evan10 commented : Gohmer, there are many people in the US who are pretty chauvinistic and will insult other countries. I think that in every country there are chauvinists who think their country is the best. Just think about how many times you've heard people in the US denigrate France or Canada for no reason. Or think about how people talk about the Muslim countries. We changed the name of French Fries to Freedom Fries for a few years after 9/11. How stupid was that? This T-shirt is probably harmless. There are a lot of other causes in Thailand that are more worthy of your time. Yes, maybe that t-shirt is a little offensive, but there are legitimate reasons for people in SE Asia to hate the US. The US dropped more bombs on Laos during the Vietnam War than all countries dropped on each other in World War II combined. We flew 580,344 bombing missions over the country. Thirty percent of these munitions didn't explode, and are still laying around the country. Every year, people are wounded, maimed or killed because of these bombs. Here's a link about it: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8089366.stm. We also killed perhaps over a million people in Cambodia as well. While trying to counter the communist insurgency in Cambodia, the US destroyed the rural areas of the country, driving millions of people from the countryside to the cities. The population of Phnom Penh increased from 375,000 to roughly 2 million. This caused widespread famine and death. By the CIA's own estimates, 600,000 Cambodians died from US and South Vietnamese invasions from 1970-75. When the US left Cambodia in 1975, we estimated that another million Cambodians would die as a result of famine. Here are some links about the US involvement in Cambodia during and after the Vietnam War: http://www.understandingpower.com/Chapter3.htm#f60 http://www.onwar.com/aced/chrono/c1900s ... ia1970.htm Even though you don't learn much about this in high school and college, the US is an imperial power. We didn't fight wars all over the place to fight Communism. We have fought 3 large wars since the fall of Communism 20 years ago, so if anything, we have become more aggressive. We fight wars to benefit big business, and use the threat of Communism or Terrorism to whip Americans into enough of a frenzy to approve of international violence.

Gavelind commented : Hi, I understand your problem and I think it is sad and wrong for you to come with such a remark. Your case is not about race or nationality, it is about having a bad-mannered neighbor, not a Thai, or a Chinese or a Kenyan, a person who has barking dogs next to your door. That is the problem. Well, if you don't like the neighborhood, the only thing left for you to do is to move out. I went through the same ordeal in Canada, mind you, between Canadians, coming from the same city, sharing the same language, the same laws, the same faith, the same color: their dogs made us crazy, there was nothing we could do. Calling the police a couple of times because the dogs were lose and frightened little kids playing in the street, a few tickets, took them to court... to no avail. Peace came back to us after we moved out. That's all and that's it. You are very lucky to live in Thailand where foreigners and above all women have some sorts of rights anyway. What would you do in Saudi Arabia or Turkey where women are sold on the open market and are worth less than a camel? Wake up! Why live in another country and want to impose your values on them? See where the US has gone and see how far that took them! Hundreds of thousands have died, cities are in ruins... what for? Stay home, believe me, let the others live the way they are used to. You will never change them and will only be an outcast, an outsider, miserable and frustrated. At home, you are not a foreigner, and you have rights. It is much safer too, as now that you have enemies, they will retaliate.

Michael Bukit commented : L[quote="Ian":3ig9bp9v]There is a very good logic but it is not Thai logic, it is Chinese logic. Two generations back a flood of Chinese came to Thailand and found a land peopled by simple people, lacking in business acumen. As a result they soon rose to the top, they became the big business tycoons, land owners, politicians etc. Thaksin is a classic example of this. The standard policy, keep the poor in their places, pay low wages and make hugh profits, keep them ignorant. Then Farangs start to arrive, with business acumen to match the Chinese, educated and not fooled by lies and propaganda. Even worse we set a bad example by paying proper wages to our workers. We talk about education freedom of speech, all the things the Chinese Elite have created here we seem to be trying to undo. Naturally these Chinese "Thais" will defend their turf, try to keep the western Farangs out, except of course for the stupid tourists, the walking ATM machine. As these Chinese control the government, the Civil Service, then what more logical than to make tighter and tighter restrictions on resident Farangs. Make life intolerable, drive them away. It's not the Thais that don't want us, it's their controllers the Chinese Thais.[/quote:3ig9bp9v] I am not a Chinese neither am l Thai. But I find the above comments by this farang very bias against the Chinese Thai. Maybe he didn’t read enough or understand Thai history well. The Chinese came here few hundred years ago or maybe more, and not just 2 generations as you’ve stated. They didn’t just came to Thailand and found a land peopled by simple people, lacking in business acumen. As a result they soon rose to the top, they became the big business tycoons, land owners, politicians etc like you’ve mentioned. The Chinese got quite a lot of credits to claim in this country. Chinese came to this land long before the Farang has arrived. In a matter of fact they had even combined force with the Thais to fight against the enemies and many had sacrificed their lives for this country. They are unlike the Brits that went to Australia, Canada and New Zealand few generations ago and found a land peopled by simple people. As a result they soon roses to the top, they became the big business tycoons, land owners, mine owners, politicians etc. And today the whole Australia,Canada and New Zealand are owned by the white farangs and the indigenous peoples are left with nothing. No status, no money, no position in politic & no property. I advise you to go into below link to read more about Thai history you may find it very interesting and it is good for you if you intend to stay in Thailand long.. http://www.reference.com/browse/Taksin

Ludwig commented : [quote="AjarnV":398bhfml][quote="Chaem":398bhfml]I am quite new here. To Thailand and this forum. But it seems to me Internationally, Anybody has the legal means can buy land for his/her personal use in any country of the world. (in any democratic country, that is !) My wife, a dental nurse + Thai (!) bought a small plot in Switzerland recently to put up a very small "chalet" next year. Being married for 19 years now we never gave it a thought in who's name this small piece of land should be, we just decided to buy it + ... we did it to spend a few weeks every winter there together. An ex-Prime Minister Mr. Shinawatra (a Thai national) fled the country as a convict and bought a big peace of property in England legally ! I do not understand the logic behind the view of the government in Thail. that not even a man married to a Thai wife can be the owner of a plot of land big enough to house his family. In the end, This piece of earth for a house, does not belong to the government nor any minister nor can it be removed and taken to another country/planet. Any 'owner' can only be owner for a limited time. The actual ground nobody can be his /her for ever + ever. I personally can see no reason why any person can not buy a peace af land for his and his familys need here. [b:398bhfml]In short: if a Thai national can build a house in (let's say) Germany, why can a German not buy a house in Thailand. Can logicially someone explain this to me ?![/quote:398bhfml] [/b:398bhfml] The short answer to your question is, No. [/quote:398bhfml] Germans not Thai go to Canada the land is less and much better you will make money , and you safe . Why invest so where , where you not welcome !

Somluck commented : I believe it is known as a sovereign state (country). Each country makes its own laws. Some like you might want every country to have the same laws, others don't. Just look at Britain leavin the European Union. I don't find the law in relation to a less than 50% equitable interest property difficult to understand. It is very simple non Thais can only have a less than 50% equitable interest in property. I find it disturbing that people say "I bought the property in my spouse's name" and wonder why they breach the 50% rule. What do the words "I bought the property in my spouse's name" mean? It means to me you actually equitably have a 100% interest in the property and the spouse is simply a bare trustee whose name is on the title. The Thai law is simply normal Anglo Saxon law as practiced in England, USA, Canada, New Zealand, etc etc.. The same can be for the use of Thai companiesfor the same purpose. Both arrangement are simply very legal silly constructs ( that don't work) intended to get around a very simple policy.

james commented : I would have to agree that Thailand does attract a lot of criminals. You can easily spot them in pattaya, koh samui, bangkok, chang mai or just about any tourist destination. A large percent of them are drunks, lowlifes and criminals on the run that Thailand allows to wander in on few if any checks. These types are screened when ever they try to enter the U.S. or Canada and often sent packing back onto the plane. Since Thailand is so concerned with money first it,s an open door to these types. But giving these guys a little slack there are many so called high quality tourists with families that certainly act like lowlifes with their rude behavior towards the thais as nothing more than a peg above slave. I am embarrassed to be around them so avoid these areas all together. Having lived here for over eight years it just got old having to avoid these idiots. I made an effort shortly after arriving to learn thai just so i could avoid them. They encourage bad behavior from the thais from tossing money around like there is no tomorrow. How often do you witness a farang paying 100 to 200 percent more for a taxi, dinner, bargirl, hotel etc. Walking down main street half naked on Koh Samui just shows total disrespect to the locals. So do us all a favor who live here in peace with the thais .Learn some common sense as to the price of a taxi, a meal, a bargirl etc. But above all learn some common manners.

villager commented : [quote="james":sgsyl7qu]I would have to agree that Thailand does attract a lot of criminals. You can easily spot them in pattaya, koh samui, bangkok, chang mai or just about any tourist destination. A large percent of them are drunks, lowlifes and criminals on the run that Thailand allows to wander in on few if any checks. These types are screened when ever they try to enter the U.S. or Canada and often sent packing back onto the plane. Since Thailand is so concerned with money first it,s an open door to these types. But giving these guys a little slack there are many so called high quality tourists with families that certainly act like lowlifes with their rude behavior towards the thais as nothing more than a peg above slave. I am embarrassed to be around them so avoid these areas all together. Having lived here for over eight years it just got old having to avoid these idiots. I made an effort shortly after arriving to learn thai just so i could avoid them. They encourage bad behavior from the thais from tossing money around like there is no tomorrow. How often do you witness a farang paying 100 to 200 percent more for a taxi, dinner, bargirl, hotel etc. Walking down main street half naked on Koh Samui just shows total disrespect to the locals. So do us all a favor who live here in peace with the thais .Learn some common sense as to the price of a taxi, a meal, a bargirl etc. But above all learn some common manners.[/quote:sgsyl7qu]Hi James, it would appear that your home base is Samui, i first went there in 89 and stayed for 3 months in a sleepy little fishing village called Bophut ,my late wife and i fell in love with the place and went annually for extended holidays , i visited 3 years ago , my my how things have changed!

Herald commented : Calgary Herald daily newspaper in Calgary, Alberta, Canada interested in following this trial. Anyone from Canada attending? Seeking freelancer to help cover. Please e-mail or call city desk.

Junglejim commented : I just read on Canada.com that: Dale Henry took out US$1m life insurance policy Dale Henry made his salary account a joint one with his Thai wife and according to his brother his monthly salary was US$10,000 per month and she could see it... He was away five weeks then back five weeks, so he wasn't always aware what his wife was up to His wife came from a poor local family and she had a Thai boyfriend too. Looking at the pic, he looks like a nice guy but twenty years older than her and very chubby. She's small and skinny. Most people know about the insurance policy thing, that it's usually the quickest way to die......as for the salary you just never let a poor person like his wife know that every month you're earning about 6x their annual salary....you just don't do it even if you've known the person more than 10 years and madly in love. It's just too much for a person like her to comprehend. Every common sense bell in his head should have been ringing. Perhaps he had a death wish. His job was also pretty dangerous, working as an oil engineer in Nigeria where foreign oil workers are routinely taken hostage. Let's hope that other people reading this won't do the same thing unless you're in your 90's or terminally sick.