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Discussion 1 : 17/11/2012 at 05:43 AM

a friend of mine is thai. she's born in middle-classed family with good education at home and at school,traditionally conscious,always respects the elder like most thai people,excellent student in both thai and foreign languages since she is curious and loves learning new things,graduated with first classed honour from university and proud to make her parents happy. But nobody knew that she had to wake up earlier than her father every morning so she could have listened to some english songs on radio;she got screamed by her dad whenever watching Manoch Puttan's Sunday Noon then.He accused her of being mad with western culture.

Discussion 2 : 18/10/2012 at 02:06 PM

excellent...parents and educators should think that our children is our future...

Discussion 3 : 16/10/2012 at 03:14 AM

Excellent article! I think it would benefit Thai college teacher(arjaan) to learn, analyses, and practice in class for all Thai colleges student. Open mind is the key word for any society progression. It does not matter how many trillions the government spend on infrastructure, people as a whole still be a buffaloes.

Discussion 4 : 15/10/2012 at 06:45 AM

The reality is that NOTHING will change in Thailand. The poor will always be poor: they are expendable which is why no politician ever passes laws to protect them. The middle class will stay where they are doing their best to rise above the poor and the politicians will always be corrupt; the rich will maintain their status and only care about how much more money they can make and they won't care about anyone.

Discussion 5 : 15/10/2012 at 06:17 AM

bangmodken d.42, On your interest in seeing K.Voranai take a more active role in politics, Thais with his intelligence and courage are needed. But I do take issue with any questions you raise on whether he has the cojones to do the job. Consider for a moment the fine line he straddles here. That takes guts. Dare I say at times heroic stuff. Maybe he can be more effective and be able to keep fighting the good fight by staying right where he is. Also, the reality of politics is compromise. Political success requires compromise. I wouldn't wish that upon him.

Discussion 6 : 15/10/2012 at 05:25 AM

johninbkk d.48, maybe you should read the article again, without the blinkers of a PT apologist. The article is titled "The Ego Has Landed". The early paragraphs give examples of egocentricity imposing on policies through the "unyielding mindset", "the mindset of Thai culture (that) has to change". So now the scene is set for our further exploration of this issue. Give it a rest John.

Discussion 7 : 15/10/2012 at 05:09 AM

Brilliant, outstanding article. Let us learn from Master Yoda; "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering". YODA from iPhone application.

Discussion 8 : 14/10/2012 at 10:54 PM

Freedoms, rights, liberties.

Discussion 9 : 14/10/2012 at 08:53 PM

A Thai friend of mine who came to study in the US once told me, "I like US education more - the teachers make you think for yourself. Thai teachers only make you obey them." (the first two paragraphs of this article are unrelated to the rest of the article)

Discussion 10 : 14/10/2012 at 08:38 PM

Great Article Kun Voranai, thank you. Like you describe, there are lots of people who don’t want certain kind of changes, and sometimes I can’t blame them. I live in Thailand since almost 20 years and I also learned a lot from Thais. I don’t know how much of this is typical Asian thinking and how much is typical Thai, but anyhow, I learned. Maybe one way to convince some people of the advantages to learn from different cultures would be to point out what the western world learned from Asia and Thailand. Maybe after Thais see how some Westerners learned from Thais these Thais will be more open to ask: And what can we learn from “the West”? If we are all open minded we will all advance.

Discussion 11 : 14/10/2012 at 08:16 PM

@mogy71 D#20, Koreans and Japanese have the discipline and industriousness that Thais never have. They can achieve an incredible level of productivity. They are also blessed with having very high IQ, if you believe in such thing. They, however, are not and never have been innovators. They deserve to be admired for many of their accomplishments and products while many consider them accomplished copycats. Respect for elders can be a virtue if practiced sensibly. If nothing else, it certainly makes the elders feel good. One can argue that they are successful in spite of rather than because of that aspect of their culture.

Discussion 12 : 14/10/2012 at 07:00 PM

There is actually a division in Thai university faculties that has been going on for some time. It is the split between the older, conservative Thai lecturers and their younger, western-educated colleagues. This can be seen in something as basic as their teaching methods. The traditional archans will sit at a desk and lecture at the students. The younger ones move around, write on the board, keep their students active, encourage participation etc. Tell me which classes learn more. The older generation of lecturers is gradually retiring, which encourages one to think that perhaps there will some day be changes in Thai higher education.

Discussion 13 : 14/10/2012 at 05:51 PM

Sum it up: The ones in control need the pre-mediaeval way to stay there. The church knows the truth, holds the power, is rich. The monks can read and write and the rest can believe and work. Add to this - a car, a handy, a TV, some Labels & Brands, keep information censored and here we are Welcome to: Amazing Thailand 2012 - We know the world is flat.

Discussion 14 : 14/10/2012 at 05:39 PM

Thailand will change. It may happen as slowly as continents drift, but it will change. It may fall behind other nations, but eventually it will catch up. If the Arab springs can happen (and God knows their feudal, repressive regimes are a thousand times worse than Thailand's), then Thailand can have its own revolution. It's more likely to be a cultural revolution, and one characterised by youthful demonstrations of individualism. But young Thais will develop and evolve and eventually Thai culture will change - some parts for the better, some for the worse, but change is inevitable.

Discussion 15 : 14/10/2012 at 05:34 PM

Khun Voranai should gather equalminded Thais and create a new political party as none of the existing parties are willing to accept him or his visionary views. He could easily get the support from grass-roots,students,educated citizens,the middle-class,the poor and people who want a better Thailand in general. The financing could come from voluntary donations,which I personally believe would be enormous,banquets,conferences and from sales of books and essays,which I hereby encourage him to write,publish and over-charge. I'm sure many of his readers/listeners would gladly contribute with even more ideas than those I've mentioned,without charge or self-interests. I'm also sure the number of volunteers who would campaign for him,also without charge,would amaze him. The question is : Does Khun Voranai,for whom I have the greatest respect,have the much mentioned cojones to try?

Discussion 16 : 14/10/2012 at 05:29 PM

Our culture will predict our future, that is BEFORE culture could be preserved as the dominant force in society. Absolutely nothing wrong with that, unless culture disconnects or hinders development of the country. Development of Thailand in the past 60 years has been conducted mostly by Thai elite and a corrupt apparatus. Ever since the world was connected by high-speed connections (internet )these culture obstacles become public domain. We can't hide anymore, we can't lie anymore, ordinary people getting extraordinaire education, myths become exposed corruption comes to the surface. Thainess is nothing more the expressing old culture lines vastly fading away in a more open en connected society. Important to understand is that ordinary people don't have a problem with that, it's the elite and family cult who desperately try to cling on to the THAI way.

Discussion 17 : 14/10/2012 at 04:57 PM

heartie, a breed is something which has been bred, as far as I have observed humans breed quite well, too well even. Thus it is quite acceptable to talk about a new breed of people, it is a metaphor for thinking or behaving differently.

Discussion 18 : 14/10/2012 at 04:33 PM

wan, discussion 38 said 'new breed of Thai youth' You mean new generation. Breed is for animals (e.g. Persian, Siamese, Korat cats). People are not 'breeds.'

Discussion 19 : 14/10/2012 at 03:47 PM

Good article with many valid points. However, it seems to suggest a replacement strategy, with Western ideas somehow changing the Thailand for the better. What is not revealed is, “How will the older generation cope with such drastic changes. V Says: “This new environment will, of course, also encourage the young to question their elders, even talk back and argue,” The results of this kind of behavior might leave the older generation without identity, value, or purpose. The question we should be asking is: Can the younger generation affect progress/change and still succeed in a successful Cultural deconstruction that manages to retain the very necessary and functional components of Thai culture? Or will the new breed of Thai youth simply use their Western ideas to vault themselves to power, eventually finding comfort and peace by enjoying the simplicity of living in a static and known system in which they have found status and power?

Discussion 20 : 14/10/2012 at 03:40 PM

Ego is like a disease - easy to get, but difficult to cure.

Discussion 21 : 14/10/2012 at 03:07 PM

Another interesting and informative insight into the power structures which stratify Thai society. Thank you. from iPhone application.

Discussion 22 : 14/10/2012 at 02:26 PM

“The ego has landed” a long time ago and will probably never depart.

Discussion 23 : 14/10/2012 at 02:22 PM

Open mind and logical thinking might help. Human rights: "This is the right to be a human". Which Thai PM said that ? Japan and Korea they both learned that through a "hard war". (WW2,Korean war)

Discussion 24 : 14/10/2012 at 01:11 PM

Mega trillion baht infrastructure development plan of this kind will still be necessary notwithstanding all the inherent “defects” that are within the Thai mind set. Problems can only be diluted over a few generations through reforms of our education systems. Japan is a case in point; in the work place, they are modern in outlook and thinking while traditional in their home. By blindly following foreign values while negating our own culture is a recipe for disaster. “True knowledge is when one knows the limitations of one’s knowledge” - Confucius

Discussion 25 : 14/10/2012 at 12:10 PM

Probably one of your best articles ever. Unfortunately, I have little hope for Thailand. Thais are just too afraid of change. I recently taught a course in listening, note-taking and research in an international program at a major Bangkok university. This so-called international program (taught in English, but by mostly Thai-educated and quite narrow-minded ajarn) is 'international' in name only. It still remains in the iron-grip of Thai authoritarianism. My student-centred, constructivist approach (very common in the west) was criticized for "challenging the students too much, making them think too much and making them work too hard, causing them stress". I was pointedly told that "Western-style education approaches don't fit with Thai culture".

Discussion 26 : 14/10/2012 at 12:10 PM

Ha ha, very good article. Of course, nothing will ever change in Thailand, it is not in the best interest to those in power to have the population asking questions. That would tend to upset the apple cart. Thais say farang cannot understand Thainess. I say farang DO understand Thainess, and reject it. Most farang will question anything that does not make any sense, or is just plain stupid. Thais, on the other hand, do not like it when someone calls them on their senseless stupidity (blatant lies, for example). If Thailand is to move forward, in fact, if Thailand wants to stop falling behind, the Thai mindset of not questioning needs to change. That means that education must be reformed, and children taught to question everything, regardless of who says it.

Discussion 27 : 14/10/2012 at 11:47 AM

D25 - nobody is born subservient. It is how they are taught and how they are treated that will make them so. The enforced social discipline in Thailand coupled with parents disinterest in teaching moral and ethical behaviour to their children which is backed up with blinkered rote education with no allowance for individual expression or creative thought - these have created the mess you see on the streets today.

Discussion 28 : 14/10/2012 at 11:37 AM

Until there is total exposure to the resounding facts laid out in this article there will be little resolution as Thais have been brainwashed by those with wealth and power to believe that the culture they have is superior to everything elsewhere no matter its glaring contradictions. Yes there is shame in what has been allowed to continue for so long but hey think about the children of Thailand why cant they be really free to think and question like the namesake of the country? Why the hypocrisy for the sake of a small amount of people whose ego assumes they are lords over the vast majority of 'free' Thais when they in reality they are nothing but backward. They actually cause the country massive loss of face and yeah they dont really care. .

Discussion 29 : 14/10/2012 at 11:34 AM

Says the columnist stifled by restricted speech . .

Discussion 30 : 14/10/2012 at 11:21 AM

Education reform and freeing up thinking may be part of the solution, but the hierarchy system still exists in most countries (and companies), whilst culture and education is very variable across the Western or Asian countries we compare ourselves with. What holds us back is something much more fundamental which is a failure to respect the law and apply it in an even handed way, endemic corruption and a failure to recognise, respect and then apply capability in the service of the community, company or country. These are the things that other countries have largely solved - and we have yet to do

Discussion 31 : 14/10/2012 at 11:20 AM

Another excellant Sunday morning piece to read. Thank you Khun Voranai. I also agree with dao #1 the Thai teachers need to catch up also.

Discussion 32 : 14/10/2012 at 11:06 AM

I agree with franklin and would add, Thais are born subserviant, born to obey without question. Everyone wants a uniform with medal ribbons, part of the system.

Discussion 33 : 14/10/2012 at 10:32 AM

Dis#13 - and why would the puu yai want to change anything? It is in their own self-interest not to do so, and they have no regard for the consequences for Thailand. They are sitting pretty so they don't care in the slightest. So, Thailand will continue to live with a feudal system that in my country ended about 400 years ago.

Discussion 34 : 14/10/2012 at 10:13 AM

education is the principle of life to learn and to ask question,to find out the truth,the problem in thailand,is the infrastructce is still third world in most areas and dont want to change,it took the west many years to change and hopefully will one day be the same here,but graft and ethics at local authorites,in the police force and politicans,is stopping progress,these issue need to be confronted first so investment can go into education at ground level,and the wait could be along time,l,m sorry to say

Discussion 35 : 14/10/2012 at 09:46 AM

You locals can never understand "Westness".

Discussion 36 : 14/10/2012 at 09:39 AM

When two cultures meet, the one that benefits the most is the one that selects the good from the other culture and rejects the bad. Thailand seems to prefer to select the bad from the West and so labels much western influence as bad. Thailand is now starting to do the same with Korean, Japanese and Chinese cultures, always selecting the worst aspects.

Discussion 37 : 14/10/2012 at 09:29 AM

How come the Japanese and Koreans who also defer to their elders - especially in work situations, have advanced so much more than Thailand ?

Discussion 38 : 14/10/2012 at 09:21 AM

Khun Vorania - your last line is the key - 'And how can they control you if they don't have authority?' - and worth an article in itself. How do other countries combined the benefit of free thinking people into a coherent whole that is their society and way of life without seeking to impose it or control them through an authoritarian or feudal system?

Discussion 39 : 14/10/2012 at 09:05 AM

A great think piece but m'thinks it just scratches the surface. Example, Thailand's ingrained culture of corruption depends of a cat's cradle of complicity; therefore only conforming clones are required by the establishment. Ego and arrogance definitely; one wonders if the long-time reluctance to seriously embrace the international language is a device to stunt alternative thinking. After all, with just the mother language all you can ever read about is how Thailand does it. The coming Asean Economic Community will hopefully devastate Thainess and break that "boxed" minds phenomenon that Voranai writes about. It would be good to see this same debate extended to local TV as an on-going series.

Discussion 40 : 14/10/2012 at 09:02 AM

Thailand has never, ever, invented anything. You'd think that some people might question why that might be, as the workforce is relegated to assembling the cars, computers etc that other nations have produced. Despite the belief Thais have that their country is unique and special, it is not. The food is adapted from Chinese or Indian (or is deep-fried, as unhealthy as it is possible to be), other countries have the 'wai' and temples and beaches and 'Thai-style' dancing. I can't think of anything that is uniquely Thai.

Discussion 41 : 14/10/2012 at 08:36 AM

If Western education is the panacea of our backwards culture, look around in Asia to see the whether any successful and developed countries like Japan, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan etc have adopted, absorbed and changed much to accommodate. Perhaps some adaptation but certain not wholesale paradym shifts. Then compare that with the current economic woes and decadent culture of the west, all self inflicted. Choose and pick the good Western culture but don't look at western education and culture as the panacea. Asia Confucius principles are our anchor and have stood the test of time and should be vigorously practiced and uphold.

Discussion 42 : 14/10/2012 at 08:23 AM

I agree with much of what Voranai has said. And that is why Thailand will be seen as a "Third World" country for a long time to come. Those in power and those who control the purse strings have the country locked in lies and ignorance about the greatness of Thailand and Thainess. That is why Thai schooling consists primarily of herding the masses together, eliminating any individualism and pushing indoctrination and behavior over education. Being “Third World” has nothing to do with buying the latest and most expensive smart phones, appliances and automobiles. Instead it is about a mindset stuck in stagnation with education not allowing questioning and learning by the individual. It does not promote, coach or teach how to think outside the box as a person and not a group. Those in power are fully aware of this which is why Thai education has but 1 university ranked in the last 50 of the top 400 in the world and the wealthy send their children abroad. Look at the Asian nations that are suddenly bounding ahead and ask yourself how they did it.

Discussion 43 : 14/10/2012 at 08:11 AM

Great article!! You have hit the nail on the head (as usual). VOTE !. Vorani Vanijaka for Prime Minister

Discussion 44 : 14/10/2012 at 07:51 AM

Voranaia this article is one of your best. It says everything that is wrong culturally with a country that has so many brilliant and innovative students willing to take Thailand forward, yet as you write a feudal culture of total subserviance to the authority of the archaic ideas of puu yai keeps power and authority in the hands of the few. The Thai government are not stupid they know how the western education system works, yet as you wrote its only the western degree on paper that builds face that parents want. How do you send this vital message to those who have the most influence..the mass media has a role to play with people like you promoting heavily that Thailand's children are their future not just slaves to the elite class that has for centuries fed of this system of control, whilst promoting it as an innate part of Thai culture.

Discussion 45 : 14/10/2012 at 07:37 AM

Thank you for this column. I think that it should be printed out and posted on the walls of every government office, everywhere in Parliament, on every square millimetre of the Ministry of Education, in every school classroom. I am 68 and every day I can access the internet and find far more information than I knew the day before and if some of it sticks then I am just a little smarter than the day before. To my way or thinking (western style) if my son asks his teachers a question that they don't know the answer to, they should first admit to not knowing the answer, and then find out the answer and go back to the child with it. That means that more people will know and be able to spread the knowledge. In my 50 years of working I was always willing to learn and profit by other peoples experience and knowledge, be they young or old, male or female or any skin colour on earth. By learning something new and passing it on each of us makes the world a better place. It has been said that knowledge is power and if is IF it is shared, if not shared it will be bypassed.

Discussion 46 : 14/10/2012 at 07:34 AM

I think it is worthwhile to note here that, while I was in grad school in the US decades ago, many of my Korean friends were there not for the degree, and they tend to take only technical courses and then return home within a year or even less as required by their government. Virtually all of them were in science, engineering, and a few in economics. My Thai friends, however, have been known to hang around for years and years, taking easy courses along the way to keep their student status. And going back home without that piece of paper is unthinkable.

Discussion 47 : 14/10/2012 at 07:25 AM

Yet again Voranaj hits the nail on the head. Unfortunately no change will happen as the mindset he so rightly describes squashes free, critical thinking and innovation. Not to mention the urge to control the masses, censor, divide and conquer. The story of Thailand is a true tragedy.

Discussion 48 : 14/10/2012 at 07:21 AM

Perfect sir.....great piece .... from iPhone application.

Discussion 49 : 14/10/2012 at 06:47 AM

We all know where Western values like free speech, reason and democracy lead - to things like knowledge, progress and justice respectively. And Thailand definitely does not need or want such nasty Western imperialist imports. Thus is it written in primitive antiquity.

Discussion 50 : 14/10/2012 at 06:36 AM

Not sure I agree with this. Seems a bit simplistic. How do you reconcile obvious defiance of the obedient "nong"; acts that involve theft, murder, drugs, gambling with other people's money, the political occupations of the airport and WTC, the disorder in the South, and don't get me started on road carnage caused by self centred nongs (vernacular for idiot in English) who show no respect for anyone. I think you have tied (Thai'd) too much to your position. from iPhone application.

Discussion 51 : 14/10/2012 at 05:59 AM

Their teacher should invite you as a guest speaker. With consistancy in open the mind of the young Thailand need more people like you to be teachers, professors and hope that the feudalistic system would turn around eventually.

Discussion 52 : 14/10/2012 at 05:44 AM

Khun Voranai, I agree with most if not all of what you said. Why don't you come right out and be specific about some of the elements of Thai cultures that need to go, starting with the obligatory addressing of people based solely on their age and social status (this includes the 'wai' as well), the multiplicities of pronouns used to elevate, degrade and discriminate the subjects and objects. That's just a start. The list goes on and on.

Discussion 53 : 14/10/2012 at 05:39 AM

Religion in Thailand suffers from the same problems covered here. Form reigns supreme over substance, ceremony over creativity, authority stifles individual effort and rote learning deprives the seeker of discovery. All in contradiction of the Buddha's teachings.

Discussion 54 : 14/10/2012 at 04:24 AM

This is really an exceptionally good article! So the question comes to mind.... how to change the way things are and move past the backward feudalistic cultural mentality and to make students always ask the question...."Why?" instead of merely reciting Who, what when or where...

Discussion 55 : 14/10/2012 at 03:14 AM

Relatively stable for the last 60 years, and relatively unchanged for the last 60 years. Keep in mind Einstein's definition of stupidity....repeatedly doing the same thing and expecting different results. There has to be change and there has to be a some degree of healthy instability. That's nature's way, to not have those forces of yin and yang in effect means things are stagnant and void. 600 years ago students read books in school and memorized that the world was flat...if Rama IV and V were still alive how would they manage and direct the Thai assimilation of 21st century East and West?

Discussion 56 : 14/10/2012 at 03:02 AM

Its great that students get the chance to study abroad and open their minds to think and reason and question.Thai teachers dont have that chance. Reform education already and stop playing with the tablets already .Give the tablets to the teachers and make them update their teaching practices .Its 2012 .There arent many excuses left .