Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 11:11:14 -0500 
From: Schitt Laowattana <sl2k+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: The Good Woman of Bangkok

Sawatdee krub P'Tawit,

Excerpts from netnews.soc.culture.thai: 25-Jan-93 Re: The Good Woman of
Bangkok by Tawit Chitsomboon@icomp0 
> In article <93021.110512U21729@uicvm.uic.edu> you write:
> >.....................
> >I strongly suggest you evaluate your wife and family,
> >if they're a good woman or not according to
> >standard of the Thai Men that I have mentioned above.
>  
> (I think i have to jump out of hibernation on this one.)

    Ah!  Welcome back to the net. How cold was your hibernation?

> Thanks to Khun Greg Demos for his defense of Thai women.
> But please be polite and refrain from personal attacks.
> I think Khun Laurence (& Khun  Cooney?) said  what he said
> on good faith, despite the harsh language that he used.

    You used to teach us not to have any attachment.  I am too stubborn
and do not believe your lesson.  I am still attached to anything that
belongs to Thais and Thailand.  When someone criticizes Thai women, I
take it personally.  However, I refrain from attacking back since I
believe that it's non-productive and will not help change individul's
mind.  Besides, I've learned to live, to work and to breath the same air
with people having different principles of life.  A key mechanism for
all of us to live together peacefully is an impartial basis.  

    I would like to thank Khun Greg Demoes for his defence of Thai
women. It seems fair to all parties involved namely Khun Laurence, Khun
Cooney, Khun Greg Demoes, Ajarn Samart and Thai women.  Politeness in
the discussion of personal issues like " The Good Women of Bangkok", is
sometimes hard to maintain.  To me, Ajarn Samart's argument is the best
in term of information and data which support what he believes. 

    Again, Khun Greg Demoes.  Your action is highly appreciated!

>  
> Someone also said that Westerners should stop criticizing Thailand
> because we can't never be the same due to our difference in cultures.

    I am one of the people  who says something related the above
statement. I hope that westerners reduce their roles of dictating what
should be done in the third world.  I myself accept their critics as
long as they do the same. However, I do not promise to do, to think the
same way that they want. 

> Well, aren't we all walking the easy trail that Westerners have
> paved for us, despite the difference in cultures? 

    What is a sucessful example of the easy trail?  The past Thai
POLITCS and S&TD are the two examples of failure.  Thais have to
recognize our niches before committed to do anything.  Please do not
take it easy.  There is no such things like free lunch, esay trail or
whatsoever.

>...........................................Sure we can
> take criticisms from Westerners and hopefully we too can
> constructively criticize them and help them blaze a new trail
> that will lead all of us to a new frontier of prosperity,
> compassion and wisdom.

    As mentioned above, I have no problem with your idea as long as they
do not assume their thinkings to be big deals and we have to follow.

>  
> And don't we all Thais criticize the Americans and want them to raise 
> their daugthers the Thai way, despite cultural differences? :-)

    Really?  This is new to me.  I think the way Americans raise their
daugthers is excellent and well compatible with the nature of their
societies.  However, I will raise my daughters in the Thai way since I
will be in Thailand-Thai society.

>  
> Bye for now. You guy keep up with good ethical standard of posting,
> or i will post :-) (and that's a harshest punishment one can have :)

    Your post is certainly the best, warmest blessing for us, not a
harshest punishment.  Thank you.


Warm regards,
Schitt  Laowattana
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I'm proud to be a Thai.

                                       Schitt 1993
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