religious extremism (unfortunately) knows no god, nor no borders.

If you are into Heavy Metal they have something going. WMO that is.

Well lets see,the Thais dont mind selling other nations flags on shoes and underwear but not the Thai flag right ? dont mind selling Jesus parody t shirts or Hitler uniforms or shops name after and all manner of derogatory items targeting other subjects but outrage at this ?

Buddhists arnt supposed to have vanity nor is it a religious copyright of the robes that someone cant just throw one on... they can, in fact Buddhist robes go from white to bright yellow to very dark brown and orange is just the most popular in Thailand not that Thailand is really Buddhist anyway. its a half Hindu version here and does all the Hindu Gods/Naga/ancestors/ worship mix thing anyway. Its hardly a pure version.

Outrage over nothing imo.

I can only imagine what would happen if Hollywood made a movie about a Monk killer or rapist or even someone pretending to be a monk doing those things... Thais would go ape-shit, riots, bans, protests.

I wonder if they know that by making such a big deal out of this that they in fact put the band into the spotlight probably at a time when they needed free publicity...

edited for typos

As we all know Thailand is the land of imitation as opposed to innovation hence perhaps if they (the Thais) were to look at the origin of ''The Buddha himself and the country perhaps they might realise they in reality have no right to comment on something they (the Thai's) have misappropriated.

Is not one of the precepts of Buddhism that one should not steal?

Buddhism is a nontheistic religion^] that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, who is commonly known as the Buddha, meaning "the awakened one". According to Buddhist tradition, the Buddha lived and taught in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism

I've just seen a thai band on tv with a union jack shoulder strap supporting the lead guitar ...

Why the hell did he apologize? He's a punk rock star, not a politician.

3rd world problems

The usualnonsense post indicting all Thais in this, there is a small group who have been in the news off and on who have more bark for there actual numbers than they deserve these people have deemed themselves the guardians of Thai Buddhism.

...and it's only ever Thais raging, never Cambodians...same religion, same robes, same monks, plenty of wats...but no rage (ah, i know: no i-phones and not much spare time!)

hey how dumb is this? the saffron robe is NOT exclusive to Thailand and it is NOT 'Thai'

edit: isn't "raging" un-Buddhist? where did the detachment go?

Projection on self is seen usually at others.

of all the gifts God did na gie us, to see ourselves as others see us. the great Robby Burns.

edit: isn't "raging" un-Buddhist? where did the detachment go?

Probably fell off, must have used elephant glue.

Yet, when Thais dress up as Nazis and Western countries complain, the Thais think that they're being over-sensitive.

All that needs to be said, laid down in one sentence! Great post!

Grow up and direct your energy to fixing the myriad of problems that have been self inflicted on this country by the duplicitous nature of Thai culture.

Childish, hypocritical, self important, stupid, racist, xenophobic, ignorant, prone to rage for the slightest reason....the definition of thainess

Almost perfectdefinition... but a little mistake!

Childish, hypocritical, self important, stupid, racist, xenophobic, ignorant, prone to rage for the slightest reason....the (perfect) definition of thainess ThaiVisa every-single-day-Thai-bashing-members

Why the hell did he apologize? He's a punk rock star, not a politician.

keeps the babies quiet

I never watch Thai television, but do they have shows with characters like Dave Allen or Rowan Atkinson complete with dog collars, robes and miters? What about Father Ted or the Vicar of Dibley taking the piss out of Christianity? I don't see mobs of Christians complaining bitterly or rioting against cartoon publishers like some Muslims. I know there are laws here protecting "Buddhism" but surely the powers that be have better things to do than complain about the dress of a little known rock band in another country.

I never watch Thai television, but do they have shows with characters like Dave Allen or Rowan Atkinson complete with dog collars, robes and miters? What about Father Ted or the Vicar of Dibley taking the piss out of Christianity? I don't see mobs of Christians complaining bitterly or rioting against cartoon publishers like some Muslims. I know there are laws here protecting "Buddhism" but surely the powers that be have better things to do than complain about the dress of a little known rock band in another country.

probably because there aren't any Christians left in the UK.

Back in the 80's I used to be all warm and cuddly about Buddhism, believing everything I saw and read. Then the following were reported/seen:

1) High ranking monks playing the field at night time in various forms of military dress and the like.

2) Monks in video stores checking out the latest movies, in department stores viewing new watches?

3) Monks riding on the back of motor bikes? I thought money was a no no as a monk?

4) Mid 90's, one reverred monk Luang Por Khoon (excuse the spelling) taken to hospital when his Mercedes overturned - his Mercedes?!

5) Monks routinely talking or texting on IPhones - As a layman, I don't have an IPhone.

6) The photo of the monk on the plane with the high end gear.

If I were to give it more thought, I could probably find a few other things. Under the microscope, Thais likely offend other cultures in equal measures.

That said, one man's meat......

Yet, when Thais dress up as Nazis and Western countries complain, the Thais think that they're being over-sensitive.

Japan also did/does this. It is an imitation (homage?) to the band "X Japan". I saw alot of Nazi uniforms in the mid-90s. You still see them at the cos-play gatherings for X Japan.

Punk?!? HELL no! Progressive 80's rock maybe . . .

I would have thought that Indians had the right to be upset, not Thais.

After all, Buddhism is Indian in origin.

Oh Lordy, Lordy.

There is a saying: Those who live in glass houses...

will grow a lot of vegetables???

No, in Thailand they go to the builder and ask for glass bricks ...

Back in the 80's I used to be all warm and cuddly about Buddhism, believing everything I saw and read. Then the following were reported/seen:

1) High ranking monks playing the field at night time in various forms of military dress and the like.

2) Monks in video stores checking out the latest movies, in department stores viewing new watches?

3) Monks riding on the back of motor bikes? I thought money was a no no as a monk?

4) Mid 90's, one reverred monk Luang Por Khoon (excuse the spelling) taken to hospital when his Mercedes overturned - his Mercedes?!

5) Monks routinely talking or texting on IPhones - As a layman, I don't have an IPhone.

6) The photo of the monk on the plane with the high end gear.

If I were to give it more thought, I could probably find a few other things. Under the microscope, Thais likely offend other cultures in equal measures.

That said, one man's meat......

Your point 5) - using the term 'layman' about yourself would assume that these about whom you write are religious - they are, of course, not. Buddhism is not a religion, which requires a deity.

Buddha never claimed to be either immortal nor a god of any type.

The HUB of irony.

Get over it.

Why do Thais think they own Buddhism?

I wouldn't be surprised if a large percentage of the population believed Buddha was born in Thailand

Like someone has mentioned, be more concerned with the abusers that hide behind the robes.

Goose step anyone.

Now, perhaps Thais know how Jews feel when they idolize Hitler or use the Hakenkreuz (Swastika).

Jews were not the only people who suffered in WW2.

Are you sure you want to go down that road?

Any road is open to travelers. It is not my place to question their destination.