Richard's Life in Thailand - Hi-lo Society in Thailand

Richard's Life in Thailand - Hi-lo Society in Thailand
I just finished the book, Thailand Fever, it really does help me understand Thailand from another perspective. The comments on this post, in the blog, are interesting. Somehow we relate deference to low self esteem, I do not think that is true, because of my reading, deference is related to being part of the culture and the tradition of Thailand and reflects being a member of the culture and the tradition, being a part of the whole community. Deference is not to the person, individually, but to the role that person has in the community. On the other hand injustice and exploitation can also result from deference, people accepting the unacceptable. It seems though that standing up against what is wrong and deference might be two distinct reactions and they are not necessarily related.

In the United States independence and standing up against authority are deeply felt values, heck look at the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and Rosa Parks, our societies values are defined by people who do not defer to authority. I think of Bob Marley, "Get Up Stand Up" as an anthem to progress and self-realization. Deference is such a potent experience from a person from the United States, it somehow crystallizes fundamental cultural differences. There is a lot to learn. I guess for a person who is part of the Thai culture that deference does not carry the cultural background that it does from person from the United States. It is hard to imagine not "being independent". It is hard to imagine not being "individual" These values are so deep it is like breathing the air. But cultures are different and my basic assumptions are not universal. In Thailand there are many people who stand up against what is wrong and who make stands for justice in fairness, it just might be from a different set of assumptions.

When people defer to me, it does happen, I feel like a pompous jerk! It makes me feel very uncomfortable. "Who do I think I am?" Anyway there is much to learn. I guess in Thailand respect or deference is to my position or role, not to me individually. This is a hard concept to understand at the "feeling" level.