Will This Annus Horribilis Be Over By Midnight, December 31?: Thai Opinion

[webfact]

TELL IT AS IT IS

Will this annus horribilis be over by midnight, december 31?

Pornpimol Kanchanalak

We Thais have lived through another year of horrors. It is not an exaggeration to say that many of us have been entertaining wistful thoughts of moving to another country, so we do not have to see, hear or witness in any way, all the follies, unconscionable abuses of power and vicious subversions that are wrecking the country we love. This is not to mention the country-wide natural disasters that have tragically affected so many of our countrymen, many of whom have lost everything they owned.

For those who cannot even imagine going anywhere else, there is a deepened sense of resignation. This transforms itself back and forth into frustration, depression, helplessness, anger and even hatred. It makes us myopic and callous. Some people have became seriously vengeful, bitter and destructive.

Politics has become more polarised. Politicians are more self-centered, cynical and corrupt to an extent that is unfathomable. It was only when we thought it couldn't get any worse that evidence proved that we were dead wrong. Principles, professionalism and integrity are obsolete terms, and we cannot even be nostalgic; that is beyond our reach.

Another rising sentiment is our political apathy and sarcasm. While this sentiment is not unique to Thailand - only about 17 per cent of Americans put their trust in the politicians they helped to elect to represent them - such a reaction may be several notches stronger here. One cab-driver recently stated with a deadpan expression, "We have 500 thieves in Parliament." His yellow painted cab had a sticker on the back bumper that read "This car is red."

The collective national despondency and grief at the ongoing turmoil was summed up in full and in distinct display in the images we saw on the balcony of the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall on December 5 during the pledge of allegiance ceremony for government officials. Man does many meaningless things in life, but for many of us, watching such a hollow oath-taking ceremony, this pushed us into the darkest realms of absurdity. The national interest should have been on the conscience of every Thai - public servants and the rest of us ordinary mortals. The absence of conscience among many of those taking the oath rendered the whole scene a horrendous lie.

These days, if you ask people what they plan to do to celebrate the New Year, the most common answer is "Nothing, I'm not in the mood." Many simply cannot afford to celebrate, as they have incurred unexpected expenses for flood-related matters. Joy has hopelessly disappeared from their lives and their hearts, so what's the point of spending money looking for happiness when it is not to be found?

Meanwhile, Nasa seems to be discovering every month new exo-planets similar to earth outside our galaxy. The Higgs boson may finally be found as a result of research experimentation inside the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, the particle physics laboratory on the border of France and Switzerland. The Higgs bosun has been called the "God particle;" it has been postulated but never scientifically proven to exist, perhaps until now. As minute and unstable as it may be, the Higgs particle gives the universe and everything in it, including humans, mass, without which nothing would exist. Without it, all fundamental particles would weigh nothing and hurtle around at the speed of light. Without it, the formation of atoms in the early universe would have been impossible, and would therefore have ruled out life as we know it.

It is an irony that man ventures with ever more success into the esoteric branches of physics, but we are not doing so as earnestly when looking for another missing element called conscience.

And conscience is what has been missing here for quite a while. Its absence has brought us to the messy juncture we are at today.

Thailand has plunged down the international rankings when it comes to corruption. Graft permeates every facet of our lives, not only in politics, which simply represents its pinnacle. Thai men have received the first prize worldwide for cheating; Thai women took second place. Some firemen will not release water to extinguish fires until they are paid under the table. Some houses have burned down completely because of this greed. Some low-level security guards at Suvarnabhumi Airport chase away any taxis that do not pay them to park near the gates for passengers. Drivers of high-ranking doodads invoke the names of their bosses to demand payback on various things such as entrance into some prestigious school. Corruption and cheating it is so prevalent in our society that our youngsters have accepted it as not only the normal way of life, but also as being perfectly acceptable.

This missing conscience is the cause of our national grief, our anxiety and the very sorry state of our affairs. Eventually it will lead to our demise as a proud and dignified nation. We will see more, not fewer annus horribilis if more of us cannot recapture this element and collectively make it a priority in our national agenda.

The Higgs boson was postulated in the 1960s, and in less than one generation mankind has made great advances in the quest to find it. Conscience, on the other hand, is an abstract element, as old as the history of man. It is an inner faculty that makes our livelihoods and wellbeing sustainable. The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-180) wrote in his book "Meditations" that conscience was the human capacity to live by rational principles that were congruent with the true, tranquil and harmonious nature of our mind, and thereby that of the universe.

"Only there, delight and stillness … the only rewards of our existence here are an unstained character and unselfish acts."

With a higher degree of conscience, nationally and individually, we mat someday have our Annus Mirabilis; maybe not this incoming year, but someday.

Peace and goodwill to all for this Christmas and the New Year.

-- The Nation 2011-12-22

[OneZero]

http://www.claytonchristensen.com/documents/SNHUCommencementtalk-DemocracyCapitalismandReligion.pdf

To give you a flavor of the link, a short quote follows:

Because capitalism and the prosperity it brings are possible only when there is near-universal voluntary obedience to the laws, what institutions can we rely upon to inculcate this instinct amongst the people, before they arrive in our executive suites and on Wall Street?

And how can we strengthen the institutions that teach these things, so that they do it better? When a nation lacks the requisite foundation of extensive obedience to the unenforceable,what form of government will work? Unfortunately democracy and capitalism won’t.

It requires the rule of a strongman who defines the rules and then wields the power required to compel obedience. Living proofs of this hypothesis cover the globe. Just run this experiment. The next time you’re in a taxi with a Haitian cab driver, just ask whether things are better now under democracy than they were under the corrupt rule of the Duvaliers. I guarantee that every one of them pines for the day when there was an iron-fisted ruler who had the instinct and ability to stomp his heel into the chest of those who didn’t follow the rules.

Edited December 22, 2011 by OneZero

[animatic]

It will not get better if the current direction indicated by most reports is maintained.

[whybother]

http://www.claytonch...andReligion.pdf

Relevance? Or just spamming religious crap?

[animatic]

That must have gone over like a lead ballon at SNHU

[OneZero]

Lets focus on the impact on peoples minds about still "Doing the Right Thing" once religion becomes a less powerful force in their minds. In other words, voluntarily obeying the law has become part of their culture. Put the religious aspects aside and focus upon the resulting culture that has respect for truth, the law, and voluntary compiance with the law without having a dictatorial iron fist forcing compliance upon people. What is going to assist Democracy and Capitalisn to function successfully in a society? Is their a culture of corruption, a culture of voluntary compliance, or a culture of forced compliance? The point I would like to make is the observation that Thai society / culture doesn't seem to have the requisite degree of ingrained demand for voluntary compliance with the law or doing the right thing. I am not proposing solutions - just observations.

Edited December 22, 2011 by OneZero

[OneZero]

Here is a question and a further observation. If it is true that Thai society has a low degree of ingrained demand for voluntary compliance with the law or doing the right thing, then what could be a contributing factor to that cultural trait?

Perhaps it is at least partially due to the patronage form of Democracy and Capitalism existing in Thailand. A patronage system where the patron professes to assist his supporters; with the implied requirement that in return those supporters accept and overlook any and all potential shortfalls or misdeeds by the patron.

Edited December 22, 2011 by OneZero

[Reasonableman]

One "annus horribilis" followed by others becomes " anni horribiles"... each one normally ends on Dec 31 for many countries, and starts again on 1 Jan the next year.

[tlansford]

Lets focus on the impact on peoples minds about still "Doing the Right Thing" once religion becomes a less powerful force in their minds. In other words, voluntarily obeying the law has become part of their culture. Put the religious aspects aside and focus upon the resulting culture that has respect for truth, the law, and voluntary compiance with the law without having a dictatorial iron fist forcing compliance upon people. What is going to assist Democracy and Capitalisn to function successfully in a society? Is their a culture of corruption, a culture of voluntary compliance, or a culture of forced compliance? The point I would like to make is the observation that Thai society / culture doesn't seem to have the requisite degree of ingrained demand for voluntary compliance with the law or doing the right thing. I am not proposing solutions - just observations.

The application of Buddhist principles to secular life would lead toward "doing the right thing". Although there is corruption throughout the Thai society today, Thais are already well equipped to overcome that corruption.

[Payboy]

Nothing beats a bit of Latin to make you sound like a scholar.

[Bakseedaa]

Scottish physicist Peter Higgs proposed the Higgs Boson particle in the sixties, and Scottish poet told us ..

The best laid schemes o' mice an' men

Gang aft a-gley, [often go awry]

An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,

For promised joy.

and neither man had been to Thailand.... Thailand only has one way to go and its DOWN... Watch the Rise of Burma.................

[Payboy]

Could hardly say the same about Scottish poetry though.

[Moruya]

I thought this was referring to the photos of Arrisman corpulent, lardy posterior slowly exiting the hotel as Bangkok's finest BIB even more slowly made their way to arrest him for being downright nasty and hateful.

For those of you who aren't familiar with London vernacular, the word 'arris is synonymous with "arse" (or "ass" if you're a septic.).

[animatic]

OneZero you are noticing the dichotomy of

Buddhist Principles butting up against Kow Tow hierarchy worship.

With the Buddhist washing away of sins, being used to forgive the unforgivable

in the pursuit of the higher wei and shows of 'respect' for the powerful.

The two are utterly incompatible and both run through portions of Thai society.

But arguably Kow Tow has won the day as the control mechanism of society.

Similar to the use of fundamentalist religion is twisted to control the people,

into electing a slate of candidates that send the money in certain directions.

Edited December 22, 2011 by animatic

[hammered]

Its real life. There isnt some fantasy nicey nicey world. And in reality Thailand isnt in too bad a place. Natural disasters happen. The world is full of poltical conflict some of it far more violent than in Thailand. Thailand hasnt actually plummetted down any corruption index. Etc

[Tanaka]

And I read it as Anus horribilus and thought they were talking about Thaksin Shinawatra.

[FOODLOVER]

Had it once, very painful. Proper ointment should clear it right up by the 31st, no problem.

[fire and ice]

http://www.claytonch...andReligion.pdf

It requires the rule of a strongman who defines the rules and then wields the power required to compel obedience. Living proofs of this hypothesis cover the globe. Just run this experiment. The next time you’re in a taxi with a Haitian cab driver, just ask whether things are better now under democracy than they were under the corrupt rule of the Duvaliers. I guarantee that every one of them pines for the day when there was an iron-fisted ruler who had the instinct and ability to stomp his heel into the chest of those who didn’t follow the rules.

Before democracy was before the earthquake that annihilated the country - of course things were better back then!! But you can't pin the earthquake on democracy.

Having said this I agree that citizens need to have the responsibility that comes with democracy in order for it to work properly, the famous saying wields a fair degree of truth: "Every society gets the Government it deserves".

[phiphidon]

Happy little Bunny isn't he?

[phiphidon]

It will not get better if the current direction indicated by most reports is maintained.

You and Pornmipol ought to get together - but don't invite me to your New Years Bash will you.............I intend to have a great New Year.

[VoterPower]

Annus Horribilis?

I think its been a good year for Thai voters who have had their say, and kicked out the imposter government

[FOODLOVER]

Annus Horribilis?

I think its been a good year for Thai voters who have had their say, and kicked out the imposter government

Bit of irony?

[Crushdepth]

Annus Horribilis?

I think its been a good year for Thai voters who have had their say, and kicked out the imposter government

Bit of irony?

He prefers puppets to imposters.

[DocN]

Had it once, very painful. Proper ointment should clear it right up by the 31st, no problem.

Exactly my thought! I had to take a little operation, though!

[ianf]

I do think that the person above who refers to the last Government as 'imposters' has a limited understanding and view of Thai politics and the Thai personality. I think Abhisit, with his experience of Western attitudes and democracy, worked hard to try and instil some democratic disciplines even within his own party. Off course he was on a losing wicket. You cannot separate Thai politics from what Thai people see as 'normal' behaviour. Having lived here for a few years I am appalled at how easy many Thai people find lying, for example. I have posted before about my ex-wife, a civil engineer, linguist and masters graduate who thought it funny to lie and cheat her way through our marriage as if it were normal behaviour. Well it is normal here and lacks a degree of behavioural sophistication that you find elsewhere. But to me I find many politicians and people like my ex very unsophisticated, and, in spite of their love of brands and the high life, actually very third worldish in their attitudes.

I remember our Buddhist monk in the UK forever lecturing the Thai attendees at the Warwick temple on the 5 precepts. The Thai women (few men) would squirm uncomfortably and go back home and totally ignore Luang Por's and the Buddha's teachings. They can easily lie outrageously on one side of their face, whilst looking like meek humble buddhists on the other side. Here in Thailand what you see is not what you get, the shame of it all is that it is all so transparent .......

[animatic]

Its real life. There isnt some fantasy nicey nicey world. And in reality Thailand isnt in too bad a place. Natural disasters happen. The world is full of poltical conflict some of it far more violent than in Thailand. Thailand hasnt actually plummetted down any corruption index. Etc

Just noticed that this is Hammered last post December 22nd just before Christmas,

He hasn't been heard from since.

I hope he is OK. Anyone know?