Showing 181 - 190 of 209
The red dilemma
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 27/05/2012
» While UDD leaders and followers demand justice, Thaksin Shinawatra carefully pleads for reconciliation; and apparently the two cries are in conflict. Nonetheless, Thaksin hopes monetary compensation will soothe the reds' anger. You can't bring back the dead or reattach an amputated arm, but bank notes can dry many tears.
Young and the restless
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 01/07/2012
» I read that the Republican Party of Texas called for a ban on teaching critical thinking skills in the state's schools because of its "focus on behaviour modification" that has "the purpose of challenging the student's fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority".
Who's your daddy?
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 08/07/2012
» If you ever get into a haggling match with somebody, you should accuse that person of plotting to overthrow the monarchy. Street vendor try to pull one over on you? That's a plot to overthrow the monarchy. A police officer tries to write you a ticket? Plot to overthrow the monarchy. Girl won't give you her phone number? A plot to overthrow the monarchy. This is the surest way to get things to go your way in this, my dearest, Kingdom.
Two field marshals and a billionaire
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 15/07/2012
» A plot to overthrow the monarchy _ that is what the PAD has been calling any move initiated by Thaksin Shinawatra from the time the yellow shirts took to the streets in 2005 up until the Constitution Court ruling on Friday. Where does this fear, hysteria even, come from? Perhaps it's because there have already been two successful plots against the monarchy.
Belonging: An offer they can't refuse
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 22/07/2012
» There's a sense of belonging and purpose, a feeling of family, a direction in life, causes to stand up for and friends who support you.
Damned by dysfunction
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 03/06/2012
» The Democrats and the People's Alliance for Democracy once again found common cause in their fear of amnesty for the bogeyman which might set up his return. They showed a mutual willingness to discard the democratic process and use thug-like intimidation and violence to achieve their goal of stopping the controversial reconciliation bill.
Proving Plato wrong
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 10/06/2012
» Plato argued that the majority of the people are ignorant and ill-informed, that they would always get it wrong. According to him, they are easily swayed by specious rhetoric and tend to be short-sighted, selfish and fickle. They are conditioned to fall prey to skillful manipulators, worship demagogues and are nothing but a collective tyrant. Hence, democracy does not work. Does any of this sound familiar?
The godfather tradition lives on
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 17/06/2012
» People continue to be astounded by a series of polls in which most respondents say they don't mind government corruption as long as they also benefit. The latest poll this month had 63.4% of respondents expressing the view. The poll in January this year had 64.7%.
Rights in democracy, the naked truth
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 24/06/2012
» What the 23-year-old female contestant on Thailand's Got Talent painted with her breasts was a mess. It wasn't art. The performance was crude and tasteless, cheap and tawdry, appealing to the lowest common denominator. Be that as it may, she had every right to perform, with the appropriate blurring of images, of course.
Cults of personality
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 01/04/2012
» Hero worshipping is a part of every culture. From great warlords to visionary leaders, religious prophets and yes, pop idols, their names and deeds are written in history, perpetuating cults of personality, though invariably with heavy revisions and colourful additions. Mankind rarely lets truth get in the way of a good story.