Comments on: The Vongthip Letter Dec 08 http://absolutelybangkok.com/the-vongthip-letter-dec-08/ Welcome to Bangkok Thailand, Airport, Politics, Food, Nightlife and Thai Culture of the Big Mango! Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:43:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jon http://absolutelybangkok.com/the-vongthip-letter-dec-08/#comment-2944 Jon Sun, 07 Dec 2008 05:23:13 +0000 http://absolutelybangkok.com/?p=3150#comment-2944 Pravit Rojanaphruk in the Nation asks "Is Sondhi's PAD now a brainwashed political cult?" ... surprisingly he doesn't quote the addled fantasy-land that is the Vongthip column. Pravit Rojanaphruk in the Nation asks “Is Sondhi’s PAD now a brainwashed political cult?” … surprisingly he doesn’t quote the addled fantasy-land that is the Vongthip column.

]]> By: Robert Scott http://absolutelybangkok.com/the-vongthip-letter-dec-08/#comment-2934 Robert Scott Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:58:55 +0000 http://absolutelybangkok.com/?p=3150#comment-2934 Chris An excellent comment and I understand exactly what you're saying (I loved Garden of Finzi Contini). Looking back on my own comment it seems unnecessarily harsh because as you say Vongthip is not only an authentic person but a decent one too. She was greatly valued as an intelligent and perceptive observer of the Thai scene by the British Embassy a few years ago. And yet her terrible fin de siecle blindness is disturbing and of course is common among Bangkok's upper middle class. Chris

An excellent comment and I understand exactly what you’re saying (I loved Garden of Finzi Contini). Looking back on my own comment it seems unnecessarily harsh because as you say Vongthip is not only an authentic person but a decent one too. She was greatly valued as an intelligent and perceptive observer of the Thai scene by the British Embassy a few years ago. And yet her terrible fin de siecle blindness is disturbing and of course is common among Bangkok’s upper middle class.

]]> By: Chris http://absolutelybangkok.com/the-vongthip-letter-dec-08/#comment-2928 Chris Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:22:57 +0000 http://absolutelybangkok.com/?p=3150#comment-2928 Remember the Chekhov story called "Gooseberries" or the wonderful Italian film called "Garden of Finzi Contini," both filled with "fin de siecle" wistfulness for traditions, structures, roles. Warm-hearted and sincere but culturally blind to the actual present, the emerging reality. A lazy afternoon shopping at Emporium, meeting an old friend for lunch at Greyhound, slow love-making with a childhood sweetheart, (maybe a 2nd cousin) at the pied-a-terre condo just off Soi Ekamai, looking forward to the weekend family gathering in Hua Hin. Whatever opinions readers might have of Vongthip's views and interests, she is an authentic voice and a revealing persona. And I always appreciate reading her column in AbsolutelyBangkok.com Remember the Chekhov story called “Gooseberries” or the wonderful Italian film called “Garden of Finzi Contini,” both filled with “fin de siecle” wistfulness for traditions, structures, roles. Warm-hearted and sincere but culturally blind to the actual present, the emerging reality.

A lazy afternoon shopping at Emporium, meeting an old friend for lunch at Greyhound, slow love-making with a childhood sweetheart, (maybe a 2nd cousin) at the pied-a-terre condo just off Soi Ekamai, looking forward to the weekend family gathering in Hua Hin.

Whatever opinions readers might have of Vongthip’s views and interests, she is an authentic voice and a revealing persona.

And I always appreciate reading her column in AbsolutelyBangkok.com

]]> By: Robert Scott http://absolutelybangkok.com/the-vongthip-letter-dec-08/#comment-2925 Robert Scott Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:15:29 +0000 http://absolutelybangkok.com/?p=3150#comment-2925 Vongthip's prejudices are transparent. Not a word of criticism of the fascist thugs from the PAD who took over the airports and shamed the nation, indeed some condoning words on the lines the ends justified the means. The obsessive hatred of Thaksin has distorted the judgement of Vongthip. Vongthip’s prejudices are transparent. Not a word of criticism of the fascist thugs from the PAD who took over the airports and shamed the nation, indeed some condoning words on the lines the ends justified the means. The obsessive hatred of Thaksin has distorted the judgement of Vongthip.

]]> By: number&number http://absolutelybangkok.com/the-vongthip-letter-dec-08/#comment-2918 number&number Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:52:31 +0000 http://absolutelybangkok.com/?p=3150#comment-2918 The Vongtheep letters again remind of how megalomania, delusion and insanity are transformed into mainstream news that steers mountains of sheep-like minds. Thailand is starting to look like 1930's Germany in some respects; sadly there are no other reference points as the academics and media are all involved in this obfuscation. Amazing how insularism, nationalism and selfishness can completely derail a whole countries progress and development. The Vongtheep letters again remind of how megalomania, delusion and insanity are transformed into mainstream news that steers mountains of sheep-like minds. Thailand is starting to look like 1930′s Germany in some respects; sadly there are no other reference points as the academics and media are all involved in this obfuscation. Amazing how insularism, nationalism and selfishness can completely derail a whole countries progress and development.

]]>