Nothing like a good scare story implying that unrest in the south is being funded by the Pakistani Taliban! No evidence or corroboration needed of course. One is left wondering why the PT, who pay the bills for fighting their own wars against the US and Pakistani armies want to be so philanthropic as to start funding schools in an obscure part of Thailand?
For some mysterious reason, Thailand Gal seems to have missed the bit where the 2000 people are shot by Thai Army snipers in Central Bangkok (and all the previous killings), the hundreds of years of brutal oppression and exploitation by the BKK Royals of the millions of rural Thais, especially in the NE and the Khmer areas, the trafficking, buying and selling of hundreds of thousands of young females to service millions of Thai and other males, the environmental ocean rampage of the huge Thai fishing fleet, etc.
Oh well, I guess the best way to enjoy the magic of Amazing Thailand is with rose-coloured glasses and blinkers firmly attached.
As for the rest of us, yes, we are just imperialist, brain-washed Westerners bent on establishing our capitalist hegemony over the tranquil nirvana of peaceful and harmonious native cultures.
Westerners tend to fall in love with cultures that are yet to be gutted by hundreds of years of capitalism.
Marx and Engels blamed the whole thing on a class of people, which is wrong, but they were so nearly right. Capitalism is a set of values, a fundamentalist culture that, “wherever it has got the upper hand, has put an end to all feudal, patriarchal, idyllic relations. It has pitilessly torn asunder the motley feudal ties that bound man to his ‘natural superiors’, and has left remaining no other nexus between man and man than naked self-interest, than callous ‘cash payment’. It has drowned the most heavenly ecstasies of religious fervour, of chivalrous enthusiasm, of philistine sentimentalism, in the icy water of egotistical calculation.”
Westerners are struck by the (yet to be destroyed) richness of Thai culture, and the politeness of Thai people. But Westerners should be aware that Thais usually assume, merely from their Western racial characteristics, that they are dealing with wealthy people, and treat them accordingly. Thais are not so polite with their own kind if they know the other person comes from a lower social stratum. Most of us know how poor country girls are treated in Bangkok.
Today Thaksin is back at Forbes Thai billionaires list with $1,700,000,000. Wow. I bet he recouped (oops is this the correct word) all his ‘seized’ losses and more soon after his clone Yingluck became Thai PM. African gold mines could not have given Thaksin such quick huge windfall
[…] Asian fast food economies. Some of my writings on the topic from over the years are available here and here. And perhaps my fullest treatment of some related issues comes in this 2008 […]
Thailand Gal.I know your post is quite old. But when I read it I nearly cried. I am a western fellow from the land of Australia.I always feel Thailand is my home. I have been learning the language for a year and recently studying more on their culture. When I am there it is my home. I have acquired a Thai friend. It is just a friendship , nothing more. Sometimes she looks at me a little strange because of the culture difference. I am nearly 50. Once upon a time in my early 20s I thought and acted very much like the Thais. I lost my way. Although I love Thai people it is difficult to convey this to them because they do not express strong emotions. Everything is “cool”. But I would say they are some of the kindest most loving and gentle people I could meet. Like yourself, I very much want to live their culture.
Bizarre! That sums up the results of the recent Bangkok gubernatorial elections. Everyone got it wrong. All the pollsters (pre-election and exit) got it wrong with all predictions towards a landslide win by the Yingluck-Pongsapat PT team. BangkokPundit got it wrong … and this guy follows and reads only Thai polls these days. Even the eventual winner reelected Bangkok governor Sukhumband got it wrong: at a televised interview just after the election closed he was just about to choke and in not so many words was almost apologizing/expecting a loss (believing the exit polls no doubt) saying he’ll probably just return to a lowly position in the Democrat Party.
Well Vichai N got it wrong too. Yingluck’s swinging hips and Pongsapat’s boogie (and probably Thaksin’s voodoo too) actually succeeded to garner a whooping 1.1 million votes for Pongsapat and he was able to beat Samak Sundaravej’s record by 60,000 thousand votes! But that was NOT enough because somehow the Democrats were able to get 170,000 more votes to a new record 1.27 million votes secured by Governor Sukhumband.
Don’t ask me what happened because I don’t. Maybe the ‘silent’ Bangkokians finally got wise and heeded Chuan’s last-minute warning; or maybe many of those ‘silents’ were shaken to terror when they saw Jatuporn/Nattawut/Thida (the Red Terror leaders) brazenly riding on PM Yingluck/Pongsapat motorcade as if the year 2010 bombings/killings/burnings did not matter.
I wonder what the impact on research will be when everywhere is accessible by air. Already the minimization of pen use is probably having some sort of ramifications. Though not a particularly significant loss, when going from Chiang Mai to Si Saket by bus over 22 hours I remember having great thoughts, but didn’t take a pen. The increasingly stylized life of a researcher may perpetuate (or even exacerbate?) a pre-existing schism with those that are unable to fly. Will we represent the poor more anarchronistically than before?
Every Thai knows that since 2004 every acts of violence, labeled as terrorist activities or insurgency are claim to be revenge by the protagonists as justifierable “revenge” for Tak Bai incident.
Charisma works best, if the person to whom such charisma is attached is distant, because on closer looks it might just fade away. Charisma is as well less of a real personal characteristic then a projection by others. In other words, charismatic persons, as we have at least two in Thailand, are mainly simulacra. Based on this view, it would be best to maintain charisma and stay distant. However, for politics to become more realistic, it would be better to return.
The question which I find most interesting is, why Thaksin has become the most charismatic living Thai?
My barber sagely lectured, as he snipped at my going balding scalp, that the Bangkok governor elections is more of a game changer to Abhisit than Thaksin. If the Democrats lose today’s Bangkok governor elections, Abhisit would have to ungracefully remove himself from party and/or further political affairs … to take responsibility and that sort of b.s. But Thaksin or Yingluck, under Peau Thai Party unwritten rules (the Shinawatra are ‘Gods’ at the party if you get my drift), don’t have to take responsibility for any party debacle, much less a loss in Bangkok’s gubernatorial elections.
By my abacus, if the Democrats win at least 850,000 votes then Bangkok continues to belong to them.
To win, Yingluck/Pongsapat needs a swing of about 200,000 votes in their favor. That’s a lot of swing … But who knows? Yingluck has been swinging her lovely hips nearly daily … while Pongsapat awkwardly attempts to boogie some votes their way.
Although many repeat that the provinces are poor and that this poverty is one reason for the conflict. Unfortunately, this is not shown in the statistics and even less in direct observation (it is hard to find a pick up older then three years).
Certainly the state should finance the islamic schools as well, but then these schools should follow the curriculum as well (plus courses on islam etc.) So far, in all countries access to higher education depends on certificates that reflect competences necessary for studies. Thus, skills in citing the coran are usually not even sufficient to enter Al Agsha in Cairo!
Concenring scholatrships, there are quite a few available for studies abroad. These are though islamic studies, which are not really regarded as qualifications for a position in higher management etc.
It is not only the Thai state that disadvantages the moslems in the south, quite a few of these are eager to disadvantage themselves!
Many argue that showing respect to Islam, providing finances for education, providing shcolarships and generous support from the government would solve the problem. These are nice fariy tales, far away from reality! (By the way, most of the violence of the islamic insurgents kills moslems!)
Can’t wait having Burger King’s extra long chicken burger without cheese in Yangon! It would be nice if it could be located near a Pizza Company outlet…
“This broken record has changed its tune. ASSK’s transformation has turned its hatred of the Lady for being such a spoil sport to lurrve. Economic aid sans political reforms is the be all and end all as far as this messianic message is concerned.”
Ko Moe Aung
The ‘Die hard xxxx’ slip of a “siempre revolucion” dogma is indeed too obvious.
Albeit ‘sans lurrve’ for the citizenry, a trade mark that begs to be recognized as next dictator.
The Bangkok governor elections to be decided March 3 2013 could be a game changer for Thaksin. If the PT Party candidate Police Gen. Pongsapat Pongcharoen wins (every poll seems to indicate that he’s way ahead of the incumbent Sukhumbhand, a Democrat), that could signal that all is well, Thaksin is forgiven, Thaksin could return.
That (a Pongsapat win) means Bangkok has forgiven Thaksin for his sins: the extrajudicial killings, the election cheating, the corruption scandals, his criminal convictions and the Bangkok riots: killings, bombings and burnings committed in year 2010 by the Reds on behalf of Thaksin.
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Islamic education’s desperate plight
Nothing like a good scare story implying that unrest in the south is being funded by the Pakistani Taliban! No evidence or corroboration needed of course. One is left wondering why the PT, who pay the bills for fighting their own wars against the US and Pakistani armies want to be so philanthropic as to start funding schools in an obscure part of Thailand?
“Thai culture” in a Western context…
For some mysterious reason, Thailand Gal seems to have missed the bit where the 2000 people are shot by Thai Army snipers in Central Bangkok (and all the previous killings), the hundreds of years of brutal oppression and exploitation by the BKK Royals of the millions of rural Thais, especially in the NE and the Khmer areas, the trafficking, buying and selling of hundreds of thousands of young females to service millions of Thai and other males, the environmental ocean rampage of the huge Thai fishing fleet, etc.
Oh well, I guess the best way to enjoy the magic of Amazing Thailand is with rose-coloured glasses and blinkers firmly attached.
As for the rest of us, yes, we are just imperialist, brain-washed Westerners bent on establishing our capitalist hegemony over the tranquil nirvana of peaceful and harmonious native cultures.
“Thai culture” in a Western context…
Westerners tend to fall in love with cultures that are yet to be gutted by hundreds of years of capitalism.
Marx and Engels blamed the whole thing on a class of people, which is wrong, but they were so nearly right. Capitalism is a set of values, a fundamentalist culture that, “wherever it has got the upper hand, has put an end to all feudal, patriarchal, idyllic relations. It has pitilessly torn asunder the motley feudal ties that bound man to his ‘natural superiors’, and has left remaining no other nexus between man and man than naked self-interest, than callous ‘cash payment’. It has drowned the most heavenly ecstasies of religious fervour, of chivalrous enthusiasm, of philistine sentimentalism, in the icy water of egotistical calculation.”
Westerners are struck by the (yet to be destroyed) richness of Thai culture, and the politeness of Thai people. But Westerners should be aware that Thais usually assume, merely from their Western racial characteristics, that they are dealing with wealthy people, and treat them accordingly. Thais are not so polite with their own kind if they know the other person comes from a lower social stratum. Most of us know how poor country girls are treated in Bangkok.
When Thaksin comes home
Today Thaksin is back at Forbes Thai billionaires list with $1,700,000,000. Wow. I bet he recouped (oops is this the correct word) all his ‘seized’ losses and more soon after his clone Yingluck became Thai PM. African gold mines could not have given Thaksin such quick huge windfall
Imitation is the best form of McFlattery
[…] Asian fast food economies. Some of my writings on the topic from over the years are available here and here. And perhaps my fullest treatment of some related issues comes in this 2008 […]
“Thai culture” in a Western context…
Thailand Gal.I know your post is quite old. But when I read it I nearly cried. I am a western fellow from the land of Australia.I always feel Thailand is my home. I have been learning the language for a year and recently studying more on their culture. When I am there it is my home. I have acquired a Thai friend. It is just a friendship , nothing more. Sometimes she looks at me a little strange because of the culture difference. I am nearly 50. Once upon a time in my early 20s I thought and acted very much like the Thais. I lost my way. Although I love Thai people it is difficult to convey this to them because they do not express strong emotions. Everything is “cool”. But I would say they are some of the kindest most loving and gentle people I could meet. Like yourself, I very much want to live their culture.
When Thaksin comes home
[…] one commentator at New Mandala summed it up, about as well as any of the professional poll […]
When Thaksin comes home
Bizarre! That sums up the results of the recent Bangkok gubernatorial elections. Everyone got it wrong. All the pollsters (pre-election and exit) got it wrong with all predictions towards a landslide win by the Yingluck-Pongsapat PT team. BangkokPundit got it wrong … and this guy follows and reads only Thai polls these days. Even the eventual winner reelected Bangkok governor Sukhumband got it wrong: at a televised interview just after the election closed he was just about to choke and in not so many words was almost apologizing/expecting a loss (believing the exit polls no doubt) saying he’ll probably just return to a lowly position in the Democrat Party.
Well Vichai N got it wrong too. Yingluck’s swinging hips and Pongsapat’s boogie (and probably Thaksin’s voodoo too) actually succeeded to garner a whooping 1.1 million votes for Pongsapat and he was able to beat Samak Sundaravej’s record by 60,000 thousand votes! But that was NOT enough because somehow the Democrats were able to get 170,000 more votes to a new record 1.27 million votes secured by Governor Sukhumband.
Don’t ask me what happened because I don’t. Maybe the ‘silent’ Bangkokians finally got wise and heeded Chuan’s last-minute warning; or maybe many of those ‘silents’ were shaken to terror when they saw Jatuporn/Nattawut/Thida (the Red Terror leaders) brazenly riding on PM Yingluck/Pongsapat motorcade as if the year 2010 bombings/killings/burnings did not matter.
Or maybe . . . .
Thoughts from Seat 1D
I wonder what the impact on research will be when everywhere is accessible by air. Already the minimization of pen use is probably having some sort of ramifications. Though not a particularly significant loss, when going from Chiang Mai to Si Saket by bus over 22 hours I remember having great thoughts, but didn’t take a pen. The increasingly stylized life of a researcher may perpetuate (or even exacerbate?) a pre-existing schism with those that are unable to fly. Will we represent the poor more anarchronistically than before?
Desperately seeking success
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tak_Bai_incident
Every Thai knows that since 2004 every acts of violence, labeled as terrorist activities or insurgency are claim to be revenge by the protagonists as justifierable “revenge” for Tak Bai incident.
When Thaksin comes home
Charisma works best, if the person to whom such charisma is attached is distant, because on closer looks it might just fade away. Charisma is as well less of a real personal characteristic then a projection by others. In other words, charismatic persons, as we have at least two in Thailand, are mainly simulacra. Based on this view, it would be best to maintain charisma and stay distant. However, for politics to become more realistic, it would be better to return.
The question which I find most interesting is, why Thaksin has become the most charismatic living Thai?
When Thaksin comes home
My barber sagely lectured, as he snipped at my going balding scalp, that the Bangkok governor elections is more of a game changer to Abhisit than Thaksin. If the Democrats lose today’s Bangkok governor elections, Abhisit would have to ungracefully remove himself from party and/or further political affairs … to take responsibility and that sort of b.s. But Thaksin or Yingluck, under Peau Thai Party unwritten rules (the Shinawatra are ‘Gods’ at the party if you get my drift), don’t have to take responsibility for any party debacle, much less a loss in Bangkok’s gubernatorial elections.
By my abacus, if the Democrats win at least 850,000 votes then Bangkok continues to belong to them.
To win, Yingluck/Pongsapat needs a swing of about 200,000 votes in their favor. That’s a lot of swing … But who knows? Yingluck has been swinging her lovely hips nearly daily … while Pongsapat awkwardly attempts to boogie some votes their way.
On the eve of a tourist boom
Hey, is there snow resorts in the north west of Burma……that would go off
The March to Putrajaya
[…] …source The March to Putrajaya By Greg Lopez 11 October 2010 – New Mandala […]
Islamic education’s desperate plight
Although many repeat that the provinces are poor and that this poverty is one reason for the conflict. Unfortunately, this is not shown in the statistics and even less in direct observation (it is hard to find a pick up older then three years).
Certainly the state should finance the islamic schools as well, but then these schools should follow the curriculum as well (plus courses on islam etc.) So far, in all countries access to higher education depends on certificates that reflect competences necessary for studies. Thus, skills in citing the coran are usually not even sufficient to enter Al Agsha in Cairo!
Concenring scholatrships, there are quite a few available for studies abroad. These are though islamic studies, which are not really regarded as qualifications for a position in higher management etc.
It is not only the Thai state that disadvantages the moslems in the south, quite a few of these are eager to disadvantage themselves!
Many argue that showing respect to Islam, providing finances for education, providing shcolarships and generous support from the government would solve the problem. These are nice fariy tales, far away from reality! (By the way, most of the violence of the islamic insurgents kills moslems!)
Islamic education’s desperate plight
Regardless of rubber prices, the Patani states are certainly the most impoverished in Thailand.
As an educator, I think Thai govt should be throwing money ay education in Patani. Why shouldn’t the education ministry not fund Islamic schools.
We need to include Thailand’s Muslims, by scholarships through tertiary education. Muslim professionals and politicians would erase many margins.
Fast food and rapid change
Can’t wait having Burger King’s extra long chicken burger without cheese in Yangon! It would be nice if it could be located near a Pizza Company outlet…
Gazing into Sittwe prison
“This broken record has changed its tune. ASSK’s transformation has turned its hatred of the Lady for being such a spoil sport to lurrve. Economic aid sans political reforms is the be all and end all as far as this messianic message is concerned.”
Ko Moe Aung
The ‘Die hard xxxx’ slip of a “siempre revolucion” dogma is indeed too obvious.
Albeit ‘sans lurrve’ for the citizenry, a trade mark that begs to be recognized as next dictator.
When Thaksin comes home
The Bangkok governor elections to be decided March 3 2013 could be a game changer for Thaksin. If the PT Party candidate Police Gen. Pongsapat Pongcharoen wins (every poll seems to indicate that he’s way ahead of the incumbent Sukhumbhand, a Democrat), that could signal that all is well, Thaksin is forgiven, Thaksin could return.
That (a Pongsapat win) means Bangkok has forgiven Thaksin for his sins: the extrajudicial killings, the election cheating, the corruption scandals, his criminal convictions and the Bangkok riots: killings, bombings and burnings committed in year 2010 by the Reds on behalf of Thaksin.
But if Gen. Ponsapat loses . . . ?
Fast food and rapid change
Here’s hoping MOS Burger makes the same move.