Our prejudice rips the nation's image

COMMENTARY

Our prejudice rips the nation's image

Published: 27 Feb 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Is ours a society obsessed with face? I wish it were. Had we been really serious about our image and how to maintain it, we would have long realised what the rest of the world considers as decent standard practices.

This realisation would not only have saved us from countless unnecessary image problems, it would also have made ours a better, more humane society.

Take how our police handle rape cases involving foreign female tourists.

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bkkmatt
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Discussion 7 : 27 Feb 2013 at 07.117
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Thai's have a misguided and inflated opinion of how Jai Dee they are as a nation, but watching CH3 every morning and reading BP and other media outlets you will read and see the complete opposite of Jai dee. More Like Jai Rai!!!
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nns
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Discussion 6 : 27 Feb 2013 at 06.366
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The concept of 'correctness' can be taken too far as is the case in some western countries but in my opinion it's much better to err on the side of correctness. Prejudice and racism are so ingrained in Thai culture that it's way past time to rethink and shape up. This is an excellent and timely piece by the author, Ms Ekachai.
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Cynical
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Discussion 5 : 27 Feb 2013 at 06.315
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Can the writer please advise us, just what exactly is "our image" that's in tatters?
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robins
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Discussion 4 : 27 Feb 2013 at 06.264
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The Thai Police treat allegations of rape as just that, someone alleging a crime has occurred, not as proof a crime was committed. A conviction must only happen after the accused has been given due process and credible evidence shows he is guilty beyond any reasonable doubt. Several of the woman who have alleged rape were so intoxicated they could not recall the incident or only recalled conveniently selected parts of it and the one Australian woman completely lied and should have gotten more than the 15 day sentence she received.
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wangsuda
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Discussion 3 : 27 Feb 2013 at 05.073
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Looks like the concept of "Thai-ness" has failed Thailand.
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musashi
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Discussion 2 : 27 Feb 2013 at 05.062
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"Our image is in tatters because of our own heartlessness."

We only need to look around Thailand for the imagery and socio programming carefully crafted to elevate the status and ideological authority of the few (who surprisingly are richer than the richest in oil rich Saudi Arabia).

Can we say also that their heartlessness (once revealed when draconian laws are lifted) will result in their image being in tatters?
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facts_only
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Discussion 1 : 27 Feb 2013 at 04.551
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"The ills they are against are rooted in top-down political decentralisation." - above
I think the author meant 'centralization'? The follow lines appear to support decentralization . . .
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Our prejudice rips the nation's image | Bangkok Post: opinion