And His Majesty's recent hospitalisation for a surgery made people display more flags and portraits to express their wish that the beloved monarch get well soon... (His Majesty was released from the hospital on 4 August.)
Many families hoisted at the gates of their homes small tricolour national flags and yellow flags to commemorate the 60th anniversary of their king's accession to the throne. And many large companies, hotels and universities displayed gigantic royal portraits. Thais love their flag and monarch so much.
The flags and royal portraits were so ubiquitous and their numbers so bewildering. I haven't seen any other country filled with so many of her national flags. Well, I guess it is only matched by some parts of
I somewhat envied that Thais can so frankly profess their love to their flag and the king. You can walk around a Japanese town without spotting one Japanese flag. Even if you visit one hundred families there, you will not find even a portrait of present emperor. Japanese feel so ambivalent to their flag and their emperor.
It made me wonder why and reminded me that the Thai king dethroned himself after
It may be the reason why Thais' attitude to their national flag and king very different from that of Japanese... But I still am nore very sure. I guess the bewildering number of Thai flags and the portrait of the King has given me an interesting homework...
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countries like Germany adn Japan cannot afforr to 'love' tehir flag. At elast not in public. teh question of nationalism creeps up every time. I think the only time when Germans were "allowed" to shout GERMANY GERMANY! was during this years soccer world cup.
Japan after all is the Germany of Asia...
sad it is. but i see it is getting better. The new generation of youngsters are becoming more fond of their country and that in a good way.
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