By: Voranai Vanijaka

Published: 17/05/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

A man takes responsibility - it's the manly thing to do. He takes responsibility for his work and his family, his word and deed - and when required, his country and people.

But what if many of our leaders - our politicians, bureaucrats and those in uniform - shirk on their responsibilities? What if they run and hide? What if when wrongs are done, they act like they haven't done a thing wrong, shrug their shoulders and say: "Hey, it wasn't me"?

What if their entire political existence is less manly than even a drag queen show in Pattaya? (No offence to the drag queens, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert was an excellent movie.) What if they aren't the shining examples they are supposed to be?

If these things are true then perhaps that would result in a country and society where responsibility is viewed with much fright and disdain. Even more so than the morning when you wake up to find that beautiful, sexy girl you chatted up at the club last night turns out to be - oops - a boy. No doubt, a situation many newbies to Thailand have unwittingly fallen into. Not a manly moment at all - but such a scenario may very well help to boost Thailand's fledging tourism - think about it.

Why shouldn't we, the people of Thailand, run red lights, make illegal u-turns, drive on the wrong side of the street, put our entire 15-people family on one motorbike and pass a 100 baht bill to traffic police? Why shouldn't we abuse connections and employ cronyism, go under the table and between the legs? Why should we take responsibility as citizens and respect the rule of law? Why, since many of those who make the law and execute the law take no responsibility for their role and duty in this society?

Leaders motivate and inspire. Leaders set examples and precedents. But from many of our leaders we learn that in our beloved country corruption isn't wrong; rather, it's a matter of discretion.

Let's say a figure in authority is corrupt. If he's found out, what happens then? Does he get fired and face criminal charges? Buddha forbids, no. Not unless his name is Thaksin Shinawatra.

He gets transferred to another department where he can continue to corrupt, with a gentle reminder of: "Don't make it so obvious again, okay? And don't forget my cuts!" The disease spreads.

Remember the Tom Yam Goong crisis of 1997? Leaders across Asia made tearful, televised apologies. Many took responsibility and resigned. Others were brought up on charges and punished.

In Thailand? Where it all started? The culprits are still among the rich and powerful that run the country, and blame everyone but themselves. "It's the CIA! They engineered the whole thing because we're friendly with Burma! Those foreign devils! But don't tell them I said that, they might get mad and won't buy our exports! shssh ..." No one is man enough to take responsibility.

Twelve years later, in 2009, Asean leaders say: "Nope. Nuh ah. We're not coming to Phuket. Remember last time in Pattaya? I still have nightmares! Nope, not even if you throw in a complimentary Thai massage. You can't protect me!"

A fiasco, an embarrassment of regional proportions. Who will take responsibility? Who will step up to the plate and say: "Yes, this one is on me"? Who will lay his manliness on the line for all to see? (Not literally, of course - that would be indecent.)

Now dear readers, you may ask: Does this mean, so long as politicians take no responsibility, it is okay for the people to do likewise? Does MPs fist-fighting and cat-fighting in Parliament mean it's okay for me to smack my boss with the ancient Muay Thai manoeuver known as the "crocodile tail spin", if he doesn't give me a raise?

The manly answer to that is: Whatever you do in life, make your mother proud.

Admittedly, I don't really remember much of former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin's accomplishments during his terms. But when he stepped up to the plate and took responsibility, resigning from his post over the fire-fighting equipment scandal - that was manly. He has never been handsomer. If he was Korean and had a mullet, Thai girls everywhere would squeal and pass out from the fiery heat of his manliness. I might even vote for him if he ever ran for office again.

When the Rohingya scandal broke, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva went on CNN and said "yes, we messed up". But I promise that I will fix it. That is also manly - but whether anything is fixed is another matter.

I'm a nice guy, a generous fellow - at least that's what I tell myself every morning. So I'm not saying anyone has to resign, get fired or be thrown in jail over the Asean fiasco.

Let's approach manliness one step at a time. Too much testosterone in one go could cause spontaneous combustion - despite all the rain we are having in Bangkok. As well, it is understandable that the prime minister wasn't responsible for the security. But somebody was in charge, somebody was responsible, whether in a suit or in a uniform.

Who among them will step up and take responsibility, apologise to the country and the region, and vow to do everything he can to fix the problem? Who will at least take that manly step? Will it be Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban? Who knows? But doesn't the suspense just keep you on the edge of your seat?

[email protected]

Retrieved from: http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/16828/manliness-and-its-role-in-thailand

I thought it was a fairly honest article.

interesting to say the least must have missed that one on the website

seems to hit the points well!!

Usually, having one person stand up and take responsibility is part of the problem. It's often a combination of many individual mistakes and the corrupt system that eveyone has to work in, rather than one person's huge screw up. It's gonna take "manliness" accross the board, and starting from government, police, army etc to reduce those kinds of problems.

Thanks for the article. I like it.

i had no idea.

i thought it was all about 'me first', womanizing, being cool, being funny, and getting by without doing anything.