Not My Problem... So Far

Thailand is back in the news once again because of our fearless Thai version of George Bush,("I'm rich, and I'm right, and the little people love me... nothing else matters.") a.k.a. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

It's barely news among the farang population here in Thailand. We all know what's happening, the pertinent details, and what the general consensus is, but other than that, we just shrug our shoulders and keep our mouths shut — mostly out of disinterest more than any sense of obligation or duty as guests in this country (although we do like to pretend it is the latter over the former that is our motivation).

Thailand has a 70-year history of trying out new governments every other decade or so... or more accurately trying to try out new governments. As long as the king is in the right place, and the monks are in the right place, everyone else can be shuffled around at will, as far as Thai people are concerned.

As far as this new "uprising" is concerned, it is relatively benign and focused. No violence (as a matter of fact, it is markedly upbeat so far), no crackdowns, no clashes. It's street level democracy with a grin hiding a grimace.

So far.

Truth be told though, the Thai people consider this their own gig. They would hardly be interested in hearing what the local expatriate population has to say about it. They wouldn't want us involved, and they seem to be careful not to involve us. We farangs pretend not to know the first thing about what is going on, and the Thai people make sure to pretend that nothing is going on in front of us.

Politics, religion, and royalty: These are the subjects that you are better off just professing ignorance on if you are a farang, and we all do it... and Thailand ensures that our lives remain sheltered, simple and carefree in return.

So far.