Expats can say what they like, but must expect to be challenged

John Arnone is not only a broad-brush writer but also a self-important reader. My previous letter (“The problem with Westerners’ analysis of Thai ‘class war’”) was related to his statement that the Thai rich was “insensitive, self-serving and indifferent to the suffering of the poor”. I contended that it was not a war between the rich and the poor, and that Westerners’ references to class war were more like a ploy to seek the return of Thaksin Shinawatra. Nowhere did I tell him or other Westerners not to interfere in Thai politics or to get out of Thailand. 

On the contrary, I invite critical thinking on Thailand from Westerners. However, I like to challenge “ignorant, ridiculous and bombastic” letters written by Westerners like Mr Arnone, though I would never seek to suppress them. I have also been an expatriate, for more than a decade in the West. Telling foreigners to butt out is a hurtful ploy and one only used by those who have already lost the argument. Similarly, if you fail to convince others with your argument, it is unsporting to then deliberately confuse the issue in order to gain an edge. 

Songdej Praditsmanont