one finds inspiration at the oddest places in Thailand
- by Terry, Thai Intel’s editor
Nobody seems to know what his story is, a homeless, roaming the Asoke area, Bangkok‘s richest district.
I even asked a few people, who say they have seen him around Asoke for years, what is the story with that homeless, and no one knows. It seems, his life story, has been lost to humankind.
But as I asked around, one thing was clear, this homeless, has a policy, of not accepting help from anyone, even when people hand him a 100 baht bill.
- “I gave him a cigarette and he took it, but then I saw him throw it away……..Then yesterday, the prison department came around cleaning the drainage system, and bought him food and he just threw that away too,” said the owner of a street side coffee shop owner.
According to everyone I talked to, this homeless, refusing to accept any help from anyone, keeps living by digging into trash for scrap of food and drink.
To me, he looks like some freaked out religious figure, like some guru, in India. He is as dirty as they come, and loves to sprinkle powder on his body. But if you can get through the homeless look of his, he is quite hansom and his eyes is clear and it actually sparkles, clearly, he is not on drugs.
- But to sum it up, this homeless guy, for some reason, is really not into money and has this way, of surviving on his own accord.
And as I look at the guy, it makes me think of myself and the Thais in general, when polls after polls of the Thais, says most Thais does not find massive corruption in Thailand, a problem.
- Corruption it seems, is when greed for money becomes so intense, it overides ethics and morality.
And I thought of myself, and my corruption, because like whenever a Thai police stops me, for speeding or for not wearing my safety belt, I always slip a 500 baht bill along with my driver license, to the police-for a quick way out, of all the trouble with breaking the law.
- “Instead of complaining about government corruption, why do you not help stop corruption,” said a Thai politician, recently.
That Thai politician, was angry, at the Thai Chambers of Commerce, for saying that government corruption have eaten into about 30% of all government contracts.
- I am not a politician, but the same politician said also, quote: “Why does all the business people who tells the chamber of the massive corruption, live with it and not take the case to the anti-corruption body or tell the press about it.”
And it makes me think of the homeless, because as I sat there at the side of the street coffee shop, having tea, that homeless came by, which was the first time I noticed him and saw him up-close-and I felt sorry for the guy, and I asked him if he would like a coffee or something?
- And he shook his head to say “No” and told me, “Money can not buy me.”
As most people who follows the development of Thailand closely, and not taken in by the soothing propaganda, be it economic or democracy, many have come to be totally hopeless.
And many, perhaps, in that hopelessness of Thailand, turn to think mainly about themselves.
- It seems, that to shield themselves and fortify themselves, from the failures of Thailand, many have instead, became very focus on themselves. And that focus, is so often, about the material world, or mainly, about “Money and Wealth.”
I have always been impressed with the Austrian economist, Joseph Schumpeter, who said very famously, “Capitalism will fail, but not because of socialism, but because of the corruption of the morals of the capitalism leaders.”
As for me, on a personal level, that homeless reminds me of my own situation, in that I have a billionaire in baht term father, and I often rely on him for support, with even friends saying one day, I will be rich beyond belief.
- But to tell Thai Intel readers the truth, of what I truly believe in, is that as I walked along Sukhumvit Road, where there is a great deal many street hawk selling all types of goods, I quote: “Have seen some families of the poor street hawk, more happy being together, sharing and eating on the side of the street, than when I am with my family.”
Like I do not know how many times I have argued with my kid about using her mobile phone too much and my wife is addicted to having dinner while watching TV.
I often wonder, about corruption in Thailand, where I believe, everyone is corrupt, from top to bottom-but when I see a guy like that homeless and the happiness of some poor families living on the side of the street-I do wonder also, am I wasting my life away for money.
But yes, I know, the rich and powerful just calls that type of people, “A Bum.”
Related articles
- Thai Culture: Red Shirts, Nuling, winning Stock Market Award, outrages Thai establishment (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
- Justice: Thailand’s “Most Influential & Most Read” columnist on the “Constitutional Court” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
- Blog: How can editors & journalists at Bangkok Post, Nation, Reuters & Bloomberg live with themselves? (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
- ASEAN Defense: Bangkok Post’s Wassana “Thai Army Chief, Prayuth, Rejects “All” Arms Dealers Appointements” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
- Thai Culture: Yingluck “Most Sexy” & how Yingluck feels about her famous words “I am doing it” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
Recent Comments