Foreigners just don’t understand how privilege works here
Re: “An early test for Thanathorn: what about those cars?”, Have Your Say, yesterday.
Expats just don’t understand Thai culture and Thainess. Here, the elites are entitled to “privileges” and the rest of us – prai (peasants) – can dig it (like rock and roll music).
For instance, high-ranking government officials taking a private trip overseas are entitled to special treatment at the home airport: no waiting in line, no luggage inspection, just breeze through immigration checkpoint. Another example: retired chiefs of the armed forces are entitled to free use of luxury homes at military bases (resorts?), equipped with personal servants, all bills paid.
Thanathorn is a multibillionaire; he too has a privilege – to use a public place for his company’s use. This kind of mai-pen-rai (it’s okay) attitude has been deeply ingrained in our chromosomes since the Sukhothai era and needs a million years of evolution to get rid of.
Nonetheless, I suggest that Thanathorn stay away from politics. Thaksin was once a “new breed”, a trailblazer who won the election by a mile, hands down, and look at him now, legs up. You just can’t beat the old dinosaurs at their own game.
Somsak Pola
Samut Prakarn
