A Thai friend writes:
It is nearly impossible for non-Thais to apprehend and to understand the reason for the depth of affection Thais have for the King. It is not merely the length of his reign; it is also the combination of certain mental dispositions of the Thai people and a truly great King. King Bhumibol’s constitutional powers were circumscribed but his moral authority, which blossomed out of his good works and dedication to his people, was boundless. One would be hard pushed to find amongst the Thai people more than only a few who would not have gladly and without hesitation laid down their life for this great King. Indeed, half a century onto his reign, the Thai people unanimously bestowed upon their King the suffix of 'the Great'. He is properly called 'King Bhumibol the Great'. If one can begin to understand even a little of this, one begins to have some insight into the Thai psyche. The whole world does not think or perceive things in the same way.
To be illuminating, any explanation of the mental disposition of Thais and the sorrow Thais feel now must begin with the basics. The older generation Thais regard His Majesty as ‘father’; the younger generation Thais regard Him as ‘grandfather’ – and this in an oriental country where fathers and grandfathers continue to be more revered and to possess more authority than any modern westerner can possibly fathom; in an oriental country where the culture and the perceptions have not been influenced by the teachings of Sigmund Freud. A full explanation would go much deeper than this.
Any visitor to Thailand during the official one-year mourning period would be well advised to behave with restraint and sensitivity, as if visiting the home of a very dear friend who has just lost his or her beloved father or grandfather. A visitor who goes further than this and dresses in black and white would win the love of all Thais with whom he or she comes into contact.
Those of us who do the un-Buddhist thing of looking to the future are wondering ‘whither Thailand?’ The country is now adrift in every way, and there are forces that would destroy or radically change the country.
The members of the Swedish Academy, tired of criticism that they favor obscure writers working in little-known languages, found an American rock icon whom millions more people have heard than read – infuriating, once again, our literary establishment.
I was going to read the new Don DeLillo novel but I guess now I'll just listen to some old Dylan albums.
The waitress said she had finished school and we asked her what she had majored in.
"Education," she said. "But I don't want to teach in Florida."
"Why?" I asked her.
"Florida doesn't value education," she said.
In four words she put her finger on what I find most unsatisfying about living here.
South Floridians are saying "We lucked out on this one" - already looking ahead to the next threat from a big, blustery, dangerous male Nov. 8..
South Florida has less of a sense of community than any place I have ever lived, mostly because so many of the people who live here came from somewhere else. The only thing we share is an address. And weather. This is why hurricanes, for all their destructive power, create a sense of community; they are one thing we all have in common. Also, difficult times often bring out the best in people. I'm trying to remind myself of all this as I hear the first rumblings of the hurricane shutters.