Gee whiz, Ron, and there I was thinking hundreds of thousands of books and articles have been written about religions, theology, how religions are practiced and perceived. That thousands of universities and seminaries throughout the world present courses of study on the same subjects. Perhaps if you’re not interested and find the subject tedious, you should watch tv.
Torrence is it . . . and you or your people resent your surname being mispelled ‘Torrance’ (a village from low life England!). Well Torrrrence, descended from a Knight of the Kingdom of Scotland, I am impressed, and I am delighted to make acquaintances with your great grands and even your wife’s family, thank you. And yes thank you for mentioning you are also a descendant of ‘founders of the United States of America’.
I am sufficiently awe struck by the Torrence name I must admit. But what has dropping names of your dead descendants have to do with equally dead Samai Wongsuwan?
I am sure I have watched some European circus somewhere with a Torrence for a clown . . .
All of the people I respect tell me that Anwar Ibrahim like Thaksin is a globalist asset. A person who will sell Malaysia to the highest bidder in order to secure power.
Appreciate this notice. He was, for a time, an important contributor to discussions of these issues. Sorry that most of us never had a chance to know him better.
For those of you wondering what all the fuss is about — Nick stars in a conversation on today’s Voice TV. It is available here but apparently only for those based in Thailand. And now an update: a version for those outside Thailand is here.
Nick, turning into a TV superstar now, eh? My wife, who also likes your writing and reporting since I have been showing her and has read “In the Killing Zone” with all of the comments. She was watching “Wake up Thailand” this morning and called me over excitedly to show that you were on the show.
Anyone who shoots or bombs indiscriminately or discriminately at unarmed civilians should be punished to the full letters of the law and if such shootings or bombings are committed by officers entrusted with keeping law and order then the punishments should be exponentially amplified. That should be clear to all decent Nicks and Rons and even dubious Matt characters of the world.
And for the record if the word ‘admit’ had offended the factual reporter-photographer Nostitz. MattB or MittC apologizes.
James’ analysis of the elections, particularly the historical context is excellent and well worth reading. He also has a good argument that UMNO is strong while the BN is weak.
However, the argument falls flat when it comes to explaining the dynamics of rural politics. His argument is that (A) rural Malays are particularly attracted to Malay and Islamic supremacy (Ketuanan Melayu; Ketuanan Islam) and (B) Umno’s power lies in “mind control” (James’ words, not mine!).
A) I have never seen evidence (only assertion) that rural Malays are any more (or less) inclined toward a politics of racial or Islamic supremacy than urban Malays (often asserted; but to my knowledge, never demonstrated). For instance, ‘dakwah’ movements are largely urban rather than rural based. Ethnic/racial conflict occurs as much, if not more, in urban areas as in rural ones.
B) As my post above says – PR has done very little to suggest that they have any positive plan for rural Malaysia, whereas BN/UMNO does have a proven track-record. Rural Malays/Malaysia has seen tremendous development over several decades. So why do we want to say this is some vague powers of ‘mind control’ as opposed to rational, political calculation when rural voters choose BN over PR?
James Chin has another view of the rural votes at the recent GE13 in Malaysia.
Umno is unlikely to reform in time for the 14th GE, and does not need to. As long as the first- past-the-post system continues to allot disproportionate weight to rural voters, all Umno has to do is to keep the fire of Ketuanan Melayu and Ketuanan Islam burning brightly in rural Malaysia.
Mittc, wherever I see your comments, you amuse me with your failure to understand, you could not even spell my name correctly, even though it was only a few inches from where you wrote it. You insult my people by using the spelling of a village in the low life kingdom of England. My people are descended from Sir Torrence a Knight of the Kingdom of Scotland who was knighted by King Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, where there is a town named after him.
And please do not insult me by calling me a Red, to an American my age, by that you are calling me a Communist, though my wife’s family is acquainted with some of the Shinawatra clan, I do not speak from their viewpoint, but my own, which is that of a descendant of the founders of the United States of America, and on of many generations who served proudly in the service of our country, not a Thai political faction.
There is a simple solution -import sand from a legal source like Western Australia with no environmental consequences -but you hav e to convince the Singapore Govt to end its insistence present supplies are not from countries who have banned the export of sand !!
What does that “even Nostitz admits…” mean? I don’t need to “admit” anything as i haven’t done anything other than factually reporting.
I have, since i began publicly writing on this conflict back in 2008 stated that there naturally is a violent element in the Red Shirts (as there is in yellow). I was the first photographer who photographed a Red Shirt protester with a gun and published it in my first book on the conflict, back in 2009 (and the book also contains PAD guards that were arrested with firearms, including one with a stolen automatic rifle).
I have in May 2010, in one of the comments of my killing zone story, stated that i have seen armed militants under the Red Shirts.
Therefore i completely reject the implications contained in that comment “even Nostitz admits…”.
I report what i see. I don’t “admit”.
What do you say of incidents in which the military indiscriminately shot at protesters, journalists and bystanders during incidents in which quite clearly no armed militants were present? Any comment on that?
Ron Torrance understandably disowns the Red Shirt bomber Samai. But Samai’s kind of terror was encouraged by cheering Reds during year 2010 Red terror campaign of assault rifle shootings, indiscriminate grenade launcher attacks and the arson finale. Even Nostitz admits there are very violent Red elements before, during and after . . .
You asked WHY Ron? Because Reds like you Ron continue to DENY is why.
MattB, Why is it that you keep repetitiously babbling about the actions of all red shirts? Samai Wongsuwan was ONE PERSON OUT OF MANY THOUSANDS, and his actions only reflect himself, no one else. There are many people that are survivors of that incident that some exaggerate as a massacre, and others praise as just retribution that are suffering from PTSD, as some can be observed with symptoms of that syndrome. Regardless of all of the finger pointing that Thais and people like you like to do, the fact is that for several days there were armed groups of men were shooting at groups of mostly unarmed people. These are irrefutable facts without the emotional garbage attached.
Nick, I always like to read your reports, thank you for your contributions of facts and pictures.
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The Buddha was bald
Gee whiz, Ron, and there I was thinking hundreds of thousands of books and articles have been written about religions, theology, how religions are practiced and perceived. That thousands of universities and seminaries throughout the world present courses of study on the same subjects. Perhaps if you’re not interested and find the subject tedious, you should watch tv.
Red art: Democracy Monument April 12 2010
Torrence is it . . . and you or your people resent your surname being mispelled ‘Torrance’ (a village from low life England!). Well Torrrrence, descended from a Knight of the Kingdom of Scotland, I am impressed, and I am delighted to make acquaintances with your great grands and even your wife’s family, thank you. And yes thank you for mentioning you are also a descendant of ‘founders of the United States of America’.
I am sufficiently awe struck by the Torrence name I must admit. But what has dropping names of your dead descendants have to do with equally dead Samai Wongsuwan?
I am sure I have watched some European circus somewhere with a Torrence for a clown . . .
Bersih’s impact on GE13
Hi Charles,
Could you name some of these people that you respect who has said this, so that New Mandala readers can judge for themselves.
Thanks
Saving Bukit Kiara
I would like to join the cause of saving Bukit Kiara. Please advise who I can contact . Thanks
The Buddha was bald
So, how many people in the world do you guys think care anything at all about what you are in a serious argument about?
Bersih’s impact on GE13
All of the people I respect tell me that Anwar Ibrahim like Thaksin is a globalist asset. A person who will sell Malaysia to the highest bidder in order to secure power.
Dave Everett and fighting for the KNLA
Thank you, Charles F.,
Appreciate this notice. He was, for a time, an important contributor to discussions of these issues. Sorry that most of us never had a chance to know him better.
Rest in Peace.
Best wishes to all,
Nich
Dave Everett and fighting for the KNLA
For those who might be interested, Dave Everett passed away on April 13,2013 after a lengthy illness.
RIP Shadow Warrior.
Red art: Democracy Monument April 12 2010
For those of you wondering what all the fuss is about — Nick stars in a conversation on today’s Voice TV. It is available here but apparently only for those based in Thailand. And now an update: a version for those outside Thailand is here.
Best wishes to all,
Nich
Red art: Democracy Monument April 12 2010
Life is weird… 😉
What i didn’t figure out yet is how to make the money of a superstar.
Red art: Democracy Monument April 12 2010
Nick, turning into a TV superstar now, eh? My wife, who also likes your writing and reporting since I have been showing her and has read “In the Killing Zone” with all of the comments. She was watching “Wake up Thailand” this morning and called me over excitedly to show that you were on the show.
Red art: Democracy Monument April 12 2010
Anyone who shoots or bombs indiscriminately or discriminately at unarmed civilians should be punished to the full letters of the law and if such shootings or bombings are committed by officers entrusted with keeping law and order then the punishments should be exponentially amplified. That should be clear to all decent Nicks and Rons and even dubious Matt characters of the world.
And for the record if the word ‘admit’ had offended the factual reporter-photographer Nostitz. MattB or MittC apologizes.
GE13 and the politics of urban chauvinism
James’ analysis of the elections, particularly the historical context is excellent and well worth reading. He also has a good argument that UMNO is strong while the BN is weak.
However, the argument falls flat when it comes to explaining the dynamics of rural politics. His argument is that (A) rural Malays are particularly attracted to Malay and Islamic supremacy (Ketuanan Melayu; Ketuanan Islam) and (B) Umno’s power lies in “mind control” (James’ words, not mine!).
A) I have never seen evidence (only assertion) that rural Malays are any more (or less) inclined toward a politics of racial or Islamic supremacy than urban Malays (often asserted; but to my knowledge, never demonstrated). For instance, ‘dakwah’ movements are largely urban rather than rural based. Ethnic/racial conflict occurs as much, if not more, in urban areas as in rural ones.
B) As my post above says – PR has done very little to suggest that they have any positive plan for rural Malaysia, whereas BN/UMNO does have a proven track-record. Rural Malays/Malaysia has seen tremendous development over several decades. So why do we want to say this is some vague powers of ‘mind control’ as opposed to rational, political calculation when rural voters choose BN over PR?
GE13 and the politics of urban chauvinism
James Chin has another view of the rural votes at the recent GE13 in Malaysia.
Red art: Democracy Monument April 12 2010
Mittc, wherever I see your comments, you amuse me with your failure to understand, you could not even spell my name correctly, even though it was only a few inches from where you wrote it. You insult my people by using the spelling of a village in the low life kingdom of England. My people are descended from Sir Torrence a Knight of the Kingdom of Scotland who was knighted by King Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, where there is a town named after him.
And please do not insult me by calling me a Red, to an American my age, by that you are calling me a Communist, though my wife’s family is acquainted with some of the Shinawatra clan, I do not speak from their viewpoint, but my own, which is that of a descendant of the founders of the United States of America, and on of many generations who served proudly in the service of our country, not a Thai political faction.
Singapore’s insatiable hunger for sand
There is a simple solution -import sand from a legal source like Western Australia with no environmental consequences -but you hav e to convince the Singapore Govt to end its insistence present supplies are not from countries who have banned the export of sand !!
Red art: Democracy Monument April 12 2010
What does that “even Nostitz admits…” mean? I don’t need to “admit” anything as i haven’t done anything other than factually reporting.
I have, since i began publicly writing on this conflict back in 2008 stated that there naturally is a violent element in the Red Shirts (as there is in yellow). I was the first photographer who photographed a Red Shirt protester with a gun and published it in my first book on the conflict, back in 2009 (and the book also contains PAD guards that were arrested with firearms, including one with a stolen automatic rifle).
I have in May 2010, in one of the comments of my killing zone story, stated that i have seen armed militants under the Red Shirts.
Therefore i completely reject the implications contained in that comment “even Nostitz admits…”.
I report what i see. I don’t “admit”.
What do you say of incidents in which the military indiscriminately shot at protesters, journalists and bystanders during incidents in which quite clearly no armed militants were present? Any comment on that?
Red art: Democracy Monument April 12 2010
Ron Torrance understandably disowns the Red Shirt bomber Samai. But Samai’s kind of terror was encouraged by cheering Reds during year 2010 Red terror campaign of assault rifle shootings, indiscriminate grenade launcher attacks and the arson finale. Even Nostitz admits there are very violent Red elements before, during and after . . .
You asked WHY Ron? Because Reds like you Ron continue to DENY is why.
Red art: Democracy Monument April 12 2010
Thank you 🙂
Red art: Democracy Monument April 12 2010
MattB, Why is it that you keep repetitiously babbling about the actions of all red shirts? Samai Wongsuwan was ONE PERSON OUT OF MANY THOUSANDS, and his actions only reflect himself, no one else. There are many people that are survivors of that incident that some exaggerate as a massacre, and others praise as just retribution that are suffering from PTSD, as some can be observed with symptoms of that syndrome. Regardless of all of the finger pointing that Thais and people like you like to do, the fact is that for several days there were armed groups of men were shooting at groups of mostly unarmed people. These are irrefutable facts without the emotional garbage attached.
Nick, I always like to read your reports, thank you for your contributions of facts and pictures.