Nine Phuket Heroes Set For Journey to Victory Park

[simon43]

This topic stems from a headline in the other paper about the casting of 9 bronze statues at a cost of 26 million baht. The statues celebrate the defeat of the Burmese a looooong time ago.

IMHO, apart from the complete waste of money that could be spent on far better things, (lifeguards, paid tourist assistants etc), I was particularly irked by this story because it celebrates a historical 'division' between two ASEAN countries.

If they are going to spend this money on statues, would it not be more apt in the 21st centurey to caste 9 statues that celebrate each of the other ASEAN member states, rather than dwell on past differences?

What do other members think about this? It really did annoy me to read about these 'war hero' statues.

Simon

[steelepulse]

A complete waste of money, and IIRC, it was reported as 60 million baht in either the gazette or phuketnews ( It's somewhere in the news section). Who really gives a flying **** about these 9 heroes except for those whose pockets got lined from this project. Bold faced tea money taking here.

[stevenl]

Country's heroes are always at the expense of others. That's just the way it is.

Regarding 'better things to spend the money on', I agree with you, but I know quite a few Thais who don't agree with that point of view. I think simply a matter of perspective.

[Somtamnication]

I thought it was about me!!!

[Old Croc]

Thais seem to have a thing about building expensive monuments to heroes, deities, towns, or whatever.

They're never going to accept that the money could be better spent elsewhere. One of the many idiosyncrasies it's just not worth getting concerned about.

[EBlair48]

I was at the Custom's house when they went by, at about 60 kph on a street I drive about 40 on. Look like they weigh a ton each, no worries , drive fast we're Thai we don't care about anything other than wasting money on pure useless aesthetics.

They were each in a truck festooned with huge purpleness, ribbons like a marriage promedade, tied with a 1/2 inch rope with a dress white uniformed naval Officer clinging on for dear life. Even the cannons and fierce male war dudes got their own truck

Best laugh I'd had in a while, it was just so ... insanely ridiculous.

You know Simon there comes a time whan you really have to accept, well how to put this without violating forum sensitivities ,... mmmmm well , er,... er.. well , the small, fuzzy simian aspects of Thai stupidity.

Edited January 30, 2014 by EBlair48

[KarenBravo]

Just another in a long line of useless, expensive stuff.

To name a few:-

The Welcome Gate.

The Welcome to Patong sign.

The Karon circle.

Chalong circle, built, removed, built and removed.

Chalong marina.

Both Under-passes.

[steelepulse]

Just another in a long line of useless, expensive stuff.

To name a few:-

The Welcome Gate.

The Welcome to Patong sign.

The Karon circle.

Chalong circle, built, removed, built and removed.

Chalong marina.

Both Under-passes.

But KB, how can everyone line their pockets and pay for their new cars, black label and mia nois if it weren't for these fantastic expenditures where a great percentage of the money gets siphoned off ? Lifeguards, who needs em as money is better off spent on statues, signs and buildings!

[Briggsy]

The budget needs to be spent for the 30% (?) skim to be taken off. There needs to be something to show for it at the end of the day. It must be tangible and visible. It is usually a building but in this case it is a series of statues.

Quite clever really, anyone questioning it can be accused of being unpatriotic.

[Felt 35]

I think its part of the problem we see, hear, smell and discuss on a daily basis