For One To Love Thailand, Must We Hate Our Neighbours?

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
For one to love Thailand, must we hate our neighbours?
Pravit Rojanaphruk

BANGKOK: -- Thai readers be warned: You are about to read a commentary penned by an alleged "Thai with a Cambodian heart", a "traitor".

This is not a self-description but something branded upon the writer by fellow Thais who found my recent comments on Twitter unacceptable, sacrilegious even.

All I did was to state that Thais should be fair and decent in dealing with the dispute with Cambodia over the 4.6 square kilometres of land around Preah Vihear Temple along the border, and to urge Thais to accept with grace whatever ruling is made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Apparently, there are ultra-nationalist Thais who support the idea that if the ICJ ruling, scheduled for later this year, goes in favour of Thailand, then they will gladly accept it. However, if the verdict benefits Cambodia, then they will not shy away from calling for military action to defend what they believe to be, without an iota of doubt, part of Thailand.

Precisely when being fair and decent to your neighbour became a treacherous act, I do not know. But such has been the situation since many ultra-nationalists and nationalists began to celebrate and praise the head of the Thai legal delegation, Ambassador Virachai Plasai, and his team, particularly Thai-hired Romanian lawyer Alina Miron.

This has been accompanied by relentless vilification of and condescending remarks about Cambodia and its people on social media sites. As the legal representatives of both countries accuse one another of lying, ultra-nationalist Thais will not allow any shred of doubt that perhaps we may not be totally right - or even right at all - to be entertained. The narrow notion of nationalism requires that people see foreign countries on the other side of the border as innately evil.

It's as if we cannot love Thailand without hating our neighbours, particularly Cambodia and Myanmar. If one can only love one's country by looking down on and vilifying other nations, it means that there's probably nothing much one can be proud of in one's own society.

True patriotism requires being fair to others, and appreciating the value of criticism of one's society, for this is how society can learn and improve itself.

Ultra-nationalists risk stalling social progress by trying to ignore the dark side of their own society and by always insisting, no matter what, that one's country is always right.

Some of these ultra-nationalist may not be aware that they love their country, not out of choice, but simply because they were born and raised in that society. If they happened to be born Cambodian, they would likely love Cambodia. For most, this love is not by choice but by chance and circumstance.

With this understanding, it is hoped that one can become less nationalist and more humanistic and stop seeing the "foreign other" as something evil and untrustworthy. It's hard to think of the notion of global citizenship when many Thais are still trapped in their narrow notion of nationalism.

I am a human, first and foremost, then a Thai. Over the millennia, wars, death and destruction have been the result of sectarian and tribal conflicts, and while these most likely will continue to plague humankind, the more people perceive the dark side of nationalism and religious fundamentalism the better. Nationalism cannot be a true guide to what is right or just, for it is essentially biased towards the nation one holds allegiance to. In the name of "national interest", many foreigners and even local people have suffered and been subjected to exploitation. Unlike justice, nationalism is inherently partial and cannot be used as a compass to determine what is truly just.

It's ironic that while a Thai with a supposedly Cambodian heart must be evil and a traitor in the eyes of these Thai ultra-nationalists, these very same people who vilified me have no problem praising a Romanian lawyer who works for Thailand.

Did it not occur to them that perhaps Ms Miron might be just a "Romanian with a Thai heart"? Or is that acceptable as long as it benefits Thailand?


-- The Nation 2013-05-01

[Sing_Sling]

Wise words

[johna]

"A Romanian with a Thai heart"

Ms Miron is a lawyer she'll just as happily work for Cambodia if they can pay her fees.

[Thai at Heart]

This doesn't only manifest itself in nationalistic reactions to Cambodia.

It is evident in the fact that people often do not respect legal judgements for either political or personal reasons. It is amazing to me how often people resort to taking the law into their own hands when they lose.

I think to be generally a fair statement that Thais despise being found to be in the wrong about anything. Losing face is unbearable.

[khunron13]

Thailand, the Hub of Xenophobia!

[theblether]

Come on......Nationalism is a control technique, what better to divert the attention of the restless masses away from uncomfortable domestic policies than a manufactured dispute with another country?

The masses always fall for it. The North Koreans are starving but they sure hate America, the Palestinians are jobless but they can easily be roused into an anti-Israel rally, The Argentinians suffer continual bouts of economic catastrophe but mention the Falklands and away they go again, and here in Thailand, when things get a bit dodgy, go pick a fight with the Cambodians.

The masses always fall for it.............

The problem is though, you can't control Nationalism, it can easily tip over to Xenophobia, this country is playing with fire. There may be a day in the not too distant future where an event will unleash a Nationalist wave that no one can control.

That's a worry for many.

[Mampara]

come-on guys, deep in our hearts we know that its not about the land, nor is it about the temple, its about loosing face.

[scotto]

Come on......Nationalism is a control technique, what better to divert the attention of the restless masses away from uncomfortable domestic policies than a manufactured dispute with another country?

The masses always fall for it. The North Koreans are starving but they sure hate America, the Palestinians are jobless but they can easily be roused into an anti-Israel rally, The Argentinians suffer continual bouts of economic catastrophe but mention the Falklands and away they go again, and here in Thailand, when things get a bit dodgy, go pick a fight with the Cambodians.

The masses always fall for it.............

The problem is though, you can't control Nationalism, it can easily tip over to Xenophobia, this country is playing with fire. There may be a day in the not too distant future where an event will unleash a Nationalist wave that no one can control.

That's a worry for many.

Agree blether governments

are good at the look at this nice and shiny over here?

and all the plebs fall for it.

Amazes me that people do not see what is really going on most of the time

All politicians are liars IMHO tell you 1 thing do another

[rheinwiese]

Patriotism is a virtue of the vicious - Oscar Wilde

[Thai at Heart]

I quite like the fact that Thais are taught to feel superior and happy with their lot.

Just look at the chaos caused by telling a big wedge of the population that they should demand more out of life.

[Sing_Sling]

Come on......Nationalism is a control technique, what better to divert the attention of the restless masses away from uncomfortable domestic policies than a manufactured dispute with another country?

The masses always fall for it. The North Koreans are starving but they sure hate America, the Palestinians are jobless but they can easily be roused into an anti-Israel rally, The Argentinians suffer continual bouts of economic catastrophe but mention the Falklands and away they go again, and here in Thailand, when things get a bit dodgy, go pick a fight with the Cambodians.

The masses always fall for it.............

The problem is though, you can't control Nationalism, it can easily tip over to Xenophobia, this country is playing with fire. There may be a day in the not too distant future where an event will unleash a Nationalist wave that no one can control.

That's a worry for many.

You're saying xenophobia hasn't been instilled here for a very long time already?

[theblether]

Come on......Nationalism is a control technique, what better to divert the attention of the restless masses away from uncomfortable domestic policies than a manufactured dispute with another country?

The masses always fall for it. The North Koreans are starving but they sure hate America, the Palestinians are jobless but they can easily be roused into an anti-Israel rally, The Argentinians suffer continual bouts of economic catastrophe but mention the Falklands and away they go again, and here in Thailand, when things get a bit dodgy, go pick a fight with the Cambodians.

The masses always fall for it.............

The problem is though, you can't control Nationalism, it can easily tip over to Xenophobia, this country is playing with fire. There may be a day in the not too distant future where an event will unleash a Nationalist wave that no one can control.

That's a worry for many.

You're saying xenophobia hasn't been instilled here for a very long time already?

You'll know Xenophobia when you see it.

[Sing_Sling]

Come on......Nationalism is a control technique, what better to divert the attention of the restless masses away from uncomfortable domestic policies than a manufactured dispute with another country?

The masses always fall for it. The North Koreans are starving but they sure hate America, the Palestinians are jobless but they can easily be roused into an anti-Israel rally, The Argentinians suffer continual bouts of economic catastrophe but mention the Falklands and away they go again, and here in Thailand, when things get a bit dodgy, go pick a fight with the Cambodians.

The masses always fall for it.............

The problem is though, you can't control Nationalism, it can easily tip over to Xenophobia, this country is playing with fire. There may be a day in the not too distant future where an event will unleash a Nationalist wave that no one can control.

That's a worry for many.

You're saying xenophobia hasn't been instilled here for a very long time already?

You'll know Xenophobia when you see it.

I've seen it - it's prevalent in Thailand

[theblether]

Where and when?

[kurnell]

On my first trip to Myanmar my mate's isaan wife refused to go initially (they are/were at war with the Burmese), but was talked into it and traveled under protest. She spent the entire trip giving dirty looks to the locals.

[Sing_Sling]

Where and when?

Many places and often - odd that you never encountered it. Perhaps I should read up on the definition of xenophobia.

Ok, looked it up and the meaning hasn't changed.

I take it you do not believe xenophobia to exist in Thailand

[Thai at Heart]

On my first trip to Myanmar my mate's isaan wife refused to go initially (they are/were at war with the Burmese), but was talked into it and traveled under protest. She spent the entire trip giving dirty looks to the locals.

Must be nice for people from isaan to escape to find someone to look down on.

[ppmacready]

All I did was to state that Thais should be fair and decent

[theblether]

Where and when?

Many places and often - odd that you never encountered it. Perhaps I should read up on the definition of xenophobia.

Ok, looked it up and the meaning hasn't changed.

I take it you do not believe xenophobia to exist in Thailand

We're at odds on scale only.......of course there are individuals ( many of them in many societies ) that are Xenophobic, and that applies to Thailand, I am referring to when it goes beyond the actions of the individual and becomes a mob action........

Rwanda being a prime example, but there are numerous examples.

The clue was when I referred to the masses in my post

Edited May 1, 2013 by theblether

[Markaew]

Come on......Nationalism is a control technique, what better to divert the attention of the restless masses away from uncomfortable domestic policies than a manufactured dispute with another country?

The masses always fall for it. The North Koreans are starving but they sure hate America, the Palestinians are jobless but they can easily be roused into an anti-Israel rally, The Argentinians suffer continual bouts of economic catastrophe but mention the Falklands and away they go again, and here in Thailand, when things get a bit dodgy, go pick a fight with the Cambodians.

The masses always fall for it.............

The problem is though, you can't control Nationalism, it can easily tip over to Xenophobia, this country is playing with fire. There may be a day in the not too distant future where an event will unleash a Nationalist wave that no one can control.

That's a worry for many.

You're saying xenophobia hasn't been instilled here for a very long time already?

You'll know Xenophobia when you see it.

I've seen it - it's prevalent in Thailand

I have to agree with Sing on this one. I believe xenophobia is on the rise. We call it nationalism but I think that is incorrect.

[Thai at Heart]

Where and when?

Many places and often - odd that you never encountered it. Perhaps I should read up on the definition of xenophobia.

Ok, looked it up and the meaning hasn't changed.

I take it you do not believe xenophobia to exist in Thailand

We're at odds on scale only.......of course there are individuals ( many of them in many societies ) that are Xenophobic, and that applies to Thailand, I am referring to when it goes beyond the actions of the individual and becomes a mob action........

Rwanda being a prime example, but there are numerous examples.

They might not take to hacking each others arms off yet, but Thailand is to me one of the most regionally divided countries I have ever lived in.

Everyone looks down on isaan, Bangkok looks down on Chiangmai, and the south, well they are just kaeks.

[Markaew]

Where and when?

Many places and often - odd that you never encountered it. Perhaps I should read up on the definition of xenophobia.

Ok, looked it up and the meaning hasn't changed.

I take it you do not believe xenophobia to exist in Thailand

We're at odds on scale only.......of course there are individuals ( many of them in many societies ) that are Xenophobic, and that applies to Thailand, I am referring to when it goes beyond the actions of the individual and becomes a mob action........

Rwanda being a prime example, but there are numerous examples.

The clue was when I referred to the masses in my post

Xenophobia can exist without a mob being formed. Thais are non confrontational. It's more of a passive xenophobia.

[Andre0720]

''Unlike justice, nationalism is inherently partial and cannot be used as a compass to determine what is truly just.''

I see in Thai people (individually and collectively) more attitudes of 'not caring for others', 'selfishness', 'mai bpen rai', 'absence of responsibility', more so than nationalism.

So it would explain that they would not care about the Cambodian point of view, or just about any other point of view for that matter.

[reiltin]

When i was younger my uncle hated the Germans(no,he didn't fight in the war!)though he had never been to germany or knew that many Germans..Another schoolfriend i had growing up detested the French and would often mock French tourists( neither had he ever been to France)Since those days the world has gotten smaller(more disposable income,budget airlines etc)My uncles been to Münich several times(he often remarked it has a beautiful park called the "English Garden"!)and has had German friends visit his home,My classmate married a girl from Lórient(stunner)and speaks fluent French.When a better educational systems in place and a fairer deal offered to them at work Thais can travel(broadens the mind) and see what the worlds got to offer,Yes, Thailands got a looong way to go but,so did my uncle.....

[theblether]

Let me make my post clearer......

When the event that is inevitable befalls Thailand I fear that the current nationalist vein running through Thailand could easily rise to mob Xenophobia.

I'm of the opinion that one of the main players after that event is xenophobic.

Like everyone else I see casual racism everywhere in Thailand, I can see Nationalism everywhere in Thailand, in fact it's used as a glue to keep what is effectively a false construct together, and there is no doubt that there are xenophobic individuals in the country, but I haven't seen a mass xenophobic outbreak yet.

I fear it's coming though.

[theblether]

Where and when?

Many places and often - odd that you never encountered it. Perhaps I should read up on the definition of xenophobia.

Ok, looked it up and the meaning hasn't changed.

I take it you do not believe xenophobia to exist in Thailand

We're at odds on scale only.......of course there are individuals ( many of them in many societies ) that are Xenophobic, and that applies to Thailand, I am referring to when it goes beyond the actions of the individual and becomes a mob action........

Rwanda being a prime example, but there are numerous examples.

They might not take to hacking each others arms off yet, but Thailand is to me one of the most regionally divided countries I have ever lived in.

Everyone looks down on isaan, Bangkok looks down on Chiangmai, and the south, well they are just kaeks.

That's because the country is a false construct, is Isaan not more Laos than Thai?

[cup-O-coffee]

This doesn't only manifest itself in nationalistic reactions to Cambodia.

It is evident in the fact that people often do not respect legal judgements for either political or personal reasons. It is amazing to me how often people resort to taking the law into their own hands when they lose.

I think to be generally a fair statement that Thais despise being found to be in the wrong about anything. Losing face is unbearable.

It is not amazing to me how a child, who is nine year old and has had his or her head pumped full of twisted ideals, will throw a violent tantrum and set fire to your house; literally or figuratively - after they have tried to knife you, shoot you, or get a gang of other nine year old children who have had their minds pumped full of twisted ideals, and make every effort to stomp your head into pulp.

[Thai at Heart]

Where and when?

Many places and often - odd that you never encountered it. Perhaps I should read up on the definition of xenophobia.

Ok, looked it up and the meaning hasn't changed.

I take it you do not believe xenophobia to exist in Thailand

We're at odds on scale only.......of course there are individuals ( many of them in many societies ) that are Xenophobic, and that applies to Thailand, I am referring to when it goes beyond the actions of the individual and becomes a mob action........

Rwanda being a prime example, but there are numerous examples.

They might not take to hacking each others arms off yet, but Thailand is to me one of the most regionally divided countries I have ever lived in.

Everyone looks down on isaan, Bangkok looks down on Chiangmai, and the south, well they are just kaeks.

That's because the country is a false construct, is Isaan not more Laos than Thai?

Who knows why, but that is reality isn't it?

[theblether]

My house is older than Thailand

But then again Siam is a different matter.......here's an interesting wee bit from the CIA.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/th.html#

[Markaew]

''Unlike justice, nationalism is inherently partial and cannot be used as a compass to determine what is truly just.''

I see in Thai people (individually and collectively) more attitudes of 'not caring for others', 'selfishness', 'mai bpen rai', 'absence of responsibility', more so than nationalism.

So it would explain that they would not care about the Cambodian point of view, or just about any other point of view for that matter.

I accept the xenophobic point of view because nationalism can be a positive force and not necessarily a negative one. Maybe the correct description for Thais is a mix of both nationalism and xenophobia. Thais are clearly nationalistic and definitely xenophobic.

Definition of xenophobia:

an unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange.