‘Thai-ness’ faux pas?

The notion of “Thainess” has crept back into public discourse recently, particularly in association with the cave rescue operation. The term should be abandoned because it is inherently divisive and xenophobic, and, that if it must be used, let it simply be equated to the practice of metta or loving-kindness, (something well understood and aspired to in this Buddhist nation).

Looking at it from a realistic perspective, “Thainess” could rationally be associated with a myriad of qualities as evidenced by readily available metrics.

Some relevant national rankings to consider: road fatalities (No.2 in the world), human trafficking and slavery (147 out of 167), educational test results (PISA 54 of 70), firearms murder rate (No.3 in the world), corruption index (101 out of 176), carbon emissions (192 out of 216), black market risk (73 out of 93), use of chemicals in agriculture (No.1 in the world), coups d’etat (No.1 in the world), creativity (82 out of 139), danger to tourists (118 out of 139), democracy (100 out of 167), economic inequality (3rd worst in the world), English proficiency (53 out of 80), plastic waste (186 out of 192), fish, mammal and plant species threatened (203 out of 215, 205 out of 214, 189 out of 215), freedom (156 out of 210), innovation (45 out of 50), press freedom (140 out of 180), prison population rate (7th highest in the world), traffic congestion (Bangkok ranks 2nd worst in the world), university rankings (no universities in the top 200).

Though there are no rankings for the following I think the implications are quite clear as to Thailand’s performance in these areas: freedom of expression, enforced disappearances, rule of law, torture, secret detention, political freedom, treatment of activists, whistleblowers, refugees, migrant workers and asylum seekers. One might also consider the continuing separatist conflict in the South as it reflects on the national character.

In Singapore, which is a world leader in many of the above metrics, one never hears the term “Singaporean-ness”. Should not “Thainess” also be relegated to the dust bin of linguistic faux pas? MICHAEL SETTER