Last Farang in Town

In this time of Covid, I am not seeing any other farangs anywhere in my wanderings (except for my once-a-month libertarian meet up with Western friends deep into Bangkok).  We have become an endangered species. 

In my own home neighborhood’s two-kilometer radius, I am usually the only farang around, although throughout my years here it had not been uncommon to see a farang once or twice a month on the local sidewalks.  But I never see them now. 

When I go to the nearest big shopping mall, seven klicks away, I never see farangs at all.  I’m the only one.  Although I don’t speak Thai, I do occasionally pick up a comment mentioning “farang” as I walk by.  I hope they are not buying into the stereotype of the “dirty farang” who is a public health hazard and menace.  I wear a mask, use hand sanitizer at every opportunity, and follow all protocols.  But I feel like I’m viewed as a leper in their midst. 

Alien.  Stranger in a strange land. 

-Zenwind. 

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New Thai Protests

 

We are in yet another cycle of massive Thai political protests, this time involving a much younger generation, one that has some surprisingly radical demands. 

In the most recent elections, the party that was favored by a lot of young people, the FFP, had won third place in number of parliamentary seats.  But the courts disqualified its leader and then dissolved the party itself – under legal reasoning and motives that many young Thais think are suspect. 

The most radical turn during these new protests is that there is criticism of certain aspects of the Thai monarchy and its relation to power – and such criticism can put you in prison for years.  This has turned off a lot of older Thais who revere the monarchy.  The protesters also want a new constitution and the resignation of the military men who wrote the last one and who now still dominate the government even after the post-coup election. 

Same old, same old.  Military coup; election; coup; election; coup; election; etc., etc.  F.A. Hayek would say that there is simply too much power available to whomever seizes (democratically or not) the reins of government, so the contest for that power will always be vicious. 

“Meet the new boss.  Same as the old boss.”  (Pete Townshend)

-Zenwind. 

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