Comments for Bookish http://ekumen.wordpress.com a blog Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:11:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU Comment on The King Never Smiles by John Butler http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2006/07/27/the-king-never-smiles/#comment-3665 John Butler Wed, 14 May 2008 21:27:31 +0000 https://ekumen.wordpress.com/2006/07/27/the-king-never-smiles/#comment-3665 I have not read the book, although I intend to do so very soon. I would just like to comment on one point that critics of King Bhumibol (or indeed of other rulers whose systems are not "like ours") seem to feel that US-style democracy is the BEST form of government we know to date, and that "dhammocracy" by not being like it, is therefore "bad" or "autocratic," the latter being an anathematised buzzword in American minds, very much like its opposite, "socialistic." We in the West probably don't fully understand the concept of dharma anyway, and we might as well apply the pejorative reading of it to the Dalai Lama, whom Westerners adore!And, if US democracy is such a perfect system, how does it go so far off its trolley as to twice result in the election of George Bush as President? Given a choice, I would take King Bhumibol any day! I have not read the book, although I intend to do so very soon. I would just like to comment on one point that critics of King Bhumibol (or indeed of other rulers whose systems are not “like ours” ;) seem to feel that US-style democracy is the BEST form of government we know to date, and that “dhammocracy” by not being like it, is therefore “bad” or “autocratic,” the latter being an anathematised buzzword in American minds, very much like its opposite, “socialistic.” We in the West probably don’t fully understand the concept of dharma anyway, and we might as well apply the pejorative reading of it to the Dalai Lama, whom Westerners adore!And, if US democracy is such a perfect system, how does it go so far off its trolley as to twice result in the election of George Bush as President? Given a choice, I would take King Bhumibol any day!

]]> Comment on This Explains a Lot: An Interview with Our ICT Minister by rathwjj http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2007/04/17/this-explains-a-lot-an-interview-with-our-ict-minister/#comment-1454 rathwjj Sun, 22 Apr 2007 08:29:42 +0000 http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2007/04/17/this-explains-a-lot-an-interview-with-our-ict-minister/#comment-1454 Anyone can become angry that is easy, but to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way that is not easy. Anyone can become angry that is easy, but to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way that is not easy.

]]> Comment on This Explains a Lot: An Interview with Our ICT Minister by Global Voices Online » Thailand: Infocomm Minister and the World Wide Web http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2007/04/17/this-explains-a-lot-an-interview-with-our-ict-minister/#comment-1438 Global Voices Online » Thailand: Infocomm Minister and the World Wide Web Sat, 21 Apr 2007 08:50:27 +0000 http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2007/04/17/this-explains-a-lot-an-interview-with-our-ict-minister/#comment-1438 [...] has a probable explanation on why Thai authorities seem to have lot of trouble with the online world these days. Share [...] [...] has a probable explanation on why Thai authorities seem to have lot of trouble with the online world these days. Share [...]

]]> Comment on General Saprang on US Foreign Policy by rathwjj http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/general-saprang/#comment-1019 rathwjj Sat, 24 Mar 2007 02:50:10 +0000 http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/general-saprang/#comment-1019 In case of "Smart", if compare to the standard of Bangkok Governor, I think he is. For whom has no idea about that: Smart Taxi Parking, Smart Traffic Sign and so other "Smart things" ^^" In case of “Smart”, if compare to the standard of Bangkok Governor, I think he is.

For whom has no idea about that:
Smart Taxi Parking, Smart Traffic Sign and so other “Smart things” ^^”

]]> Comment on General Saprang on US Foreign Policy by Leopold http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/general-saprang/#comment-1018 Leopold Wed, 14 Mar 2007 15:41:43 +0000 http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/general-saprang/#comment-1018 You mean... that was supposed to be a sarcasm? Wow ... didn't see that coming :) Anyway, you might be right about Saprang. He's always been like this. I don't even care what he said, to be honest. You mean… that was supposed to be a sarcasm? Wow … didn’t see that coming :)
Anyway, you might be right about Saprang. He’s always been like this. I don’t even care what he said, to be honest.

]]> Comment on General Saprang on US Foreign Policy by Naphat http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/general-saprang/#comment-1016 Naphat Mon, 12 Mar 2007 20:47:03 +0000 http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/general-saprang/#comment-1016 R&W: Hmm... don't we have the Assets Examination Committee doing the investigation of suwannapoom? I'd rather have due process and some rule of law instead of ruthlessness. Leopold: I reiterated that last point with in an attempt to be sarcastic -- Saprang was a bit impolitic to list out the exceptions to the US policy of <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1911-2005Mar25.html" rel="nofollow">spreading democracy</a> to the world. The policy to Pakistan has been criticized before, so it seems like he's inviting the same scrutiny for Thailand. R&W: Hmm… don’t we have the Assets Examination Committee doing the investigation of suwannapoom? I’d rather have due process and some rule of law instead of ruthlessness.

Leopold: I reiterated that last point with in an attempt to be sarcastic — Saprang was a bit impolitic to list out the exceptions to the US policy of spreading democracy to the world. The policy to Pakistan has been criticized before, so it seems like he’s inviting the same scrutiny for Thailand.

]]> Comment on General Saprang on US Foreign Policy by Leopold http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/general-saprang/#comment-1014 Leopold Sun, 11 Mar 2007 18:52:25 +0000 http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/general-saprang/#comment-1014 "Indeed, how could they let the generals in Thailand… oh wait, that’s me!" I don't get this... Why did you reiterate his point? Well ... I can see why he dragged the US into this, justifying a coup. He tried to sell the idea that a coup actually exists in democracy. He used the assumption(whether right or wrong) that the US is democratic and has let several coups, including his, happened in the past, so coups definitely have a place in a democratic society. Anyway, I have to say that his hero rhetoric is quite nonsensical. When I first heard this remark, I was like ... "Since when?" Killer, I don't think it's difficult to find "a smart soldier" although it's indeed difficult to find an academic-like one. You should have a definition of "smart"... I'm sure that you're underestimating them as there are a lot of highly intelligent soldiers in Thailand. You'll find that many of them are very deceptive if you get to know them better. “Indeed, how could they let the generals in Thailand… oh wait, that’s me!”
I don’t get this… Why did you reiterate his point?
Well … I can see why he dragged the US into this, justifying a coup. He tried to sell the idea that a coup actually exists in democracy. He used the assumption(whether right or wrong) that the US is democratic and has let several coups, including his, happened in the past, so coups definitely have a place in a democratic society.
Anyway, I have to say that his hero rhetoric is quite nonsensical. When I first heard this remark, I was like … “Since when?”

Killer, I don’t think it’s difficult to find “a smart soldier” although it’s indeed difficult to find an academic-like one. You should have a definition of “smart”… I’m sure that you’re underestimating them as there are a lot of highly intelligent soldiers in Thailand. You’ll find that many of them are very deceptive if you get to know them better.

]]> Comment on General Saprang on US Foreign Policy by Killer http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/general-saprang/#comment-1013 Killer Sun, 11 Mar 2007 18:11:07 +0000 http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/general-saprang/#comment-1013 He's crazy because he's workaholic. You can try to check list of his work. You have to understand this is Thailand , It's hard to find a smart soldier. He’s crazy because he’s workaholic. You can try to check list of his work. You have to understand this is Thailand , It’s hard to find a smart soldier.

]]> Comment on General Saprang on US Foreign Policy by red and white http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/general-saprang/#comment-1012 red and white Fri, 09 Mar 2007 08:33:19 +0000 http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/general-saprang/#comment-1012 He's not an extremist, he is just outspoken. His trip to England and Germany warrants scrutiny, I will accept that but other hype surrounding him recently is that he's just been outspoken. I personally have no problem with him beiong critical of Thaksin or suggesting he is a role model for his own kids. I see a lot of people taking his quotes out of context. The simple fact is that it probably needs someone this ruthless to investigate suwanapoom. He’s not an extremist, he is just outspoken. His trip to England and Germany warrants scrutiny, I will accept that but other hype surrounding him recently is that he’s just been outspoken. I personally have no problem with him beiong critical of Thaksin or suggesting he is a role model for his own kids. I see a lot of people taking his quotes out of context. The simple fact is that it probably needs someone this ruthless to investigate suwanapoom.

]]> Comment on General Saprang on US Foreign Policy by patiwat http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/general-saprang/#comment-1011 patiwat Fri, 09 Mar 2007 01:07:05 +0000 http://ekumen.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/general-saprang/#comment-1011 I love him - the guy is such an extremist he's like a walking troll. :-) I love him - the guy is such an extremist he’s like a walking troll. :-)

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