A Guide to the Perfect Thai Idiot
In 1996, three Latin Americans wrote a best-selling book in Spanish which was later translated into English as Guide to the Perfect Latin American Idiot. Their main contention is that Latin American problems are not caused by outside influences as Latin Americans generally believe. Rather, they result mainly from actions of Latin Americans themselves. Correcting Latin American problems, therefore, must come from Latin Americans.
Ask Thais about the causes of last week’s shameful events — or of any problems in Thailand for that matter — and they will readily point finger somewhere else, never at themselves. I am a Thai so I am part of this well-practiced response. But I now believe that if we continue with this long-running charade of self-deception, Thailand is on its way to becoming a failed state shortly.
We present Thailand as the land of smiles full of gentle Buddhists. We regularly give alms to monks and often make donations to temples, believing that those are selfless acts for the welfare of others. Deep down, however, we do that only because we wish to get something in return – to go to heaven or have a richer next life. It is a trade, pure and simple, nothing kind or selfless about it. Few of us give for the sake of giving. We are basically very selfish.
Every time we go to the temple or attend a Buddhist ceremony, we duly accept and recite the Five Precepts as a guide to our daily lives; but we leave them there, as we always make promises without ever intending to keep them. Actually, we understand little about Buddhism. Even among the ranks of the monks, most do not know the teachings in-depth and lead their lives accordingly — all they know is how to conduct ceremonies from which they earn easy income. This reflects something deeper — we are generally lazy and like to take short-cuts to the “sabai” (do-nothing) state. Lottery tickets, therefore, always sell out at premium prices; prostitution is rampant and young women readily marry foreign pensioners.
We love to talk but rarely listen. Even when we do, we often fail to hear, as we never learn to think critically. We cannot put up with different points of view nor can we work cooperatively. Many of the over 30,000 Buddhist temples were built next to one another because when we disagreed with one, we just built another. That cooperative movement has never been successful here is another indication of our inability to tolerate different points of view.
We readily forgive, so we believe, as our most common utterance is “mai pen rai” (it doesn’t matter) when someone makes a mistake. But that is only a reflection of the culture of indifference and ready rationalization. We can always cite a well-known proverb, a famous poem or a sage’s sharp utterance to justify everything we do.
We complain so much about corruption. But we do little about it. Worse, we keep electing the same corrupt politicians because they have money and influence from which he hope to benefit. Survey after survey shows that the majority of us do not mind corruption as long as we get something out of it. One of the surveys last year showed that almost 85% of us believed that cheating was a normal business practice, making us practically a nation of thieves. When I raised the matter in this column, I received the angriest responses from fellow Thais, using expressions so colorful that they should not be printed nor uttered within earshot of other humans.
This long-running self-deception has created so much moral deficit, to employ Joseph Stiglitz’s terminology, that has put Thailand into a state of moral crisis for some time now. Some of the symptoms of this state are the economic crisis of 1997 and the protests culminating in last week’s events. Of course, we will never admit this, for we are perfect and will continue to be very angry when a foreigner utters something non-complementary about us. But I do hope that the events of last week shock most of us into reexamining ourselves, our values, and start reducing the moral deficit as well as trying to generate some moral surplus: doing more genuinely voluntary work for the common good similar to the street cleaning carried out by Bangkokians last weekend, but on a regular basis.
Until I read your article I was fast moving to the point of despair and despondency about the present situation and my interpretations of what was happening. This was disillusioning, having lived in Thailand for 10 years and planned for it to be my final home to feel that I didn’t understand anything or worse still could no longer trust my judgement. Your article restores my hope that there are those willing to honestly reflect upon the deeper causes of conflict that are embedded in society and that need to be discussed and addressed. I just hope that others read your enlightened thoughts and assimilate them into their policies.
Thank you. I appreciate your courage and clear thinking. Quite unusual or rare to find in a Thai.
Thanks, Khun papayainthailand. I just hope that our fellow Thais wake up in time before the country slides into a failed state.
Thanks, Khun Adrian. I have received a lot of comments directly over the past two days. Two people have offered to share the costs of distribute the piece with a Thai translation to all schools and temples. I am not sure what the Bangkok Post will do since the offers went to them first, as the publisher of the article on Wednesday May 26. If someone is willing to undertake the task of such distribution, the costs are already covered. I have mentioned this to two of my associates. I am not sure whether there will be a positive response. Someone has it sent to a TV station, as she believes that the Thais don’t read, only watch TV, but I am not sure what will come out of it.
[...] Perfect Thai Idiot I thought this was an excellent piece…. Written by a Thai, about Thai's. SawaiBoonma.com A Guide to the Perfect Thai Idiot In 1996, three Latin Americans wrote a best-selling book in [...]
Adrian Watts represents reason, in a time where logic and reason seems to have checked out. Tourist coming to Thailand don’t seem to care, as reflected in a recent New York Time article.
Tourists in Thai Resort Are Undeterred by Protests
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/business/global/28thaitour.html?ref=global-home
Maybe they should stay home…
Thanks, Khun James, for pointing that out.
Thanks, Khun papayainthailand. I just hope that our fellow Thais wake up in time before the country slides into a failed state.
after i read your article i think it made me wake up . i will try to do my best for our country as long as i can do. i hope thai people will not damage our country again.
[...] by Dr. Sawai Boonma. Read more articles in [...]
I am grateful to hear that some readers will do something so that the country will not slide into a failed state.
Thank you, sir, for your honest and clear opinion. I couldn’t agree more. I hope Thai people will realize the real problems and not damage the country anymore.
By the way, I’m a Burmese and genuinely think that my country has been put into a state of moral crisis for years. Your article is exactly what I want to say to fellow Burmese.
I’m sharing your articles with my friends. Thanks again.
It’s unfortunate for your countrymen, Khun Wai. I hope things get better soon there.
Thank you for your honest, thought provoking article. We Thais need to read and reread your article and then ask ourselves what can we do to help correct these problems. We must first agree that what your write is true and then start correcting our society. I think that making your article mandatory reading in every Thai school would be a good first step. airing it on TV shows regularly as a reminder is also a good idea. Now we only need to get the ball rolling. I think you should run for Prime Minister.
Thanks, Khun Ladda. Yes, it is time to move out of the comfort zone and do something on a regular basis.
pleny of praise from 15teen people but no action and deeds talk louder than words how about some suggestions about actually doing some thing posative i am a falang not my place to tell thais how to run the country 70 plus years o f so called democracy thailand is only democratic for rich thais try telling my neighbours how w ell of they are how they have such a wonderfull life pulling there guts out 10/12 hrs a day for 150 bhts a day i do not know were the above 15 people live me i live smack bang in the middle of red shirt country and these people have had enough and do you know who they consider there biggest enemy not polatics POLICE CORRUPTION
I hope you are not harassed by the police, Khun Bob.
somebody ever told me that Thais be and will be failed if even they still cheat what they have to pay like … hospital parking fee … But always ask for free stamp but no business with it…. Touching!!!!!!!!!!! Love you ka…Dr. Sawai ^^
Thanks, Khun May. Let’s go out and do something positive so that Thailand will not fail.
Thanks for your much needed and long overdue article. I have lived in this country for many years, and while there are so many aspects of the culture I love, I always felt Thailand has a Catholicized version of Buddhism. Which means you can buy your way to nirvana. I am torn between whether the religion is corrupting Thai morals or Thai morals are corrupting the religion. I don’t care really but I think it is the Buddhist religion’s responsibilty to try and resolve the dilemma. Due to the importance of the religion in Thai society, the rot will continue unless this is dealt with. Only then can Thai society live in harmony, and the country can progress.
Thanks, Khun Sean. If we look from that angle, the first rot that needs to be dealt with is in the Sangha, or Buddhist clergy, itself. This rot is the most insidious. Without cutting the bad part out of the clergy, the chances of of success in dealing with other rots are much reduced.