——————–Everyone’s news consumption motto should be this: When Pheu Thai is in power, watch Top News. When there’s a military or military-backed government in power, watch Voice TV. Ideally, every news media must provide checks and balances on the government, every government. But ideal and reality are two different things.Continue Reading
Last night, as with many nights these past months, crowd control police clashed with young people aged from early teens to early twenties. Again, there was a score of injuries and arrests, a scene rinsed and repeated. The people who call themselves “poo-yai” (adults, elders, social superiors) are gravely concerned.Continue Reading
Fascism isn’t just an authoritarian system of government. It’s also a mentality that eats your mind and swallows your soul. Senator Somchai Swangkarn is furious. He calls it an “incitement,” a “brainwashing” method, and a “great danger.” He calls on the prime minister, the education minister, and the police chiefContinue Reading
Thailand rejoices. General Prayut Chan-o-cha is happy, according to Government Spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, who proudly told the kingdom last week of an important step towards Thailand 4.0. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released its Global Innovation Index 2021. Thailand is number 43 out of 132 economies and number threeContinue Reading
The United States committed 2.5 million Pfizer does to Thailand. This, everyone, knows. On 29 July, 1.5 million doses arrived. This, everyone also knows. So, one million doses are left. We wait. We wait. We wait. Then Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, chairperson of the soon-to-be political party Thai Srang Thai, visitedContinue Reading
Whether we’re Sa-lim, Saam-geeb, or everyone else in between, we all want to live in a developed Thailand. Quality of life. Advanced education. Robust economy. Minimal corruption. Etc. Etc. Etc. Lavender field from northernmost Chiang Rai to southernmost Su-gai Kolok. The question isn’t what we want. We all want aContinue Reading
The opposing sides of Thailand’s political divide have found a common cause: Do not let foreigners buy homes and lands. The sentiment is pushed by news headlines that bold the word “ขายชาติ” (to sell the country; traitorous, betraying one’s nation). We imagine 1972’s “Fist of Fury,” in which Bruce LeeContinue Reading
Culture is mix and match and ever-evolving. If we are obsessed over “who owns what,” we then fall into the trap of nationalism, ethnocentrism, and racism—the devolution, not the evolution, of humanity. Nonetheless, we should recognize history. Regarding the inadvertent war our 13 September article “What cultural ownership does ThailandContinue Reading
Everybody jumps on the Lisa Blackpink bandwagon, including General Prayut Chan-o-cha. Yesterday, the general said Thailand should take the example of the K-pop sensation and create “soft power” and a “creative economy,” inspiring Thai youths to shine globally. The general neither understand soft power, creative economy, nor who Lisa is.Continue Reading
Pranpriya Manobal or Lisa Blackpink is one of the biggest K-Pop stars in the world. She’s also Thai. On 10 September, she released her much anticipated solo single “Lalisa.” It already has some 117 million views. And, of course, controversies ensued. The single features the chorus line, “Protect it likeContinue Reading
