STREETWISE
A matter of national pride
Achara Deboonme

BANGKOK: -- Like in the economy, national pride is a matter of planning, as it needs a collective effort for concrete results. In an interview in May, newly appointed director of Suvarnabhumi Airport, Rawewan Netrakavesna, tasked herself with urgently introducing new improvements to the airport, to "restore national pride".

Last week, after a train trip to Nakhon Pathom, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra stressed that by 2020 Thailand's rail network would again be a source of national pride, as it was over 100 years ago.

Planning is necessary to achieve these goals. Rawewan's task mainly involves changes to the airport complex for the greater convenience of passengers. Yingluck's involves the Bt2 trillion infrastructure investment plan, with more than half of it geared towards the rail network.

National pride means being proud of your country or of yourself for being from your country. It means pride and happiness in being a citizen of your country. National pride can involve tangible and intangible things.

What makes Thais proud of their country?

It could be Thai boxing; the Kingdom's traditional martial art is now internationally admired and respected. It could also be badminton; Ratchanok Intanon, 18, has become Thailand's first, and the youngest ever, winner of the women's World Championship. She beat China's Olympic champion Li Xuerui in the final on Sunday.

Some say it's our food, with its variety and unique tastes. Others are proud of our tourist destinations; Phuket stands out among many famous islands in Asia, while Chiang Mai is known for its Lanna culture. Many are pleased to promote Thailand's history, which, as we are told in school, dates back over 700 years.

What's does national pride mean for Singaporeans. The city state has just celebrated its 48th anniversary. They have a short history but show pride in infrastructure, food and the increasing power of women. Of course, Singapore is also renowned for its successful economy.

Asked this question, many French people might say their language is a source of national pride.

But we need to be aware that national pride, like other things, can be subject to changes. Over time, without good planning, pride in something can be eroded.

Visiting The Nation recently, Thierry Viteau, the French ambassador to Thailand, talked about issues concerning the French language. Some people are disgruntled at the fact that several universities in France are offering more courses in English. To Viteau, that change is vital to drawing students to France, as talented students around the world often discount France because courses are conducted mostly in French. Despite an abundance of knowledge to share, the dwindling number of foreign students in France means that knowledge is circulated only among those familiar with the language.

Some French people may be displeased, but in the long term, overseas students are a source of income. Plus, they will become good ambassadors for French culture - to promote the popularity of French food and French products in their home countries. With greater income from foreign students, France can do more things to please its own citizens and to make them even prouder of their country. National pride might be hurt over the language issue, but not the country's economy.

Needless to say, people in Greece and Spain are growing more and more disgruntled, given the economic recession that has left around a quarter of workers unemployed.

To strengthen national pride among Thais, we need better planning.

Despite its young age, Singapore is already a high-income country - something that should make its people proud. Meanwhile, Thailand is still struggling to escape from the middle-income trap.

Without good planning, Suvarnabhumi Airport will never be a source of national pride, given its declining status in global rankings. Without good planning, the declining rail network, introduced in King Rama V's era, will never be restored to its past glory. Without good planning, our national pride in Thai boxing and Ratchanok's victory could dissipate quickly. Without good planning, our food and famous tourist destinations could be forgotten over time.

Many Thai restaurants overseas are actually owned by Chinese and Vietnamese, and many of them can't properly cook our famous green curry and Thai-style omelette. Phuket and Pattaya are now infested with mafia gangs. Complaints are high regarding the absence of measures to sustainably promote Thai boxing and other sports. Chiang Mai is now growing in a directionless manner.

Over time - which could be in the very near future given our politicians' focus on short-term political gain and the public's growing devotion to social media (a world of words, not action) - our national pride could wither away. Sigh!


-- The Nation 2013-08-13

Is this from notthenation?

to much national pride can catalyzed in racism , as history shows

Love how they put Singapore, France and Thailand in comparison.

Eons apart.

I don't think one should be mentioning badminton.

As in "Proud and broke"?

"Thailand is still struggling to escape from the middle-income trap."

Most Thais are still struggling to get into it.

When I was on the dole and broke, I drove a clapped-out Ford. Sure I looked at pictures of Ferraris and Lambos, but realised the best I could afford was a new(er) Ford. Miss Thailand wants a Ferrari, and she wants it now. She doesn't give a damn about the repayments or the running costs because they will be paid with Other People's money. She will be proud that she has such a nice vehicle (be it plane or train), and that there will be no seats for the OP is of little concern.

BTW how about some Thainess, some good old Buddhist humility. Put the cow in an ox-cart.

What a rambling , nonsensical, meaningless Thai opinion piece this is. Taking two paragraphs to use France and the French as a point of discussion and some sort of rationale is preposterous. The French are steeped in world history , art, literature, sciences,food, and sports on a world class level. The French language is in a class by itself with regard to literature, political science, music, art and military history as well as being the fourth most studied language in the world. Discussing the French culture and France in the same argument as Thailand's need for airport planning is preposterous tripe.

This editorial goes rambling on to discuss national pride, Singapore's infrastructure and economy and Thai badminton, boxing, and Thai food in the context of Thai restaurants around the world are not even owned by Thais and don't know how to make green curry and Thai omelets. One need only read this editorial to be certain that Thailand is floundering and lost in its ability to plan for the future and take positive action that benefits its people and visitors and has an impact on the world.

It's a certainty that the majority of coffee shop discussions of Thailand outside Thailand include the topics of sex trade, narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, intellectual property theft, mosquitoes, rain, political turmoil and instability, military coups, corruption, and bribery. These are the discussion points usually associated with Thailand. Any planning discussion, should focus on what Thailand intends to do to reverse these perceptions.

It is a shame that the newspaper would develop such a nonsensical argument for the entire subject of the need for planning. If this is the best way that Thais defend the need for planning, then investors, tourists, and expats living in Thailand had better consider alternative destinations and plans immediately.

The best way you can show pride in your country is to eliminate the things that make you ashamed of it.

Musing about Thailand's "national pride" is akin to putting lipstick on a pig.

What Thailand needs is the rule of law, an end to feudalism, responsible politics, an independent judiciary, half-decent public education, elimination of corruption, improvements to infrastructure.

When it has those things, national pride will develop naturally -- it's not something you can manufacture.

This article started as total bull…but got little better, and the last sentence summarized it well.

So why should there even be a National Pride? Because of:

· Excuse for every bad deed is losing face?

· Suvannabhumi been open for 7 years, all the services run by Mafia or corrupted officials from the beginning – absolutely NOTHING’s done!

· The biggest source of foreign capital is put on the risk daily (tourism) because of pride! (We know; no need to have farangs to teach us!)

· Ivory trade center (and hub for all traffic with endangered animals)

· Encroaching the national parks without any real efforts to stop this

· Hub for human trafficking

· Trains – you cannot even buy a ticket anywhere else but at the stations! If you are lucky enough to get on board on that train you wanted, it will always be delayed. Everybody knows, still nothing’s been done to adjust the time-tables! On board you are lucky if you can squeeze into the “restaurant” car, it is always full of all kind of staff (and mind you, they are not run by Railways of Thailand, but private!)

· All people use their Tablets and Smartphones – to play games!

· Books are widely available for those who want to read – but all you can see is comic books.

· Muay Thai – if the pride of the Nation lies on taking merit of inventing a “sport” based purely on violence, I feel sad!

I could continue the list forever, but I think the pride comes from people, their real achievements, values and humanity.

I don’t see this happening in the near future. Not within this generation of selfish thinkers!

The Thais have too much "national pride" and almost nothing to back that nationalism (at the point they are reduced to talk about... badminton! ).

When talking of the national language and the efforts of French universities to adapt, they should maybe think about making forms and documentation bilingual in Thailand... instead of being "proud" of an obscure language.

It is hard to have pride in a country where so many things are wrong and the people who should be fixing them are too busy in petty arguments and enriching themselves through corruption. Thailand COULD be great if it had a good government that worked for the good of the country, a decent education system and a police force that always did their job with honesty and integrity. Yes, I will keep dreaming...

Very disappointing that no reference made to fruit and vegetable carving, surely the apogee of Thai civilisation and culture

...100 years ago it was a step up from the buffalo.....

...while she skims off another 10 billion for a private jet or 4 for herself and her cronies...

..let them eat cake....if any rail system even ever gets built...seeing that Thailand has no more money...

Be modest. It is the kind of pride least likely to offend.

"Many are pleased to promote Thailand's history, which, as we are told in school, dates back over 700 years."

700 years isn't history, it's a footnote.

...100 years ago it was a step up from the buffalo.....

...while she skims off another 10 billion for a private jet or 4 for herself and her cronies...

..let them eat cake....if any rail system even ever gets built...seeing that Thailand has no more money...

They probably need the Chinese to build the railways, like they needed the Japanese to build their bridges...

The OP is a demonstration of the worst muddle of Thainess and misplaced "face"

Scratch 'Best Rice' and 'Largest Exporter of Rice' from the Pride list.

Where does pride reconcile itself with Buddhism?

Why are they proud to build an airport? That's like a 5 year old with building bricks.

Why were they proud of the rice? Not because they were happy to feed millions, but because it makes loads if wonga.

And proud of cuisine. But apparently only if Thai people make it.

Edited August 13, 201312 yr by Thai at Heart

Thailand 700 years, Singapore 48 years.

That is a 652 years head start and who is winning the race? Yes I know it's not fair they cheated and had farang help and poor old Thailand has had to go it alone.

Where does pride reconcile itself with Buddhism?

Why are they proud to build an airport? That's like a 5 year old with building bricks.

Why were they proud of the rice? Not because they were happy to feed millions, but because it makes loads if wonga.

And proud of cuisine. But apparently only if Thai people make it.

'But apparently only if Thai people make it' - Shhhh! Don't mention David Thompson.