absolutelyBangkok archive · Being farang
Originally published Sept. 20, 2008
Tells me my wife — yes, she was on the streets back in 2006 wearing the yellow headband: “The protesters, you know, the PAD is a blessing for them. Look, they get free food and entertainment. They’re mostly the unemployed — we average people have to work.” Thailand’s reputation meanwhile?
Hijacked democracy, rule of the instinct and desire, paradise gone wrong, a not yet completely failed state, tit-for-tat justice, the strengthening of Thaksin, land of the smiling police and won’t-hurt-you-soldier, a postmodern Greek tragedy with that unmeant knack for the tragicomic — and Patpong ping poll balls symbolizing democracy finally. Yes, just read on.
The drama queens at last. Calling black white, daring to reinvent centuries of sociopolitical development, proving the power of misbelief while disproving the proven, masters of the transvaluation of values — Friedrich Nietzsche would have gone green with envy listening to Sondhi, Chamlong & Co.
Whose next aim will be the rewrite of Darwinism. The constitutionally sound overthrow of a prime minister by means of a cooking show is legendary already. The sky’s the limit for our morally supremacist do-gooders. Better start erecting monuments and memorials while we still wait for a long promised Blueprint for New Politics.
The Bangkok Post comes to the rescue with a great explainer: “In recent times, “democracy” is a word that has been thrown around more often than a ping pong ball in Patpong — and suffers about the same level of degradation.”
The author though is not asking for understanding. On the contrary the article accuses the people watching Thailand’s Muppet Show politics in disbelief, concluding with: “Is it so unbelievable, disdainful, disgusting? For those who are understanding, we thank you.”
But that’s not it: “For those who are not, please take no offense. You don’t have to help us, or support us, constructive criticizms are welcomed and appreciated. But beg your pardon, please do not insult us. Especially if you are a guest in our country.”
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