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Written in 2010 as a protest by a pro-democracy activist. IMO it needs editing - way too long and rambling - but the off topic tales of growing up poor in Thailand are interesting. Also, the way the royal family is depicted during her childhood:
Old pictures of the young and beautiful King and Queen, and of the prince and princesses, were always on the empty wall of our family’s house. No matter how many times we had to build or rebuild our home, these pictures were always with us, and always returned to the highest spot of the wall. They were still there on the empty wall when I last visited my home, colours faded and stained at the corners by rain drops.
As soon as I could open my eyes I saw the picture of the King, as soon as I could understand a few words I was told that we must love the King and Queen because they are our King and Queen.
We were made to believe they are the greatest of all Kings and Queens, and in those days TV was saturated with programmes about royal projects and charities to prove it. No one in my family had ever met the King, but we all loved the King because everyone said he is a good King.
When I was very small we used to go to the neighbours to watch TV. My grandmother and mother were addicted to the regular 8 pm news about the Royal Family. Making sure they watched the royal news was part of their code of practice for being a proper citizen. When the Government said light a candle for the King they did so without question, and they really did love the handsome King and the beautiful Queen, the young prince and the princesses, and never stopped commenting on how graceful they looked. Never-the-less, as small children we couldn’t wait for the royal programmes to pass, so we could continue watching the regular Thai soap-operas...
They were rolled out in NZ and Australia in the sixties as the reason we should defend South Vietnam. I can remember the motorcade, they were attractive young Royals then.
Re: Why I don't love the king...
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2016 8:30 pm
by bolueeleh
becoz when i was watching movie in bangkok i had to stand up for the commercial that wishes the king good health, wth? r we in the 19th century still? but i hv respect for what he hv done for the thai farmers
Re: Why I don't love the king...
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2016 9:24 pm
by Jamie_Lambo
just finished reading this,
i think its well written,
was a little disappointing the Robot Buddha destroyed the Dragon,
id grown to love him, his character arc was really well written,
the bit where he said "Yeah, i ate your children, and burned your cows, but my wife has just left me, I'm angry and lonely"
made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up
poor Dragon
Re: Why I don't love the king...
Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2016 4:57 pm
by willyhilly
No Loy Krathong? What a bummer, it's a beautiful festival.
Re: Why I don't love the king...
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2016 12:56 pm
by Kuroneko
willyhilly wrote:No Loy Krathong? What a bummer, it's a beautiful festival.
Over 25 years since I went to a Loy Kratong festival. I had a Chinese Thai girlfriend at the time, fond memories!
Heres Jane Tan singing Loy Kratong in Chinese.
Re: Why I don't love the king...
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2016 9:20 pm
by boozyoldman
We would lay down our lives for the Fuehrer
Chairman Mao, you are the Red Sun in our hearts
Same old shite again and again everywhere ...
(and who - WHO - shot his brother?
Re: Why I don't love the king...
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2016 9:48 pm
by Username Taken
^^ Are you insinuating that the World Health Organization were involved?
Re: Why I don't love the king...
Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2016 7:58 am
by CEOCambodiaNews
The Making of a Cult of Personality
BANGKOK — Public mourning has become a competitive sport for some who, intentionally or not, have made it more difficult to impress.
Sobbing in front of cameras has become commonplace in the three weeks since King Bhumibol’s death, to the point where the loyalty of those who don’t cry may be doubted. Endless Thai faces from all walks vowed on cameras and broadcasted from dozens different TV channels to lead a life led by the late King or become his servant again in perpetuity in their future cycles of reincarnation.
Some people are eschewing buses or trains to walk to Bangkok to pay their last respects to King Bhumibol, who lies in state at the Grand Palace, as if enduring greater hardship makes them more loyal and devoted than those who ride the coach.
Such feat was surpassed Oct. 28 when a Thai Rath report emerged about a man walking barefoot from an upcountry province, Sri Saket, to Bangkok. Along the route, people showered him with food, water and money. Those earlier praises for marching to the capital suddenly paled in comparison by virtue of their footwear...
