Does Thailand Need A Common Enemy?

[toasted]

History teaches us that a common enemy can unite a country, and that desperate leaders will find easy (and sometimes vulnerable) scapegoats to deflect critiscism. If Thailand were to follow this pattern, who do you think would bear the brunt of their anger - Burmese, Cambodians or farangs living in Thailand, or would a small winnable war with another country be a possibility?

Thatcher, Argentina and The Falklands would be a recent example in the west. The Burmese army's treatment of the Muslim Rohingyas a more recent and closer version.

Thoughts?

[whistleblower]

They wont pick a fight with anyone cos they cant possibly win! The Army/police cant even control a group of peasants in their own country!

[thunder30101]

A good portion of the posters on thaivisa would be a good start judging from all the rapid red haters on here that want to see thais die.

[gregb]

Farangs would be a touch choice at this point. Way too much intermarriage, especially in Issan. In a recent trip I was asked by 4 different people to find their daughters farang husbands. It would take too many intelligence ops to set farangs up as the fall guy. If there is a reason to whip everyone into a farang hating frenzy they could do it. Just takes time and money. But there are easier targets if you just want a foreign enemy.

Cambodia is ripe for that opportunity. The yellows hate them for siding with Thaksin, and the reds now hate them for this questionable reconcilliation with the government. Those who are neither yellow nor red simply hate them because Hun Sen is such a slimy character. Yes, if someone is going to be made into a whipping boy, Cambodia is the easy target. That is who it should be.

Of course, that kills a very strong export market for Thai goods and services, but whoever you choose as a foreign enemy is going to cause some economic strife. Maybe you should try to convince them that the Nauruans are the enemy. We could even have a pretext. They used up all their rock phosphate deposits 2 decades ago and in a clear attempt to manipulate the worlds fertilizer price. They must be hoarding a big stash somewhere waiting for the right time to sell. I vote "invasion force!" We might actually finally find a use for that aircraft carrier.

Sounds like a plan to me.

[IanForbes]

A common enemy you ask? How about thaivisa members? There seem to be a lot that are negative towards Thailand.

[geriatrickid]

CORRUPTION

Imagine the benefits to all if it is stopped.

Edited April 23, 2010 by geriatrickid

[Tejas]

A common enemy you ask? How about thaivisa members? There seem to be a lot that are negative towards Thailand.

Xenophobia directed at "farangs" has increased dramatically in Thailand, especially over the past ten years.

But the elites have already constructed a "straw man common enemy" in the form of Cambodia.

They play that diversionary card often.

The more important "enemy" is the one that they have constructed within: Reds vs Yellows.

This is very similar to republicans vs democrats in my own country.

The battle lines are false. They are constructed by altering the flow of information which the elites control.

They exist to keep the public divided and focused on each other as the enemy (and not on the real enemy..........the one that exploits both camps).

And it does not matter who wins, whether it is republicans vs democrats in the USA, or as in Thailand, Reds vs Yellows, the masses lose, the status quo is maintained, the elites remain in power.

This is a very old game..........it keeps the "system" on track.

The worst nightmare for the elites is a divided public becoming united and demanding real change..........that rarely happens in the modern world where it is easy to control the flow of information reaching the public.

If the Reds and Yellows ever wake up and join hands in a movement for real change, look out!

[GuestHouse]

I think Thailand has a common enemy - Ignorance and a twisted education system.

[slapout]

Its those pesky "unseen forces" that could be the unifier. Hard to find as their main characteristic is being invariable, but that may be a positive, police can not have photo session with finger pointing, businesses can not find them to make corrupt proposals, army can not draft or accept favor to not draft, politicians will think they are the "unseen force" and continue making as.. out of themselves.

The spirit of looking for Santa, Easter bunny, Second coming, Perfect woman/man, etc could be assimilated into a new Thai past time. How is that for UNITY?

[schlog]

Aliens are the solution

[PhilHarries]

Aliens are the solution

but what was the problem?

Before Thailand seeks a foreign enemy it needs a police force and an army who will put up a fight. The current lot couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper bag.

So what it needs is a weak, bunch of spineless characters who hide behind women and children.

Hmmm. Just where could we find such a bunch?

[Lancelot]

A common enemy you ask? How about thaivisa members? There seem to be a lot that are negative towards Thailand.

I think your comment was in jest; however, be careful what you ask for.

Some of the reports of farangs receiving the evil eye at Red gatherings is not a good sign...

[simon43]

Andorra - it's small and full of rich people who care nothing about the Thais. It's obvious that they are a natural enemy for Thailand

Any Andorrans on ThaiVisa that we can direct our anger at?

Simon