Stump the president: A Thai turns the spotlight around

PHENSIRI PANSIRI was an unfamiliar name until a few days ago, when she suddenly became sort of famous as the young woman who asked US President Barack Obama what he called a “very good” question. A video of the Q&A session with Obama has proved popular on the social media.
Phensiri was among 75 representatives of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative who visited the White House and had a chance to quiz the most powerful man on earth (give or take a corporate lobbyist). Selected for the fellowship programme because they’re exceptional in intellect, the cosmopolitan group of kids proceeded to demonstrate it with exceptional questions. Phensiri’s question still stood out, and for several reasons.
“Sawasdee kha,” she told the king of the world. “I’m working on the anti-human-trafficking issue. If you were a Rohingya, which country would you prefer to live in and why?” The query evoked some giggles among the fellowship fellows for some reason, maybe because of the look on Obama’s face.
The president had to pause for a moment over this one. “It’s interesting question,” he allowed. “Let’s me speak broadly and I’ll answer your question.”
A flurry of diplomatic niceties ensued about his wish to put an end to discrimination and to promote democracy, and then he got down to the nut of the matter (almost). If he were a Rohingya, he said, “I’d want to stay where I was born. I’d want to stay in the land where my parents live, but I’d also want to make sure that my government protected me and people treated me fairly.”
More such political correctness followed, and then Obama shared a personal experience. When he was young he’d witnessed discrimination against Chinese people in Indonesia. “It was similar to what the Jews experienced in Europe,” he said.
As the video was shared around (on the White House YouTube channel alone it had drawn almost 500,000 views as of yesterday), there were mixed reactions online. Many Thais and some foreigners praised Phensiri for asking a solid question – the best of the bunch, suggested fellow Thai Oil Rattikorn, and the one that sparked the best answer from the president. She really had him stumped there for a minute, a lot of folks remarked. Sitthidech Kehmphetjetsada noted that she’d addressed the most critical issue in Southeast Asia today and thanked her for asking the question.
On the other hand, commentator Leon Varkalis criticised the young Thai for taking a “simplistic” viewpoint, “so insensitive and ignorant of the actual harsh situation, delivered with such a gleeful smugness that other people in the audience laughed at her”.
A lot of people on Facebook and YouTube thought Obama’s answer was great – but, again, not everyone. Someone named Morina said the president’s reply failed to “hit the nail on the head – it was a very broad answer. Although I agree with what he said about countries with racial and religious problems and where women are suppressed never succeeding.”
Another astute comment came from Kabi Gee, who thought the president paused only because the question touched on a sensitive current issue, but he then demonstrated wit in the way he answered it.