Criticism from foreigners vital to Thailand’s progress
Re: “Not all farang are ‘guests’”, Letters, August 31.
Egon is right on the mark in saying that farang and other non-Thais who have been residing here for years are not merely guests of Thailand. But I believe that even short-term guests should have freedom of speech, provided they are not defamatory or otherwise uncivilised.
To demand that foreigners refrain from criticising us in our own land is narrow-minded and not conducive to progress. I do not believe in wrapping myself in the flag of patriotism so as to limit others’ rights. We should treat any criticism as a learning curve, provided it is not crude and destructive.
Thailand has progressed very well thanks to its integration of Chinese immigrants in the past. Meanwhile the United States would not have come so far had it demanded that newcomers behave like guests in a host country. America has become a melting pot and can now boast its first Afro-American president. In Britain the mayor of London is of Pakistani descent.
Songdej Praditsmanont
