Friday, April 06, 2007

youtube.com, global challenge to the Thai culture

What a challenge it has been for the divine status of the Thai monarchy!

From the Jufer case, the first non-Thai to face prison sentence due to Les-Majeste law, to the blocking of youtube.com.

I'm the big fan of youtube.com, so I followed the news regarding the matters closely.

What I feel is, certainly, the Thai culture has faced the challenges from globalization. Thai culture cannot be viewed as homogenous, unity, bounded. It's more like a continue dialouge between the spread of the global culture and the pre-existing Thai culture.

We have to accept that, up to this point, all the aspect of any culture have to face challenges from different perspectives.

The important question is, therefore, how should we react to any challenge from the global (or, perhaps, Western) cultures that don't hold the same perspective as us.

Much of the Thai government and the Thai elites in the past decided to dealt with the spread of global challenges by "censorship". We must not forget that one there were many books that were perceived as a threat to nation burned.

Now, facing the recent challenges, the Thai government moved to block the website. In my opinion, the block is, however, such an outdated solution to the problem. It only resulted more in curiuosity, and only provoke more challenges.

Thai elite and government should, perhaps, start to realize that "you cannot close people's eyes, ears, and shut people's mouths forever!".

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Interesting,
Man, this is first time that comment is empty.

rongjeed.

Anonymous said...

I am not a big fan of censorship by the government. The government may view that this is the easiest way to solve any problem. It is obviously wrong.

Anyway, I don't have much fate in this government in dealing with complex issues anyway. They seem to screw up on every front.

Anonymous said...

Hey, Little Rabbit,
Mr Kasin BE8 would like to contact you by your mobile phone no. So, could you please send your number to his email.

Thank you
Ohm BE8

เต่ายักษ์ said...

yoyoyoyoyo!
HOW COULD YOU DARE!

Thai King's power is the SUPREME POWER!

Nobody could insult him!

DONG MA?

Dawdle Man said...

Dear Mr. Little Rabbit

I am planning for my U.K. trip in Aug'07. I am thinking of visiting your school for a day or couple, however I am unsure if your will be around. Can you kindly check your schedule? When will you be back to Thailand again? Thanks na.

กระต่ายน้อย returns said...

sorry for the late response man, I'll be back in Thailand in August krub. Will gonne be back to Oxford only around mid-september krub

Anonymous said...

Hi! hope u update ur block real soon.

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