor to review the entire history of relations between Islam and the West, nor to analyse and explain the failure of intellectual reform in Islam.

It had a much narrower focus and aim.

It was concerned and sought simply to trace or map the shift in Islam — in the historical evolution of Muslim religious consciousness, or the changing “phenomenology” of the orienting mindset of the faithful — as the focus of their Islamic sensibilities and allegiances has moved in modern times from Allah to Muhammad to a sort of reified “Islam itself” as a “way of life” that must be rescued and restored.

To me, the result of that process has been unambiguous: Islam began as a faith that repudiated idolatry in all its forms; but the new Islamists, as they have transformed Islam from a faith into a cause, have made an idol of Islam itself.

… which, of course, is not very Islamic, really!

Een a quick glance at Wikipedia (not always authoritative and reliable I know but one can scroll down to the references) indicates that CPB wealth comes from a range of diversified investments (e.g. Siam Cement Group), Banking (e.g. Siam Commercial Bank), Real Estate (over 1,509 hectares or 15,090,000 square meters and real estate prices in Metropolitan Bangkok are currently about US$3,900 per square meter), Financial Services (e.g. Insurance) and Hospitality. I would suggest that such sources explain existing CPB wealth rather than heroin.

A shameful attack on professor Pavin and on academic freedom. If anyone could have any doubt that Thai Royalism is the worst kind of Fascism, with a criminal Junta stained with corruption and with crimes against human rights, I suppose now it is crystal clear. All democratic countries should boycott Thailand’s Royalist dictatorship and support all forces struggling for freedom, democracy and justice in that country

Does one need to read the Satanic Verses to appreciate and criticise the message and the subsequent impact of the book? On the other hand does one need to read the etire Buddhist Canon to be a follower of the Teacher?

It’s the same kind of argument that says you cannot comment on a country you have never been to, you’re not worthy. And a red herring is still a red herring no matter how big it is.

I think this man who stated that “I represent Yale University.” and “I am representing Yale!” and You’re full of shit!” is brilliant! I suggest that he train 100 persons to raise their voices in universities, think tanks, and other venues across the world. We could name these teams the “You’re full of shit” brigades. In no time at all, the scales would fall from people’s eyes, audiences would be humbled that representatives of great institutions spoke in such ways. University presidents would thank them for claiming to speak for the university, and the world would better understand the royalist position. Please, Mr. Anonymous — can I call you Mr. “Son of a bitch,” after your wise words? –, take my advice. What could possibly go wrong?

PC. Tnx for reminding me Latin was not my best subject. The Tamil priest who self tasked to thump it into me, using a thick leather strap made heavier by overnight soaking in a bucket of oil, probably enjoyed an undeserved happy retirement spoonfed Uncle Toby’s. At the risk of abyssum abyssus invocat, I was pleased to see the Clivester’s piece yet again handballed to a daily Rupert, where ad captandus vulgus is given high priority. The same rag that does ‘warfooting’ propaganda ie labeling as ‘the other’ and dehumanising asylum seekers who arrive by boat.

Puzzled no end by the Clivester’s elusive Third Phase, I rubbed my Aladin’s Lamp [an old Nokia] and pulled out of my fez some, at the time, very nasty contacts from Maluku and Sulawesi. Salafis, I was hopeful they’d sighted the elusive species of the austere Arabian sands. Sadly though, none could tell me. Last on the list was a fisherman, retained largely because he’d run off to Java with Tabliqis and returned after a three month course all juba-d and goateed up. Nor could he help. Was this Third Phase some secret Merpati Putih jurus? Perhaps sepaktakraw jargon? However, he’d been at Ashmore 5 days [now 7] ago and seen a large timber refugee boat. ‘Kastam’ told him it had come from Sulawesi and the passengers had been taken to Australia. So perhaps we shall see a new turnback in the near future.

There needs to be more open discussions about the monarchy in places like the US. These fanatical and often violent people will convince the world of their insanity.

Boonrawd: How much do you get paid from the palace for being a protector of the Thai monarchy here in New Mandala? Tell your boss to abolish the lese majeste law and let the people speak freely and without fear of reprisal and see if they still love your king!

The moral capital that the Monarchy lends to the Thai system of bureacratic cronyism is fading every day. It like a game of musical chairs where there are ever fewer seats at the trough for the “good people” to eat at. So much risk for these groups- Royal Network, Military, and Ammat. It looks like they are in complete panic mode. With all the work they are doing to eliminate each other and the progressive groups when do they find time to get any work done?

Is the Khon Kaen Model an Isaan succession movement? I thought they were opposition activists.

The regicide case of King Ananda is one of many that pops up in my mind now. The three pages who were wrongly executed despite the earnest plead from their family members to spare their lives at the last minutes before executions to the young king. The orders to gun down unarmed student protesters during the October 14, 1973 uprising and many other uprisings demanding more freedom and democracy. They are just too many to describe!