Why Morals

Leaping into the morality debate ring, as someone recently wrote. Momma always told you to be nice and not to lie. There will be consequences, you were told. And indeed. You cheat, you get cheated. You betray. In a moment you’re the betrayed.

Morality, a key concept of Western thought, is a much more flexible thing over here in the East. Morals are more pragmatic, more Confucian, less rigid. What’s moral leadership for some here is a culture shock for others.

The more pleased I was to read a piece in The Nation titled Moral students projects rolls across 9 provinces; project that set aside a special quota for students with a record of volunteerism and strong morals to become “good students.”

A commendable effort. But what’s “good morals.” We read: “More than 1,000 students have been recruited under the project so far, based not on academic tests but criteria such as good conduct, strong leadership, volunteer activities, environmental conservation and campaigning against drugs.”

Thailand “does not have national morality tests,” we learn. However, “academic tests are not enough” – but the key statement follows in the final sentence: “Authorities should be careful of the selection process to prevent nepotism.”

Nepotism.

There are dedicated people out here trying to emphasize decent morality. They give poorer and less advantaged students the chance to progress by leading a good, helpful life. And as soon there’s a privilege the daddy of some spoiled but academically chanceless kid may show up.

It’s so symptomatic to see that at one point every initiative here, however selfless and noble, gets kidnaped.

Which is why you’re not surprised to open the edition of the other paper, the Bangkok Post, published on the same day, and read a short piece titled Ethics code “won’t change MPs’ actions”.

We read:

“Senior lawmakers are expecting a motion on the ethics code for MPs to sail through parliament, but say they do not think the code will have a major impact on parliamentarians’ conduct.”

There’s a glimmer of hope:

“(…) the code would not change MPs’ behavior, but it would inform the people what kind of behavior is inappropriate.”

Well it was worth a try, wasn’t it.

It’s already difficult to keep your cool in real life. Imagine how much more difficult it is in parliament.




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February 1, 2010 | Filed Under Culture & Arts, Culture Shock, Politics, Society, The Thai Mind 

Comments

5 Responses to “Why Morals”

  1. Mithran on February 2nd, 2010 11.46 am

    It’s hard to tell from The Nation article whether the academic testing is being waved or whether the results are factored into the “morality” results. It’s a problem if it’s the former. Morals aren’t going to make up for a lack of academic ability.

    Also, how about if the volunteering is helping UDD? Or PAD? They’re acting morally by their own lights.

  2. BangkokDan on February 3rd, 2010 10.18 am

    Must be a mixture of both academic and morality results one would assume.

    ThaiCrisis by the way has a hard hitting take on the morality issue over at his blog:

    http://thaicrisis.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/orwellian-obsession-of-purity-moral-students-project/#comment

    I must be naive. Still, talking to foreigners studying at Bangkok universities I get the impression that the higher education system here is not that shabby as many foreigners like to denounce it. Got a student actually writing a report, hope it’s soon ready … Most universities use the same teaching material as overseas, but then again, we’re talking about upcountry morality here.

    Still, it’s an easy trap to feel on one’s high horse around here. Many Thais ask for it.

    BangkokDan

  3. BangkokDan on February 4th, 2010 7.00 pm

    And this one just in from the Post:

    No More Mia Nois? New Ethics Code for MPs “Almost Impossible to Achieve”

    BangkokDan

  4. Tweets that mention Why Morals -- Topsy.com on February 4th, 2010 7.09 pm

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Incognito, BangkokDan. BangkokDan said: (BLOG) Why Morals http://bit.ly/bPM6Ck [...]

  5. Catherine on February 5th, 2010 8.52 am

    Oh dear. First they can’t host cooking shows, and now mia nois?

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