I've Wondered What'd Happen If You Didn't Stand Up - Ajarn Forum

Matthew · 22nd September 2007, 23:02

Quote:

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Anti-coup activist Chotisak Onsueng and a female companion were attacked and verbally abused after they refused to stand up for the Royal anthem at a Bangkok cinema on Thursday night.
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Chotisak, a coordinator of the September 19 Network Against the Coup, told The Nation yesterday that he and his companion had had to call the police in order to end the feud after someone in the audience shouted at them and a slight physical skirmish took place.

Chotisak, 26, and his 23-year-old friend Chitma Penphak filed charges of physical assault and defamation at Pathumwan Police Station against the alleged attacker.

The alleged assailant, 40-year-old Bang Rak resident Nawamin Wittayakul, in turn yesterday threatened to counter-sue on a lese-majeste charge.

Chotisak said some 20 or so fellow movie-goers had also shouted abuse at them and some thrown water bottles before the police arrived to calm things down.

The incident took place at a city-centre cinema at 7pm, where the two were about to watch a Hollywood film. Theatre staff at first tried to end the feud but apparently failed.

"I was shocked. I didn't think it would be this violent," Chotisak told The Nation. "They were emotionally violent. It's barbaric for this to take place in this day and age."

Chotisak insisted that he had rarely stood up for the Royal anthem in the past, but this was the first time he had got into a scuffle. "I usually don't stand up. Some people have thrown things at me once or twice."

He said the attacker who threw popcorn at them had accused them of being "unpatriotic" and disloyal to the monarchy. The man also allegedly called them "pathetic" and questioned if they were real Thai citizens.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

Well...Hmmmm. I'm of two minds about this.

Big Bill · 22nd September 2007, 23:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew

Well...Hmmmm.

Ok Mathew, your thoughts on this provocative news snippet...........

American Ajarn · 22nd September 2007, 23:08

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.

--Dylan

Matthew · 22nd September 2007, 23:08

^^ Thanks, Bill. I've upon expanded them (my thoughts) too (see above)

Big Bill · 22nd September 2007, 23:11

Ah, Dylan done to Karioke!! The times....well they ARE a changing!

happychappy · 23rd September 2007, 08:54

Was in an Orange Club back in the Early Eighties on the Outskirts of Glasgow, at the end of the night the Queen was played, and there were Punches thrown ,and more at a Soul who would not Stand up, I would have had the same if it wasn't for my Host dragging me out of my seat.....Thanks Shuggie

Umbuku · 23rd September 2007, 09:35

Fecking nationalism, makes me sick, and it's clergy the patriots can go fuck themselves.

Dogmatic ritual bullshit.

kiwiling · 23rd September 2007, 09:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Umbuku

Dogmatic ritual bullshit.

Someone told me this reverence didn't exist 50 years ago in a certain country...tis a relatively new thing

Humbert · 23rd September 2007, 09:44

^
I think it's reverence to the man as opposed to the office.

I have seen this happen on more than one occasion, i was surprised but nothing happened to them.

Umbuku · 23rd September 2007, 09:51

My post was against all nationalism.

One of my pet bugbears.

I've got no beef with the big guy.

Only with mindless rhetoric.

russellsimpson · 23rd September 2007, 09:54

I personally think it's a matter of personal choice.

As far as I know, though I may be wrong, Jehovah's witnesses don't stand for the anthem. Other people with religious beliefs, same/same.

But this is Thailand.

I think it would take some courage not to stand for the anthem. It's a non-secular and "militaristic minded" state. Reaction doesn't surprise me.

Asper · 23rd September 2007, 10:04

We went downtown on the last birthday to witness the celebrations. The main street was awash with yellow shirts, but at least 10% of the revellers were not wearing them.

A woman pushed her face into my wife's and angrily demanded why I was not wearing one. This in spite of the fact that I could see 10 to 20 Thai people who were not wearing them either.

(Nut - my wife - had actually bought us matching polo shirts but I pointblank refused to wear mine. Hideous colour, on me anyway. I would stand up in a theatre though.)

Umbuku · 23rd September 2007, 10:13

I have never stood in the cinema for the Thai anthem, nor have I stood for any other anthem in my adult life.

I have had a few dirty looks and a couple of polite reminders from the surrounding Thai people.
I just smile and shrug and eat my popcorn.

tomcat · 23rd September 2007, 12:08

Thais might consider farangs who don't stand for the anthem (or freeze in place at BTS stations, etc) to be ignorant, obtuse, or just simply aiming to cause offense because they're still upset at being cut off by a khunying in the supermarket checkout line. Whatever, standing is an act demonstrating respect to Thai people and culture and should be observed by all.

i1der · 23rd September 2007, 12:17

It's all about respect.