Britannia

Corruption in the west is as high as it is anywhere, it is just played at a different level, Offer a police officer $50 or 100 pounds GBP and you’re likely to get arrested and go to jail, But if you’re a big drug dealer and pass across 1m then they take it and your off the hook, (if they can)

Same in business in the West, at the top of the ladder it goes on at the bottom it does not, simply because the stakes are not high enough, could be called greed, Now there is a good religious teaching, never be corrupt unless the stakes are high enough. Who was it that said “A rich man can never enter the Kingdom of Heaven” I forget (facetious)

The root of the problem is that Buddhism has not managed to inculcate an underlying morality; this, I think, is true of religions/philosophies in most Asian countries, China and Japan being the honourable exceptions.

The only real morality which Thais seem to follow is centred on the family unit, the family being extended to a greater or lesser extent depending on the individual, and in particular on his education. Any Thai who wishes to challenge this, please do; I'd love to learn different.

In the West, two thousand years of Christian ethics has given us an underlying moral system which still largely persists even though Christianity has declined. Most of the Ten Commandments is actually plain common sense (and in this thread I am deliberately excluding the religious precepts).

Where is the difference? You’re talking nonsense.

There is no difference between the percepts and the commandments, (except there is 5 more) but the 5 more or less worded different cover the 10

It’s been stated many times on the forum by different individuals, they are more animist rather than Buddhist, here in Thailand

But in all religions the majority is the case of the blind (teachers-Priest- Mullahs) etc leading the blind. Occasionally comes one of knowledge but not many.

Morality is taught by all religions, its just a case of who is teaching it

The headline should be "Sondhi rejects World Court ruling", not yellow shirt. The guy has alienated basically everyone and doesn't represent anyone. And why anyone would care about this bloody stupid non-issue is beyond me.

Well you’re reading it and even commenting maybe just bored ha

I have seen the UN operate in Africa... they are too PC to have any effect. They have teeth, but don't bite. I doubt the Thais and Cambodians are too worried about this statement, they will not leave.

Sadly that's proven to be the case far too often; though it's down to civilian commanders in NYC rather than the troops in the field having sufficient valor and/or professionalism or not (on which score I think some are better than others).

So this is decided in Europe. Doesn't this reek of a bit of neo-colonialism to anyone else but me?

No, Just you

What I have noticed, here in Chiang mai, (don't know about other places in Thailand) a lot of ladyboys are gone, where you saw before a group of girlfriends always joined with at least 1 ladyboy they seem to be be joined by at least 1 tomboy nowadays.....

Very strange.. don't know where the ladyboys went.. and I don't know where all the tomboys come from all of a sudden...

Don't be too disapointed, keep looking you might find them

It's a public secret in Thailand that a huge amount of monks are just plane gay, and that becoming (temporaly) a monk is i nfact a way of reassuring or even showing their' feminine' character.Same problem with catholic priests: can we imagine catholic priests ' teaching' other priests to discover their' masculinity'???!!....The core of the problem is t hat any religion is based on sexual repression, and sexual repression can only reinforce' alternative' forms of sexuality.The ones who try to solve the problem are the problem...

The problem is with Thai Buddhism as they dont allow woman to be a monk as enjoined by Lord Buddha.

However a woman monk cannot use makeup.

Most religions developed during times of tribal loyalties or proto-city states needing to keep numbers up, and create a social re-enforcing mechanism, to get members to go and die to protect the central continuity of the city state against it's neighbors, and feed them in and organized manner. If you were made to feel a morally reenforced dictate to procreate, and if needs be send your sons to war to save your city state from destruction or make it larger, then the philosophy worked.

In modern times it is less needed because if anything there is excess population and the state has maintained a way to control protection issues. But the religious overlay doesn't fade away. Buddha of course was not advocating war, but man, in his typical controllishness, used the organizational structures to hold the society together in parallel to the state. When they are no longer needed they are still in place because of habit and cultural stasis. Which is partly why Santi Asoke is against the Thai Sangha, they think it has too many City/State trappings and less pure Buddha in it's methodology.

So not being hetro and strong and manly was one less defender of the relm ready to defend, and breed fresh defenders and agriculturists for the global public good, in the eyes of many thus putting them all at risk. So structures were put in place to keep numbers up and under moral control.

Not serpoosed to be drinking today, how many have you had?

Gandhi like Mandela, were two Political exceptions, throughout the world and throughout History.

It may be a sad fact, that all modern peaceful democratic societies have got there by opposing the law in order to change it,

The oppressed throughout the world, yes your forefathers and mine never got equality through peaceful demonstration they had to, shall we say struggle for it.

Now we would not expect the uneducated jungle idiots to know anything about that would we? as they are all stupid! But we would expect the superior educated brains of society to be aware that that is how evolution in politics works and to be aware that sooner or later the majority get there way

That might be ok IF the red shirts were the majority.

I never said red, its inplanted in your brain, red red red I said the poor uneducated jungle idiot as some honorable folk like to refere to them. They are the majority, the reds are just at the fore at the fore at the fore, I always stutter when trying to explain the color red to a blind person. its impossible you know

True, you didn't say 'red', just 'jungle idiots'. Could be almost anyone then, couldn't it. still lots of jungle in Thailand, assuming we were restricting ourselves to Thailand.

So re-reading we're talking about the oppressed who you choose to call the 'jungle idiots'. I'll be kind and assume you were a bit sarcastic here. The reds are at the forefront you say? Is that 'reds' as in the red-shirt, grass-root poor, or only the UDD faction with it's leaders as possible Pheu Thai MP-elects? Those last can hardly be called uneducated. Some may even sue you for defamation calling them both idiots and uneducated.

Last question if you would be so kind to permit. Do you have less problems explaining colours other than red to the blind ?

Sir you forgot to put a ? after couldn’t it

And you are as about facetious as I am

Also you miss the point on explaining the color red to a blind person sir, it’s impossible.

Jungle idiots uneducated sir was just to make some of the posters on here feel more comfortable, it is not my own personal opinion you know?

Would the 'angry backlash' be done within or by breaking the law? What I don't understand is why they have to act like an unruly mob, rather than doing things within the law (eg protesting without being violent or commiting crimes). Thailand will remain a wild west if groups like the Red shirts are allowed to continue breaking the law, being violent, restricting peoples free movement, and not tolerating other peoples opinions.

Then a question of ethics: should persons with criminal convictions, not of good character, and having little respect for the law, be allowed to to MPs? In most other countries of the world they would be instantly disqualified. Its not a question of politics; just decent, civil behaviour.

Did we see Ghandi acting like the red shirts?

Gandhi like Mandela, were two Political exceptions, throughout the world and throughout History.

It may be a sad fact, that all modern peaceful democratic societies have got there by opposing the law in order to change it,

The oppressed throughout the world, yes your forefathers and mine never got equality through peaceful demonstration they had to, shall we say struggle for it.

Now we would not expect the uneducated jungle idiots to know anything about that would we? as they are all stupid! But we would expect the superior educated brains of society to be aware that that is how evolution in politics works and to be aware that sooner or later the majority get there way

That might be ok IF the red shirts were the majority.

I never said red, its inplanted in your brain, red red red I said the poor uneducated jungle idiot as some honorable folk like to refere to them. They are the majority, the reds are just at the fore at the fore at the fore, I always stutter when trying to explain the color red to a blind person. its impossible you know

(quote) But the Thai people don't want a different criminal in charge, they want *this* one.

Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant, all the forums topics summed up in one paragraph Now who can follow that?

Would the 'angry backlash' be done within or by breaking the law? What I don't understand is why they have to act like an unruly mob, rather than doing things within the law (eg protesting without being violent or commiting crimes). Thailand will remain a wild west if groups like the Red shirts are allowed to continue breaking the law, being violent, restricting peoples free movement, and not tolerating other peoples opinions.

Then a question of ethics: should persons with criminal convictions, not of good character, and having little respect for the law, be allowed to to MPs? In most other countries of the world they would be instantly disqualified. Its not a question of politics; just decent, civil behaviour.

Did we see Ghandi acting like the red shirts?

Gandhi like Mandela, were two Political exceptions, throughout the world and throughout History.

It may be a sad fact, that all modern peaceful democratic societies have got there by opposing the law in order to change it,

The oppressed throughout the world, yes your forefathers and mine never got equality through peaceful demonstration they had to, shall we say struggle for it.

Now we would not expect the uneducated jungle idiots to know anything about that would we? as they are all stupid! But we would expect the superior educated brains of society to be aware that that is how evolution in politics works and to be aware that sooner or later the majority get there way

Only one question:

What you all going to do if civil war breaks out not just riots in Bankok, but civil war throughout the whole Kingdom, What are you all going to do as there seems to be a lot of posters that don't take this scenario serious. look around use your eyes use you ears, it is possible very possible. do you have a alternative arrangements already? How many are going to Volunteer for the front line?

Most posters here who are in Thailand will be prohibited from interfering in internal matters. Capital offence, I'm afraid. Those posters who are not in Thailand will be prohibited by their government to interfere.

Personally at 55 I'm a bit too old to join the Foreign Legion

Never mind capital offence!! Old men bicker young men die, always has been let’s hope it won’t always be. I was being facetious by the way

I don’t think any on TV that are so politically arrogant, would even consider (as we say in old England) putting there money where there mouth is

55 well your just a boy, Cant fight for what you believe in? well well

Only one question:

What you all going to do if civil war breaks out not just riots in Bankok, but civil war throughout the whole Kingdom, What are you all going to do as there seems to be a lot of posters that don't take this scenario serious. look around use your eyes use you ears, it is possible very possible. do you have a alternative arrangements already? How many are going to Volunteer for the front line?

While I myself have no incline towards the reds (or any other color for that matter), I wonder what would happen in the western world of democracies if a party was legitimately elected 4 times (under international observation the last time - so no one can argue) and for the fourth time the democratically elected government and/or its elected candidates was removed by means of a so called impartial court ruling or a military coupe'. I think that in those countries too there would be very, very big trouble indeed.

Exactly, what is wrong with buying a few votes?

There is nothing wrong in buying votes, nothing wrong with that at all. The British (All parties) have been doing it for decades and so have the Americans and Australians and all the rest.

We are going to cut taxes (Buying Votes) We are going to increase pensions (Buying votes) We are going to give you health care (Buying votes)

Get real will you no one anywhere would vote for anyone if they where not going to get something more or better for themselves. You add this repetitive statement almost daily

No one ever gave me a few quid prior to voting in any UK election

Well I suppose it is true you can never explain the color green to a blind man that has never seen, if you don’t have the tools then you can’t use them.

Buying votes is buying votes whether you pay up front or on credit, promising is just buying votes on credit, at least when they say I will give you 500 Bhat and place it in your hand, they have kept their promise,

We will cut taxes sorry we cant World economic recession, put up pension’s health care etc, sorry we cant Now they really are the con artist, they bought on credit and never paid up

Been to and worked in many parts and countries of the world but have a hard time remembering a country where the Chief of the army is so much in the news as here.

Turkey springs to mind . . . US and British Generals have also appeared regularly in the news for their (not always politically compliant) commentary on how to un-<deleted> the adventures in Iraq and the 'Ghan.

A little bit different don’t you think.

US-British forces involved in action overseas,(The public needs to know why their boys are dieing in foreign lands) is not quit the same as what goes on here. Wonder why they need an army (defense) against who? The people? Maybe they should all join the police force

While I myself have no incline towards the reds (or any other color for that matter), I wonder what would happen in the western world of democracies if a party was legitimately elected 4 times (under international observation the last time - so no one can argue) and for the fourth time the democratically elected government and/or its elected candidates was removed by means of a so called impartial court ruling or a military coupe'. I think that in those countries too there would be very, very big trouble indeed.

Exactly, what is wrong with buying a few votes?

There is nothing wrong in buying votes, nothing wrong with that at all. The British (All parties) have been doing it for decades and so have the Americans and Australians and all the rest.

We are going to cut taxes (Buying Votes) We are going to increase pensions (Buying votes) We are going to give you health care (Buying votes)

Get real will you no one anywhere would vote for anyone if they where not going to get something more or better for themselves. You add this repetitive statement almost daily

I expect it was more the people trafficking for the sex industry they were concerned about.

At least in the Bars in Thailand the girls are free to come and go.

Those trafficked to the west have their passports taken and are imprisoned to pay back the traffickers. And are forced to sleep with 20-30 men a day.

Very different scenarios.

That is a lot of sleeping, well Thai ladies can sleep a lot

He had served his sentence and was out on license.

He breached the terms of said license by leaving the UK.

Go back to sleep, Its Britain not America, He was out on bail pending an appeal.

In Britain when you have done your time then you have done your time

Thaksin reads thai visa?!

I think the letter was well writen and made a lot of sense

Step back and give her a chance for all Thais sake

Not sure if Taksin reads TV but probably gets, feedback on its content, if he does maybe some should be packing bags

No doubt he gets a daily synopsis of the Thai newspapers and any articles related to his interests at least once or twice a day.

Somehow I doubt that extends to a synopsis on the comments of TV posters.

Hope your right

Thaksin reads thai visa?!

I think the letter was well writen and made a lot of sense

Step back and give her a chance for all Thais sake

Not sure if Taksin reads TV but probably gets, feedback on its content, if he does maybe some should be packing bags

Real insight in to the truth, lovely thank you

It amuses me to see how quickly some members are already sounding the death knell for PT, on the basis of a shoddy piece of reporting. Some members are even patting themselves on their backs, claiming that their predictions have come true :D

Well my predictions are coming true, sadly.

Thaksin, the thin end of the globalist wedge. By agreement he'll move aside and become a "commerce facilitator", as ASEAN breaks down the Thai borders. Death to Thailand from within and without.

http://www.cfr.org/t...nd_thai_-070511

I read the first few paragraphs and stopped as it's obvious to me that author shares the same opinion as most of the anti-Reds on this forum. In any case, this article is merely an opinion and not exactly gospel, is it?

All posts are peoples opinions unless they are pure facts relating to the topic subject. Of course they are not gospel but you "reds" must admit that everything isn't exactly going swimmingly for Khun Yingluck as everyone and everything is coming back to bite her.

First rule in politics is don't promise what you can't deliver - according to the experts this is exactly what she has done and done it spectacularly wrong at that!!

Abhisit must be having a right good chuckle to himself, don't you think???

No sir the first rule in politics is never tell the truth, now everyone knows that

Sir Read the post again: I said that the dogmatic expats may have converted some intermidiate EX PATS into the Taksin camp

I also said that the Dems having also voiced hatred for Taksin May have actually persuaded some voters to vote against Hatred ( Which is Negative)

I am still sure that it will not make sense to a block-head

I thank you for sharing your first hand knowledge with the forum. It really is a brave and enlightening thing to announce to us and certainly helps to explain your previous posts. I wish you all the best in dealing with this affliction.

The Dogmatic attitude of hatred (which is negative) by the democrats supporters on this forum has probably generated a lot of support for Taksin that was not their originally. Many so called Taksin supporters are probably just sticking up for the electorate but are themselves intermediate in their actual Thai political view.

The Democrats’ Dogmatic in hatred against Taksin may have very well been a contributory factor in many of the electorates decision, regarding their vote People (normal people I would stress) can not abide hatred more so when it is so dogmatic

Difficult to keep abreast of all the negativity clothed as realism Mick

Ok, now I understand. The positive person says they were charged, that's a step toward justice, and eventually reconciliation. The negative person sees it as - negative - it's not reconciliation.

Reconciliation without justice is just a whitewash.

And maybe for Thailand to move on, that is the unorthodox (thanks Rubl) methodology that will facilitate reconciliation........positivity is seeking a positive outcome by searching for an acceptable solution to all sides.

Negativity is placing blocks and constraints on the process that will eventually bog it down.

So you equate justice with negativity? You want reconciliation without justice? Then I have to say that you are the one couching your statements in negativity.

Pfffft.

I am still sure that it will not make sense to a block-head

Last week 19 UDD leaders were charged with terrorism. I wonder if the Isaan Rambo may have been one of them, and this has "encouraged' him to seek reconciliation. Did he get on the party list?

I wonder also if he would be willing to discuss any sudden increase in his wealth in the last few years, and its source.

BTW nice photo with what looks to be a flash version of an M-79 grenade launcher (you know, those little bombs that killed so many people in BKK).

If it is, it was designed for an idiot! The rifle-style sights would have the heavy exploding projectile hitting the ground a few metres from the firer. The standard version has a rear sight nearly as long as the barrel, and it is fired at a roughly 30-45 degree angle above horizontal.

@473GEO did you notice yesterday's thread on the effect's of the pay rise, corporate tax, etc. Your comments were noticeably absent, if not missed.

Difficult to keep abreast of all the negativity clothed as realism Mick

Ok, now I understand. The positive person says they were charged, that's a step toward justice, and eventually reconciliation. The negative person sees it as - negative - it's not reconciliation.

Reconciliation without justice is just a whitewash.

And maybe for Thailand to move on, that is the unorthodox (thanks Rubl) methodology that will facilitate reconciliation........positivity is seeking a positive outcome by searching for an acceptable solution to all sides.

Negativity is placing blocks and constraints on the process that will eventually bog it down.

Makes sense to me, but I am sure it will not make sense to block-heads