Netizens bemused by Prayut’s ‘Animal Farm’ recommendation

By SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE 
THE NATION

 

 

PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha became a laughing stock after he suggested that everybody in Thailand read George Orwell’s dystopian novel, “Animal Farm”.
 

Netizens posted his recommendation with comments such as “the man who has run the country undemocratically for the past five years has picked the wrong book”. Many also asked if Prayut was trying to portray himself as a bookworm, and if he had actually read the novel. 

 

First published in 1945, “Animal Farm” is a satirical novel in which Orwell savages authoritarian rule, referencing the post-revolution Soviet Union. The novel is about farm animals that are treated badly, overworked and underfed by their human owners. The animals are led by a pig to revolt against the farmers, by overthrowing the men and taking over the farm themselves. 

 

Pigs take over the administration of farm and assign different duties to all the animals. Yet their rule proves no better than that of humans. 

 

Netizens, who have perhaps read the novel before Prayut recommended it, compared his coup in 2014 as the animal revolution in the book. 

 

They said his junta rule is no better, maybe even worse, than the regime he toppled in 2014. 

 

Well-known writer and bookworm Sarinee Achavanuntakul posted a famous quote from the novel on Facebook: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

 

“Perhaps Prayut has not read the book, or never finished it.”

 

In a Facebook post, ex-journalist Sutthida Malikaew, likened Prayut’s recommendation to a selfie, saying: “Don’t you [PM] realise it’s your selfie, herrr #AnimalFarm?” 

 

Asked if he has read “Animal Farm” as recommended by Prayut, ex-PM Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters without elaborating: “I’m worried people don’t get the point.” 

 

In a Facebook comment, journalist Sompop Lee said it was ironic that the junta suppressed the reading of Orwell’s “1984” when it took power. “Now, the junta chief is recommending a novel by the same author. I’m really confused,” he wrote. 

 

Eight protesters were arrested when they were participating in a protest in June 2014 with copies of “1984” outside Siam Paragon to voice objections to the junta’s restrictions on freedom. 

 

Government spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak said yesterday that Prayut did not want people to politicise the recommendation. “People should not interpret the recommendation as an insult to their intelligence. A book always offers wisdom,” he said.

 

Werachon said the message from “Animal Farm”, as suggested by the premier, is that we will never get what we desire and nobody can satisfy everybody.

 

“It is the natural rule – we have to take care of things surrounding us, including animals on the farm.” 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30370305

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-05-31

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1 minute ago, webfact said:

PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha "became" a laughing stock

Should read "continued to be" from what I have read about him in during his tenure up to now !

Pigs with their nose in the trough?

 

"Big Joke" went for 1984.

 

 

Just highlights his complete and utter uselessness, should have stuck with the 3 little pigs. Even Winnie the Poo would be too much of a challenge. 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha became a laughing stock

quite possibly been a fool for quite some time

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Netizens bemused by Prayut’s ‘Animal Farm’ recommendation

And this is what the Thai people need to be doing. Every mistake he makes, every time he ‘misspeaks’, etc; the Thai people need to be on top of it. They need to criticize and pass judgment. This is after all what we call democracy. If the PM doesn’t like it, he can change his ways, or even better, he can quit. 

 Article 44 is the only book in his library 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Werachon said the message from “Animal Farm”, as suggested by the premier, is that we will never get what we desire and nobody can satisfy everybody.

 

“It is the natural rule – we have to take care of things surrounding us, including animals on the farm.” 

That sound you hear is Orwell rolling in his grave.

For some reason Prawit Wongsuwan comes to mind..

I think I have finally understood what the master literary interpreter, Prayut, takes from Animal Farm: his 'interpretation' is that the animals on the farm were wrong to rebel in the first place. They should respect the 'natural rule' of humans over them - and shut up.

Translated into Thai societal terms this means:

'It is the natural rule [Prayut's term] and order of the world - Thailand - for the masses on the farms to be ruled over by the Good Elite. The masses - who are just animals - do not know what is best for them. So they need the strong guidance of a "farmer", who will take care of them.'

 

This interpretation certainly makes sense of why Prayut recommended this marvellous book. But we should remember that animal farms (in the human world) are in fact - holding-stations for slaughter - the slaughter of the 'buffaloes' who temporarily dwell there ....!

 

Edited May 30, 20197 yr by Eligius

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“It is the natural rule – we have to take care of things surrounding us, including animals on the farm.”

Does he really think that the book is about animals? Do you know the word "metaphor"?

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Netizens bemused

How can animals think and talk???

“I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labour upon himself. Do not imagine, comrades, that leadership is a pleasure! On the contrary, it is a deep and heavy responsibility. No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?” 
― George Orwell, Animal Farm

Napoleon (Prayuth) trained attack dogs to chase off the idealist and political rival Snowball (Thanathorn).  Sound familiar?

Edited May 31, 20197 yr by mikebell
omission.

50 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

How can animals think and talk???

They just think for a very long time and eventually 'Dolittle'

Edited May 31, 20197 yr by overherebc

Authoritarianism & irony tend not to make great companions ...

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Werachon said the message from “Animal Farm”, as suggested by the premier, is that we will never get what we desire and nobody can satisfy everybody.

Being able to read is one thing, understanding what was read is on a whole different level

8 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Napoleon (Prayuth) trained attack dogs to chase off the idealist and political rival Snowball (Thanathorn).  Sound familiar?

It lies in the humane spirit that we, or most of us, would become Napoleons given absolute power which is why checks and balances are essential in any political system. The chaos that is the modern democratic landscape works reasonably well for society.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Government spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak said yesterday that Prayut did not want people to politicise the recommendation. “People should not interpret the recommendation as an insult to their intelligence. A book always offers wisdom,” he said.

 

Werachon said the message from “Animal Farm”, as suggested by the premier, is that we will never get what we desire and nobody can satisfy everybody.

You bloody what, mate?

20 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

It lies in the humane spirit that we, or most of us, would become Napoleons given absolute power which is why checks and balances are essential in any political system. The chaos that is the modern democratic landscape works reasonably well for society.

And that 'spirit' ensures that there always has been and always will be some who want to be 'the one' who decides where and when the checks and balances should or should not be applied even in a democracy and of course in a dictatorship. 

Edited May 31, 20197 yr by overherebc

And the prize for Biggus Dickus for 2019 and beyond goes to ___!

I wonder if it reads the same in Thai?

Looks like he is reading the David Cameron edition and confused himself???? 

I'm convinced Prayut is a mental midget, no one with any intelligence would bring this book up, and not see the irony in doing so.

44 minutes ago, Bipolar said:

Oh Gawd, any country that is led by stupid and illiterate leader will definitely have no future.

What a terribly un-American statement!

 

 

If you needed a reminder of how just out of touch from reality these people are.

What a terribly un-American statement!
 
 

I have a feeling Trump has never even read a book, yet alone Animal Farm!

Sent from my SM-A500F using Tapatalk

2 hours ago, leeneeds said:

 Article 44 is the only book in his library 

But does he understand or even better can he read (it). 

Well, did he really read this book, or did someone give him a benign, non-confrontational synopsis like "it's about some pigs who start their own government"?

"A children's book with talking animals, I love it" says the boss.

 

Some pigs are more equal than others, but we all know that.

 

 

Too busy being great to read????????????????