Thai dance of naked hypocrisy for all the world to see

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Thai dance of naked hypocrisy for all the world to see

Published: 19/04/2011 at 03:20 AM
Newspaper section: News

I love Songkran in Bangkok. Always have and always will - except for the two previous holiday periods which were marred by protracted protests, smoke, fire, shooting that eventually led to the violence and tragic death of 91 people in May last year.

That's why, I suppose, this year's Songkran in Bangkok was particularly joyful, if not restful. Best of all was the traffic, or rather, the lack of it. It took me a mere 15 minutes to get from my home on Pattanakarn Road to a dinner appointment with friends on Sukhumvit Soi 31. If only Bangkok were half like this during the rest of the year, we would be in seventh heaven, relatively speaking of course.

Despite the supposed joyful period, each Songkran is marked by death. This year 271 Thais died and 3,476 were injured in 3,214 accidents nationwide. The toll is less than last year's but still the result is the same. Thais die despite the campaign against drinking and driving. Somehow we go through the motions with the same, predictable results. This year we also witnessed the gaps and inability of police - by their own admission - to deal with a hostage situation when a man, apparently high on drugs, staged a car-jacking in Nonthaburi which ended up tragically at the Victory Monument. A policeman and taxi driver were killed. A doctor was taken hostage and shot.

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About the author

: Writer: Pichai Chuensuksawadi; Position: Editor-in-Chief

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mungo
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Discussion 30 : 27/04/2011 at 01:31 AM30
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"And I am willing to bet that many Thai men (myself included) - whether they are government officials, politicians and MPs, police, military, journalists, businessmen, office workers and ordinary employees - have been to these establishments at one time or another Let's be honest about it. If they deny ever going there, then they are lying."

I never have, and I'm not a liar, but although I have been here a good long while, I'm not Thai. I do have other faults though, I can be very self-righteous at times for instance.........
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Ian Wensor
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Discussion 29 : 23/04/2011 at 02:10 PM29
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Justin_m, discussion 28 ... Are you trying to tell me I'm not right? I'm 79 years old, have lived in Thailand for a bloody long time and been married to a Thai lady for more years than I care to recall... I reckon I've learnt a damn sight more about the Thai psyche than most farangs and can assure you that, as far as Thai thinking is concerned, saving face, making money and gaining merit by any means; but not necessarily in the order stated, is not only justified but acceptable together with all the associated graft and corruption... HEAVEN HELP THOSE WHO THINK OTHERWISE.
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justin_m
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Discussion 28 : 23/04/2011 at 11:41 AM28
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@Ian - I am not one who rides around spitting out rhetoric about political correctness (which is so often not remotely 'correct'); but I do have issue with misattributed blame. Firstly, it is somewhat unhelpful to label an entire nation with a description that limited; you lose any objective readers at that point.

Secondly, whilst there is certainly a genuine element of the trait you identify in Thai society; it is not the fault of the Thais - but rather an unfortunate aspect of their culture, which will be eroded over time.

In our countries, we have *just* as ludicrous traits in our culture/s. If we're staying to the safe area of politics, have you ever spoken to anyone from the Religious Right? Or someone who watches Fox News non-ironically? Or even to your generic Huff Post 'contributor' who think they're liberal but don't realise that neither they nor the RUTHLESSLY censoring tabloid on which they're posting, even hold liberal positions, or uphold liberal tenets.

At the risk of making this too long, all cultural issues like these (in every nation), were designed. They were not accidental. They were ingrained, and for various reasons (to serve someone's or some entity's interests, way back when...or even in the present).
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Ian Wensor
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Discussion 27 : 23/04/2011 at 10:34 AM27
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When involved in an amicable debate with a Thai, one will find that the Thai usually resorts to irrelevant, nonsensicle and misleading reasoning, not so much to prove their point but to save face... Unfortunately, that kind of thinking is widespread and evident in all areas of Thai society and even more so amongs't followers of a certain radical political persausion who want to regain power and again thrust their corrupt, flawed and lawless policies down our throat.
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justin_m
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Discussion 26 : 23/04/2011 at 12:37 AM26
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Well said, Sir. Well said.

In my country, there are beaches with topless women; to say it would be "look, but don't touch" would be something of an understatement.

In Thailand, there appears to be a culture of "touch, but don't look".
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bonzo
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Discussion 25 : 22/04/2011 at 05:44 PM25
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Yes! These girls should be forced to read instructive texts on the correct Songkran traditions. Such as the correct and approved technique for blasting motorcycle drivers and their passengers full in the face with an ice-water filled pump-action water pipe at five in the morning, making sure that the driver loses control of the vehicle on a sharp bend and everyone falls off. ha, ha! What jolly good, clean fun!
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Ian Wensor
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Discussion 24 : 21/04/2011 at 09:32 AM24
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How can anyone be so hypocritical as to want to penalise three fun loving girls for dancing topless during songkran when officials use similar advertising tactics to attract tourists and retirees here. You can't tell me that when an adds reads: 'Come to Thailand and enjoy its sexy ladies' they not only exploit women's breasts but milk them for all its worth - no pun intended.
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loong
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Discussion 23 : 20/04/2011 at 05:33 AM23
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Ha!!! Ten-four, agreed with commentator 100% The police, the culture minister, and all poo-yai made a big deal out of this incident. Internationally, Bangkok is a sin city whether you like to hear it or not. It is true that those establishments mentioned by the author are look after by some politicians, police and men in green as well.
These three young ladies just expressed their freedom of speech, if you like it just enjoy it while its last. On the other hand, if you don't like it just turn blind eye! Case closed... No big deal. For those who stuck up better look in to thee self!
Graft and corruptions are the most shameful that poo-yai ought to pay most attention to, not those six tits bit expression!
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leng
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Discussion 22 : 19/04/2011 at 12:44 PM22
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I think this case can explain Thai biopolitics. Biopolitics mean the politics of control the body and the body is controlled by the state for latent interest. The state and authorities who enforce the law and charge three girls do for their interest because this dance oppose the Songkarn tradition that is the interest received of the state. Due to the state (MPs, authorities, and tycoon) have stake with bigger sex services, this is show that why other massages and special service are not charged by the law.
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davidinbkk
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Discussion 21 : 19/04/2011 at 12:29 PM21
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Very good article and opinion Pichai, and I appreciate your honesty and realize that many Thais are "hypocrites" and if they would stop this, Thailand would be a lot better country as a whole...I still love Thailand but many things needs to be corrected...
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Thai dance of naked hypocrisy for all the world to see | Bangkok Post: opinion