It is just rude

There is no photo this week as I do not want to get too political or face unnecessary personal havoc.  I did see the story of Serena Williams and my simple response is that her behavior in response to the umpire's calls was rude and overly aggressive.  For me, it is that simple.

In holding that view, I could be named as being racist and sexist.  I just respond that all I saw was a person being rude and aggressive in the public arena where that person is a highly paid professional.  Enough on this as my point is not to get into the public sphere on this very contentious debate.

My point is to reflect on behavior that I experience in my Thailand and that I experienced yet again this week.  It is behavior that is excused on the basis that it is cultural.  Well, no excuses, rudeness is rudeness. 

After a meeting at work, there is the usual lunch for everyone. I am the only westerner present.   In the effort to make conversation, I ask a question in English of the Thai person opposite me.  He does not understand me.  I can cope with that and will happily try communicating in Thai, now knowing his lack of English of which I had thought he had some.

It is what that pursued that upset me.  He proceeded to talk about me and about my being Australian with others around me in Thai as if I was not there and did not understand anything.  This may happen often in my Thailand and it may be an acceptable Thai response to having a foreigner present and to such a happening but I just find it rude.  So I proceeded to say so to the gentleman in question.

To be so direct may be seen as being un-Thai and maybe even as being anti-Thai.  I have to say that neither is true for for me.  It is not about my being racist or being intolerant.  It just was that the behavior exhibited was rude and that was it.

To express one's opinion, to speak out does not have to be colored by all sorts of politically correct overtones.  It may be as  simple as that what has happened is not right and one just needs to say so.  Sometimes you get sick of being the nice guy and saying nothing.  Sometimes it is time to speak up for oneself and the better way.  My week in my Thailand saw one such opportunity and I took it. I feel better for it as I stood up for my own rights and dignity in a simple, every day way.