What does it mean to be a Thai?

Maria, Miss Thailand Universe 2017

Thailand stood still on Monday as it watched with eager anticipation the finals of Miss Universe 2017 as their woman was among the final five.  All the interest so amused me as back home such a contest in my circle is looked down upon as being sexist and demeaning of women.  You can disagree.  Thailand as one was simply bereft when their woman did not make the top three, being chucked out because of her inability to deal with the social question. 

What was the question?  It was to name a siginificant socialm movement in our world.  She answered "youth", showing that she did not understand the question.  This has led to some serious relfection in the country by some Thais on what is it with Thailand?  It has been named in the Bangkok Post that, in a country where any social movement is disallowed or controlled by a military government, Thais lack experience of social movements.  So how can this poor woman make a response on something she never experiences?  Think on that one for a bit while I porceed to Part 2 of my refelction.

There is a Thai monsignor here who has spent 27 years working with the Vatican.  He returns a sophisticated, learned man of the world.  He befriended me and I like him a lot.  At Caritas, I talk with the right person about a work issue that concerns the Monsignor, whose role includes leadership for Caritas.  This other Thai guy is also smart and has studied outside Thailand.   I can see the Monsignor does not comprehend all about what we do at Caritas but my colleague names this lacking in another way.  He says that Monsignor has lived so long out of Thailand and in so many places that he is no longer Thai. 

Think about that one for a bit. 

Such a line raises many questions for me about here.  It highlights how xenophobic Thais can be, having a narrow sense of the world and of their place in it.  They are very particular about who they allow into their circle, while being friendly to all, or at least cautiously so. 

It raises for me a question - What does it mean to be a Thai?  You are no longer a true Thai because you have lived out of the place for so long and changed such that you no longer fit into the Thai social norm of what it means to be a Thai.  Interesting!  How do you define citizenship?  I could give my description of what this social norm entails but then who defines it more importantly.  The elite?  Those in power?  The people do accept it that is for sure.  Then if you are no longer seen as Thai, how are you treated amongst your own?  Ostracized?  Looked down upon?  With charity and care, needing re-education?

This line raises so many questions for me and not just about here.  It raises questions about me who has lived outside my country for 12 years.  I am no longer Australian?  I do not think so.  I hope not.  Will I ever belong in such a Thailand?  I doubt it and that is okay.  I just accept it for what it is.  Through learning and wider life experiences, don't you become an even better citizen of your country and of the world?  I believe so. 

Amazing Thailand.  You never cease to amaze me.  You keep me young.  Thanks so much.   Meanwhile poor Maria was teary as she faced the Thai community and simply admitted she did her best.   What more can any of us do?