How Is Your Thai History?

[GinBoy2]

Thai's get taught a very 'sanitized' version of their history, which is probably true for most countries (history is written by the victorious). Few Thai's actually understand how the few ethic Thai's there actually are in Thailand versus the other ethnicities acquired through conquest by the Siam throne. More ethnic Lao live in Thailand than in Laos proper. The enforced use of Thai in schools helps perpetuate the myth of homogeneity

[GinBoy2]

My wife doesn't even know how many days there are in a year. Ask yours.

She is very intelligent and learns quickly, but was never taught. I agree that Thais know f* all about their history and furthermore that they don't want to know.

Mind you, my ex-wife (Swiss) got very upset when I told her that Napoleon walked into Switzerland and ruled the place for a few years (thank god).

Not knowing how many days there are in a year comes from the different perception of time here.

Thais tend to spend more time in the NOW and think in terms of seasons.

Well Thanks, I did go and ask my wife how many days in a the year, wife just for shits n giggles. Got the 'look', the right answer and verbal abuse for even thinking she wouldn't know!

Edited November 25, 2013 by GinBoy2

[Neeranam]

I had one daughter attend school in Texas. I was always impressed that they studied State history starting in 1st grade along with national and world history in the upper grades. College of course American and world history are required (at least where my family went to school).

What about world Geography? I think there's a need for that.

If the thread was about geography that would be an appropriate post. As it is not I take it you would now like to start the usual American bashing.

No I was only kidding. Actually, my American friends have a great knowledge of history, not Thai history but.

Maybe because all Americans, apart from the natives were immigrants.

Americans knowledge of history impresses me.

[Neeranam]

My first 2 years here were spent living on Piboonsonkhram road in Nontaburi. It wasn't until I moved that I actually found out who Piboonsonkhram was.

[thailiketoo]

No I was only kidding. Actually, my American friends have a great knowledge of history, not Thai history but.

Maybe because all Americans, apart from the natives were immigrants.

Americans knowledge of history impresses me.

Correct me if I am wrong, I am assuming you are of Celtic origin. When the Celts immigrated to the British Isles were they uninhabited? Or the Celts immigrants also?

[MJP]

My first 2 years here were spent living on Piboonsonkhram road in Nontaburi. It wasn't until I moved that I actually found out who Piboonsonkhram was.

Who's Piboonsonkhram, Neeranam?

[Neeranam]

My first 2 years here were spent living on Piboonsonkhram road in Nontaburi. It wasn't until I moved that I actually found out who Piboonsonkhram was.

Who's Piboonsonkhram, Neeranam?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=piboonsongkram

Edited November 25, 2013 by Neeranam

[MJP]

My first 2 years here were spent living on Piboonsonkhram road in Nontaburi. It wasn't until I moved that I actually found out who Piboonsonkhram was.

Who's Piboonsonkhram, Neeranam?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=piboonsongkram

That was really neat. I had no idea what was going on there for a minute. Thanks.

[stickylies]

The Vietnamese raided and attacked Thailand on a number of occasions. Thailand was a combatant in the Vietnam war with a significant number of troops committed wounded and killed. Thai troops fought in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

The Khmer Rouge operated from within Thailand. Thailand and Vietnam faced off across the Thai-Cambodian border with frequent Vietnamese incursions and shellings into Thai territory throughout the 1980s in pursuit of Cambodian guerrillas who kept attacking Vietnamese occupation forces.

congratz, but what's your point? (cf OP)

[thailiketoo]

The Vietnamese raided and attacked Thailand on a number of occasions. Thailand was a combatant in the Vietnam war with a significant number of troops committed wounded and killed. Thai troops fought in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

The Khmer Rouge operated from within Thailand. Thailand and Vietnam faced off across the Thai-Cambodian border with frequent Vietnamese incursions and shellings into Thai territory throughout the 1980s in pursuit of Cambodian guerrillas who kept attacking Vietnamese occupation forces.

congratz, but what's your point? (cf OP)

When posting you might want to post the post you wrote and I responded to.

You wrote,

"2 reasons:

1/ not their country hence not their problem.

2/ not "pleasant" hence no "sanouk" hence waste of energy/time.

serious reply."

Of course this is nonsense. You wrote, "not their country hence not their problem."

So I explained that Thailand was at war with Vietnam at numerous times during the last 40 years and also had many conflicts with Khmer Rouge both inside and outside of Thailand.

So yes it was their country and their problem.

[glegolo]

One should expect the citizens of a country know their own history better than the visitors.

It's down to individuals really. Some people take a great interest in studying history, from the hobbyist all the way up to higher academia. Ask your average Brit on the street anything about British history and you'll likely receive a grammatically incorrect summary of last weeks reality television shows.

Folk only know what they want to know .I'm an average Brit but I ain't got much of an idea about reality TV .I could however give a basic outlne of Britian through the ages .I apologise for any grammatical errors.

Quite. I can't be bothered with history or television. I loathe television, regardless from which country the broadcasts originate. Sometimes I use Google to check my grammar. I'm not even sure I could give a remotely accurate summary of British history either.

I find modern life has become far too busy to really know anything at all.

But I simply no longer care. Most things are of little consequence to me. It's a long list.

Typicly.. this is what happens when some people get old...

They just dont care anything any more, sad to say!!

Glegolo

[Thai at Heart]

I like this thread.

Ignorance of the Thai language is at the heart of this. Myself included. I realise how ignorant I am when I'm surprised by translated commentary and insights into World history made by Thai people. Then I also realise how little I know of Asian history and its importance to the World.

I did once read 1421 The Year China Discovered the World by Gavin Menzies if that's any sort of consolation. Good book, recommended.

I'm not that attentive to be honest and I have a lazy mind at best.

Problem is that there is the official version of Thai modern history and the unadulterated one. Rarely even remotely the same.

[Thai at Heart]

I like this thread.

Ignorance of the Thai language is at the heart of this. Myself included. I realise how ignorant I am when I'm surprised by translated commentary and insights into World history made by Thai people. Then I also realise how little I know of Asian history and its importance to the World.

I did once read 1421 The Year China Discovered the World by Gavin Menzies if that's any sort of consolation. Good book, recommended.

I'm not that attentive to be honest and I have a lazy mind at best.

Problem is that there is the official version of Thai modern history and the unadulterated one. Rarely even remotely the same.

[Thai at Heart]

I like this thread.

Ignorance of the Thai language is at the heart of this. Myself included. I realise how ignorant I am when I'm surprised by translated commentary and insights into World history made by Thai people. Then I also realise how little I know of Asian history and its importance to the World.

I did once read 1421 The Year China Discovered the World by Gavin Menzies if that's any sort of consolation. Good book, recommended.

I'm not that attentive to be honest and I have a lazy mind at best.

Problem is that there is the official version of Thai modern history and the unadulterated one. Rarely even remotely the same.

[Thai at Heart]

I like this thread.

Ignorance of the Thai language is at the heart of this. Myself included. I realise how ignorant I am when I'm surprised by translated commentary and insights into World history made by Thai people. Then I also realise how little I know of Asian history and its importance to the World.

I did once read 1421 The Year China Discovered the World by Gavin Menzies if that's any sort of consolation. Good book, recommended.

I'm not that attentive to be honest and I have a lazy mind at best.

Problem is that there is the official version of Thai modern history and the unadulterated one. Rarely even remotely the same.

[geronimo]

I know enough, they constantly fought with the Burmese, gave away slices of their Kingdom to European powers when they arrived (to do otherwise would have meant colonization) and they successfully negotiated themselves through the world wars. The Thais are extremely adaptable and will always be.

[thailiketoo]

I know enough, they constantly fought with the Burmese, gave away slices of their Kingdom to European powers when they arrived (to do otherwise would have meant colonization) and they successfully negotiated themselves through the world wars. The Thais are extremely adaptable and will always be.

Allied side WWI, Axis side WWII, Allied side Korea, Allied side Vietnam. Is picking sides and providing men and material to the war effort the same as negotiation?