Parliament is full of wild beasts
Play
I often hear the name-calling that politicians and political commentators use against their rivals. A red-shirt leader is referred to as "the toad" or "toadface", based on his facial characteristics. A radio station's speakers rail against "the cockroach
Labelling rivals with such terms, especially a whole group of people, will only exacerbate the political instability and sharpen the division Thailand is facing. Once a label is applied, it is easier to discriminate against the target. This is especially the case when calling a group of people “buffalo”. Besides generalisation, it implies the target group’s lack of intelligence, that somehow they are inferior – a dangerous and provocative label that could backfire.
The name-calling is but one of the symptoms of the low ethical standards in the Thai Parliament. Making a sexual remark during the no-confidence debate to get 15 minutes of fame is another. If the parliamentary standards were raised, the name-calling and other cheap tactics might indeed stop. But don’t hold your breath.
Edward Kitlertsirivatana
Bangkok
