A close shave with progress

BREEZY MONDAY

Published: 14 Jan 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Life

Hair-trodden children of the public school world unite! There is movement from the Ministry of Jurassic Education, showing signs of life and change. So there is a thought process going on within its ancient walls of perpetual hibernation, after all. And the latest is that someone has questioned the antiquated rule of regulation haircuts for young schoolchildren and whether it's absolutely necessary for the intellectual development of a child. There are complaints that it is against our constitutional rights.

During my lifetime I've grown up with, and continue to see enforced, these most unbecoming hairstyles for boys and girls.

I think even visitors to our country have noticed them: the 5mm crew cut for boys and the bob-that-skims-the-earlobes for girls. Very severe, very antisocial, very unflattering, very militarian indeed.

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pquinlan
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Discussion 4 : 14 Jan 2013 at 19.064
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Granted, not a formal occupation, but which ever way you cut it, Thailand was under Japanese rule during that period with Thai collaboration or at least acquiesence, and if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck ... ...
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zulu
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Discussion 3 : 14 Jan 2013 at 15.163
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If Thailand was not occupied by Japan, than Thailand was an ally of Nazi-Germany. What do you prefer?

"There is a possibility of imminent Japanese invasion of your country. If you are attacked, defend yourselves. The preservation of the true independence and sovereignty of Thailand is a British interest, and we shall regard an attack on you as an attack upon ourselves."
- Prime Minister Winston Churchill's message to Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram, which was promptly ignored whilst seeking an armistice with Japan.

Churchill went mad on Thailand.
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JusMe
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Discussion 2 : 14 Jan 2013 at 14.252
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No, the writer did get it wrong.

Thailand was never occupied by the Japanese during World War II. Thailand was Japan's ally, and declared war on the Western allies.

The claim of occupation is a recurring excuse to try to rewrite history.

Thailand was no more "occupied" by Japan than she was by the United States during the Vietnam War.
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pquinlan
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Discussion 1 : 14 Jan 2013 at 08.361
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The most surprising thing about this article is that a Thai (I assume the author is a Thai from her name) has acknowledged that the Japanese occupied Thailand. That's a first!
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A close shave with progress | Bangkok Post: opinion