What If We Were To Die Today?: Thai Opinion

[webfact]

STREET WISE

What if we were to die today?

Achara Deboonme

Supposing that the world is to end today, by the clash of a massive meteorite, global deluge or devastating earthquake, all of us are doomed.

What would we respond to that?

If we were to die today, it seems unreasonable to stock up food, drinking water and other precious properties. Whatever we possess, it is nothing when all are to die. (Thank Gods that when the floods started to ravage the country in the middle of this year, shortage of food and drinking water was not acute. It was apparent shortly before waters hit Bangkok, showing how panic affluent people can be.)

If we were to die today, we, people in Bangkok, need not to appreciate provincial people's kindhearted remarks that they feel sorry for us. From a TV programme, an aunty in Maha Sarakham said people in her neighbourhood still can catch fish during floods, while people in Bangkok can't. A group of villagers from Phitsanulok who were here to cook for evacuees also considered themselves luckier than us, as we don't know how to live with waters.

Bangkok people consider themselves far luckier than provincial people. Bangkok is the centre of everything. We have shopping centres, all housing tuition centres aside from activities, products and other things that enhance learning experience and "knowledge". What provincial people have? Provincial kids have to come to Bangkok if they want to enroll into elite or famous universities, regardless of costs involved. How many Bangkok kids want to get a seat in a university in Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai?

If we were to die today, we wouldn't be shocked with the cold-hearted comment by an entertainment figure, who happens to share an elite family clan. He compares people in provinces in Baboons who should be eliminated and should be deprived of voting rights, just because they voted for stupid politicians he despised. He lamented the western philosophy of equal rights, though he usually dons western suits and neck-ties. Yes, we're dying, and whatever he says and does could bother us no more.

If we were to die today, we would not be bothered with the difference of "stupid" and "uneducated'. Leave the stupid who lacks the inspiration to drive themselves, but what we can do to improve the condition of the uneducated? Whatever, we all know that people all over the world have common ancestors, the homosapiens. How different can we are, from the day we were born and the day we will die?

If we were to die today, we would not have to worry about growing requests that Bangkok be segregated from provinces. Even the most stupid know that in a society, we need to depend on others. Bangkok people work in a service sector and some are lucky to sleep on inheritances, while provincial people grow food. Without them, we will have to import goods and live at the mercy of producers somewhere else. For one thing, this crisis shows that even when you have money, you can't buy everything. Yes, I mean drinking water.

If we were to die today, would we still host the big cleaning days? I prefer watching trees at home and pondering what I have achieved. Let the doomsday come.

The problem is the doomsday is still far from us. Without fatal diseases or sudden natural disasters, we are to live, long after this. Thais remain Thais, despite layers of social status. Elites are supposed to help the poor and, as Lord Buddha said, to be happy for anyone who could climb up the ladder with honest approaches.

The question now is how to proceed, when mercy of many could not eradicate mischievous views of many others? Should we hold our breath and die, or change our attitude for a peaceful co-existence? That is something that people in the country lauding themselves great Buddhist followers to think for themselves.

-- The Nation 2011-11-21

[tlansford]

If we were to die today, we, people in Bangkok, need not to appreciate provincial people's kindhearted remarks that they feel sorry for us.

not just remarks, help, too. My sister-in-law is in BKK now helping people there clean up.

[travelmann]

Streetwise??? well personally Id be questioning the "state" of Thai society and arguing a time for change and losing all the "status / hierachy and elite nonsense"

This is what the Thais should be doing but of course as a lower than low Farang its awaste of breath.

[whybother]

Why did bother with the "If we were to die today" premise in her rant?

[noitom]

It's hard to believe that this preposterous opinion piece made it to publication. Amazing. The low level of journalistic capability at The Nation and not much better at Bangkok Post, may be a reflexion of the general state of affairs in Thailand. It/they can't seem o string a sentence and thought together or speak on a focused thought through "realistic" topic.

[Rooo]

It's hard to believe that this preposterous opinion piece made it to publication. Amazing. The low level of journalistic capability at The Nation and not much better at Bangkok Post, may be a reflexion of the general state of affairs in Thailand. It/they can't seem o string a sentence and thought together or speak on a focused thought through "realistic" topic.

Shaking my head about this comment from the all high & mighty.Perhaps you should just stick to reading your home grown papers.

[Reasonableman]

I'm sure this comment could not have been intended to be as condescending as it reads...

It's hard to believe that this preposterous opinion piece made it to publication. Amazing. The low level of journalistic capability at The Nation and not much better at Bangkok Post, may be a reflexion of the general state of affairs in Thailand. It/they can't seem o string a sentence and thought together or speak on a focused thought through "realistic" topic.

Shaking my head about this comment from the all high & mighty.Perhaps you should just stick to reading your home grown papers.

[OzMick]

This article could have been much more brief:

"Supposing that the world is to end today, by the clash of a massive meteorite, global deluge or devastating earthquake, all of us are doomed.

What would we respond to that?"

Simply add "Lack of response is a symptom of being dead."

Obviously she was being paid by the word (the correct ones at least).

[mca]

If the world were to end today I'd advise Khun Acharaya to get a refund on those " English For Journalistic Purposes " lessons PDQ.

[sfbandung]

The English is not up to what one would expect from a journalist working for an English language rag. But then I suppose I should imagine myself attempting to translate it into written Thai.

Keep it up Achara.

[djlest]

its not the english - its the content - there isn't any!

Its an empty headed with no views or opinion, neutralistic hogwash of ...nothing! with a bit of fingerpointing on completely non related basis, probably for her to vent some repressed anger!

[Skywalker69]

Why did bother with the "If we were to die today" premise in her rant?

whybother?

[FOODLOVER]

Relief, no more yap yap yap yap Take me now!

[bigbamboo]

It's hard to believe that this preposterous opinion piece made it to publication. Amazing. The low level of journalistic capability at The Nation and not much better at Bangkok Post, may be a reflexion of the general state of affairs in Thailand. It/they can't seem o string a sentence and thought together or speak on a focused thought through "realistic" topic.

If we were to die today then there would be no more intellectual life on the planet. The Nation would doubtless continue though.

[nurofiend]

It's hard to believe that this preposterous opinion piece made it to publication. Amazing. The low level of journalistic capability at The Nation and not much better at Bangkok Post, may be a reflexion of the general state of affairs in Thailand. It/they can't seem o string a sentence and thought together or speak on a focused thought through "realistic" topic.

If we were to die today then there would be no more intellectual life on the planet. The Nation would doubtless continue though.

[tlansford]

Wow - some serious negative feedback here. And I thought some of those with the worse comments had been in Thailand long enough to recognize the basic cultural underpinning - obvious a zit on your nose, or maybe for those negative posters, as obvious as the corncob nailed to your computer chairs.

Impermanence is fundamental to buddhists. The reminder that it is all going to end and you can't take it with you needs to be said. The article is shaming the "haves" for their selfishness when the "have nots" have come to Bangkok to help people in need. The pride of this segment of the 'Bangkok people' which blinds them in their comfortable daily lives to the value of all people is what is under attack in this article... in a gentle, but clear way. It addresses the inequities within the society - even the 'good' universities are in BKK with all high costs and the 'bad' universities are in the provinces. It shames the 'haves' with their comfortable lives when it is the people from the provinces who are cooking for the evacuees. The point about the difference between 'stupid' and 'uneducated' is dead-on. As is the point that we all depend on each other - I recall the article earlier this year about people in BKK looking down on the street clearners - but here, the author reminds the rich about who those people are who grow their food... The point that money doesn't buy you everything is also deeply rooted in Buddhism as the rich man still suffers, despite/because of his wealth, in the way corresponding to a rich man. And it simply ends with a reminder that though everything is impermanent, we still won't die today, so take the lessons from impermanence and live together in a correct way.

Maybe not written with perfect English, but still a nice article with many good points in it.