6 hours ago, baboon said:

Yes. The right to assemble. The right to vote. The right to eat a sandwich with any intention you like. The right to not have the railway carriage you are traveling in uncoupled from the train to save you from an 'angry mob' who are really plain clothed army. The right to demand the removal of a deputy prime minister who states he will resign if the people don't want him and then doesn't. The right to call into question blatant nepotism. The right of a free media to investigate any public figure and report on their findings. The right to a fair trial  in a civilian court. The right not to have tailor-made laws targeting you personally and applied retroactively. The right not to be sued for defaming a handbag...How much more do you want?

 

You wouldn't seek to excuse the above in your own country. Why then the racism of lower expectations for others?

One of the best posts (above) in a long while on what is the difference between the Thai junta and governments elsewhere. Well written, Baboon. Powerful stuff! Every word you write here is true. And in case people don't remember the incident with the sandwich: it was of a young man being hauled off by the thought police for daring to eat a sandwich and read Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four at the same time in a shopping mall! See here: 

 

Edited May 23, 20188 yr by Eligius

Give it a rest Don mate

32 minutes ago, Eligius said:

One of the best posts (above) in a long while on what is the difference between the Thai junta and governments elsewhere. Well written, Baboon. Powerful stuff! Every word you write here is true. And in case people don't remember the incident with the sandwich: it was of a young man being hauled off by the thought police for daring to eat a sandwich and read Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four at the same time in a shopping mall! See here: 

 

Yes, I remember that.

I don't know if it was him specifically or someone else, openly reading 1984 while eating a sandwich. The press reported they were charged with 'eating a sandwich with wilful intent'.

Hence I have since used that phrase cynically: 'thinking with wilful intent', was the last time.

 

At least they had the courtesy to acknowledge what's happening domestically, and didn't twist that.

27 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Yes, I remember that.

I don't know if it was him specifically or someone else, openly reading 1984 while eating a sandwich. The press reported they were charged with 'eating a sandwich with wilful intent'.

Hence I have since used that phrase cynically: 'thinking with wilful intent', was the last time.

 

Yes 'thinking with willful intent' says it all.

20 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Yes, I remember that.

I don't know if it was him specifically or someone else, openly reading 1984 while eating a sandwich. The press reported they were charged with 'eating a sandwich with wilful intent'.

Hence I have since used that phrase cynically: 'thinking with wilful intent', was the last time.

 

Actually it was 'Eating a sandwich with POLITICAL intent'. Now then; given that there was no such law on the statute books, how could he be charged with it?

But then there is no law in this country. Just the arbitrary exercise of power. 

13 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

Yes 'thinking with willful intent' says it all.

This is my post where I used it, parodying 1984:

 

29 minutes ago, baboon said:

Actually it was 'Eating a sandwich with POLITICAL intent'. Now then; given that there was no such law on the statute books, how could he be charged with it?

But then there is no law in this country. Just the arbitrary exercise of power. 

Oops, I stand (well, sit) corrected. My memory is obviously failing.

Thanks.

edit: Actually in my defence of my misquoting, I somehow doubt there's any law regarding the eating of a sandwich - whatever way it was consumed!

Unless of course, someone knows different...

 

Edited May 23, 20188 yr by bluesofa

15 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

This is my post where I used it, parodying 1984:

 

Relax Bluesofa,I am on your side.

 

Us Oceanians stand together on this one.

 

Unless you turn out to be a Eurasian which means that I will have to check it out with the Ministry of Truth..?

Edited May 23, 20188 yr by Odysseus123

7 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

Relax Bluesofa,I am on your side.

 

Us Oceanians stand together on this one.

 

Unless you turn out to be a Eurasian which means that I will have to check it out with the Ministry of Truth..?

I did ponder it for a few seconds, but the reply implanted from thought police said it wasn't necessary.

 

12 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

Relax Bluesofa,I am on your side.

Us Oceanians stand together on this one.

Unless you turn out to be a Eurasian which means that I will have to check it out with the Ministry of Truth..?

Just checked on the 1984 map and Thailand comes under 'disputed' - what a surprise!

Just now, bluesofa said:

I did ponder it for a few seconds, but the reply implanted from thought police said it wasn't necessary.

 

Good, citizen!Everyone seems a mite tetchy this morning..?

 

I think I will take my copy and just sit by the river Orwell for an hour or so thinking thoughts of political/willlful intent which everyone will completely ignore.

 

By the way have you ever read John Brunner's 'Stand on Zanzibar'?He approaches the whole thing from a slightly different angle..

17 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

Good, citizen!Everyone seems a mite tetchy this morning..?

 

I think I will take my copy and just sit by the river Orwell for an hour or so thinking thoughts of political/willlful intent which everyone will completely ignore.

 

By the way have you ever read John Brunner's 'Stand on Zanzibar'?He approaches the whole thing from a slightly different angle..

I'm just looking for it now. Thanks.