Prime Minister suggests that people read George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”

[webfact]

Prime Minister suggests that people read George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”

 

 

Deputy Government Spokesperson, Lieutenant General Werachon Sukondhapatipak, said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had recommended that those who are interested should read the Thai version of George Orwell’s book “Animal Farm”, saying it offers a good insight to life.

 

The recommendation promptly stirred heated debate on Thai social media, especially Twitter.

 

Some took it as a satirical jab at the ongoing power negotiations involving politicians, as the Thai translation of the book title literally reads “Politics: Matters of the Animals”.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/prime-minister-suggests-that-people-read-george-orwells-animal-farm/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2019-05-30

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[Thaiwrath]

"All animals are equal, but some animals (the one's at the trough) are more equal than others !

Edited May 30, 2019 by Thaiwrath

[bluesofa]

I can hardly believe this after the PM's hatred of free speech, and his persecution of anyone reading 1984, by charging them with "eating a sandwich with political intent":

 

 

 

 

[nikmar]

1 minute ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

I think he has been pranked here. 

 

He's never read it that is for sure. 

maybe he s confusing it  with "The Three Little Pigs"

[PatOngo]

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

those who are interested should read the Thai version of George Orwell’s book “Animal Farm”, saying it offers a good insight to life.

Interested people, all seven of them, said they'd already read it!

[ezzra]

The thing is no matter what books we read here in Thailand it will always end up with Joseph Heller's Catch-22 situations...

[taichiplanet]

who said he didn't have a sense of humour

[lannarebirth]

Just now, taichiplanet said:

who said he didn't have a sense of humour

Who said he had any self awareness?

[bluesofa]

Just now, lannarebirth said:

Who said he had any self awareness?

He has loads.

He's aware the the most handsome man on the planet as well as being an accomplished songwriter, loved by everyone.

[CGW]

11 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

He's never read it that is for sure. 

It was the illustrated version! he like's pretty pictures ???? 

[Odysseus123]

..and yet '1984' remains banned..

 

Is the PM a closet radical..consuming reams of subversive literature such as 'Mary Poppins and the Dirigible' and that famous treatise on Thai governance 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?

[rkidlad]

Is he getting this book confused with ‘Babe’? 

[RotBenz8888]

30 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thai translation

Or is it a Thai modification?

[ThaiFelix]

Problem is the book was written as a warning not an instruction manual!

[gk10002000]

Others might suggest Fahrenheit 451

[geoffbezoz]

35 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

"All animals are equal, but some animals (the one's at the trough) are more equal than others !

or more aptly "some animals with weapons, and use them against their own sort", are more equal than others"

Edited May 30, 2019 by geoffbezoz

[sturdyd]

That's rich! If he actually did read it I'd have to say that never has the point of a story ever gone so far over the head of the reader. I'd agree with ThaiFelix, he must think it's an instruction manual.

[Hayduke]

43 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

I think he has been pranked here. 

 

He's never read it that is for sure. 

 

Having never read a real book…he doesn’t know there are actually words involved. The general thinks it’s a book with pictures of cute fuzzy animals who live on a happy farm…and everyone know Thais love pictures of cute fuzzy animals who live on happy farms. He’s going to be really pissed if he ever finds out the truth.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 30, 2019 by Hayduke

[Crossy]

44 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

I think he has been pranked here.  

 

That was my immediate thought after verifying the date.

 

[Justgrazing]

54 minutes ago, webfact said:

as the Thai translation of the book title literally reads “Politics: Matters of the Animals”.

Given the variation in standards of translation in Thailand hope its a bit better than the tran's job done on where ( or not ) to take a pony .. 

 

[DrTuner]

Ain't that cute. He wants people to read the manual he's adhering to. Like Mao's little book.

[Briggsy]

He must be interpreting the book as (or been told it is) anti-communist, ergo, pro-royalist, ergo, democracy is bad, rather than seeing it as a book that shows the corrupting influence that power has on those who hold it.

 

If this is true, it is rather a strange effect that viewing the book through the filter of Thai politics has on its otherwise rather obvious interpretation.

[Sonhia]

A Thai version!! 

 

The context maybe conveniently altered with added propaganda plus indoctrination thrown in. 

[StayinThailand2much]

Is he nuts or suicidal? If a large number of Thais read George Orwell's "Animal Farm", just imagine all the things that could happen! There is a good reason why it was banned in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc, and why discussion about it is banned in China. - If that novel ever becomes popular in Thailand, the semi-feudal system of the 5% will be threatened...

Edited May 30, 2019 by StayinThailand2much

[monkeycu]

Let them watch the cartoon, reading is not high on their can do list

[StayinThailand2much]

5 minutes ago, monkeycu said:

Let them watch the cartoon, reading is not high on their can do list

It would have to be dubbed in Thai...

[StayinThailand2much]

12 minutes ago, Sonhia said:

A Thai version!! 

 

The context maybe conveniently altered with added propaganda plus indoctrination thrown in. 

Perhaps with 'farangs' instead of the pigs...

[Eric Loh]

15 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Is he nuts or suicidal? If a large number of Thais read George Orwell's "Animal Farm", just imagine all the things that could happen! There is a good reason why it was banned in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc, and why discussion about it is banned in China. - If that novel ever becomes popular in Thailand, the semi-feudal system of the 5% will be threatened...

You do know that he is not that bright. He just mistook this book to be a children book about animals.  

[monkeycu]

8 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

It would have to be dubbed in Thai...

For sure sub titles would be a waste of time

[ocddave]

26 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

He must be interpreting the book as (or been told it is) anti-communist, ergo, pro-royalist, ergo, democracy is bad, rather than seeing it as a book that shows the corrupting influence that power has on those who hold it.

 

If this is true, it is rather a strange effect that viewing the book through the filter of Thai politics has on its otherwise rather obvious interpretation.

This is a Thai General, critical thinking is not a prerequisite, just corrupt tendencies and narcissism.