Well, just another typical week in Thailand…well, except for a military coup and the fact that we’re under martial law with soldiers at every government building and major road with M-16s looking for people who are loyal to Taksin. I really think that the mass media blew up the issue for sensational reasons. Yet in other ways. they are suppressing the real stuff that is happening behind closed doors missing the interesting and sordid side of Thai politics.
This weekend I had the opportunity to discuss Thailand politics with a few knowledgeable people and was dumfounded at some of the things I learned. The term ignorance is bliss comes to mind. I know that there is much corruption in government but it still leaves me with a gaping mouth that rivals a sea bass. I’ve attached some pictures that I got yesterday. These soldiers are at the Ministry of Health that is right down the street from us. Don’t be deceived by the stern faces, they are loving the press and taking pictures with all the babies, Thai’s, and farong.
On our coup day holiday, I sat and talked with Oot about what went on and after a few minutes she told me about her best friend getting married and moving out of the house they have shared for 25 years. The proud Oot I know got red eyes and laughingly covered her tearing eyes with her shirt like a turtle, trying to laugh it off. It was then I realized how quickly humans adapt to calamitous circumstances. The papers will never read, “PII OI TO MARRY LUNG DANG LEAVING OOT ALONE IN MISERY” but for Oot, that is the headline that matters. Despite all the worldwide madness going on around us, it’s the issues that only a few are privy too that hit us most.