The Cost of Freedom
The Cost of Freedom
The Cost of Freedom
By Jeff Petry (Magazine Issue 14) http://www.udonmap.com/magazine/download.html
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. I realize that’s not a good thing to do in Thailand, as many Thais have often told me: “Kheet maak may dee”, or: “Thinking too much not good.” So I should probably just stop doing that, and all my problems would go away, and everything would be “sabai sabai”: “copacetic, hunky-dory”.
Being a typical farang, however, I can’t simply turn off, relax, and enjoy life as much as I perhaps should. In fact, I’ve even been contemplating something I never thought I would: going “home”; moving back; repatriating; or in a word: leaving Thailand.
Why on earth would I want to do such a thing, you might well ask – as even I might well ask. Things are cool here, life’s pretty easy, weather’s good, costs are low, and very, very high on the list for me: hassles are few and far between - at least major hassles. In short, overall I feel freer than I do in the U.S.A. (I can hear my compatriots whispering “treason” already.)
More freedom in Thailand than in America? Is this really the case? Or just an illusion? Does feeling freer actually equal more freedom? Or, like Kris Kristofferson wrote in “Me and Bobby McGee”, is it “just another word for nothing left to lose?”
Although I’ve met quite a few chaps here in the smiley land who certainly seem to have nothing left to lose, I think the lion’s share of this sense of freedom I feel has to do with being outside, somewhat apart from, the Thai host culture, as virtually all expats are, albeit to greater and lesser degrees.
In many ways, we are not subject to the same rules, patterns of behavior, manners, much less speech. Police frequently wave us through checkpoints, as if they can’t be bothered. Others smile gently - in that way only they can do - as if to say, “It’s alright. You’re a farang. We know you don’t know any better.”
Given all this, how can we not feel a certain sense of freedom? Dictionaries define freedom as: exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.; the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action.
You tell me. Where do you feel less control, interference, regulation, coercion, or constraint in choice or action? In Thailand, or in your home country? I mean, really, this is a moot question. We all know that "Thai" means "free", after all, don't we?
But, I wonder, at what cost this "freedom"? Could the cost perhaps be a degree of cultural isolation? After all, although some of us do adapt to Thai culture quite well and relatively thoroughly, I personally have come to the conclusion that, in the end, there is something rather "unnatural" about us farangs living here. Or is it just me? (This better saved for another day (or issue).)
And finally, I must say I find it quite strange and curious that as I stay here longer, (after two decades now), I'm beginning to see more downsides to this faux freedom, a sense of freedom I loved so much twenty years ago. I'm beginning to think that maybe what I thought was freedom was in fact some combination of seeming lawlessness and blatant lack of enforcement of laws that in actuality do exist. And exist for a reason, largely.
For without them, what would we have? Utter chaos? Civil disobedience? Danger in our homes and on the roads? Or maybe this is just me... getting older; and wanting to keep my small family safe, happy, healthy - and out of harm's way.
By Jeff Petry (Magazine Issue 14) http://www.udonmap.com/magazine/download.html
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. I realize that’s not a good thing to do in Thailand, as many Thais have often told me: “Kheet maak may dee”, or: “Thinking too much not good.” So I should probably just stop doing that, and all my problems would go away, and everything would be “sabai sabai”: “copacetic, hunky-dory”.
Being a typical farang, however, I can’t simply turn off, relax, and enjoy life as much as I perhaps should. In fact, I’ve even been contemplating something I never thought I would: going “home”; moving back; repatriating; or in a word: leaving Thailand.
Why on earth would I want to do such a thing, you might well ask – as even I might well ask. Things are cool here, life’s pretty easy, weather’s good, costs are low, and very, very high on the list for me: hassles are few and far between - at least major hassles. In short, overall I feel freer than I do in the U.S.A. (I can hear my compatriots whispering “treason” already.)
More freedom in Thailand than in America? Is this really the case? Or just an illusion? Does feeling freer actually equal more freedom? Or, like Kris Kristofferson wrote in “Me and Bobby McGee”, is it “just another word for nothing left to lose?”
Although I’ve met quite a few chaps here in the smiley land who certainly seem to have nothing left to lose, I think the lion’s share of this sense of freedom I feel has to do with being outside, somewhat apart from, the Thai host culture, as virtually all expats are, albeit to greater and lesser degrees.
In many ways, we are not subject to the same rules, patterns of behavior, manners, much less speech. Police frequently wave us through checkpoints, as if they can’t be bothered. Others smile gently - in that way only they can do - as if to say, “It’s alright. You’re a farang. We know you don’t know any better.”
Given all this, how can we not feel a certain sense of freedom? Dictionaries define freedom as: exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.; the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action.
You tell me. Where do you feel less control, interference, regulation, coercion, or constraint in choice or action? In Thailand, or in your home country? I mean, really, this is a moot question. We all know that "Thai" means "free", after all, don't we?
But, I wonder, at what cost this "freedom"? Could the cost perhaps be a degree of cultural isolation? After all, although some of us do adapt to Thai culture quite well and relatively thoroughly, I personally have come to the conclusion that, in the end, there is something rather "unnatural" about us farangs living here. Or is it just me? (This better saved for another day (or issue).)
And finally, I must say I find it quite strange and curious that as I stay here longer, (after two decades now), I'm beginning to see more downsides to this faux freedom, a sense of freedom I loved so much twenty years ago. I'm beginning to think that maybe what I thought was freedom was in fact some combination of seeming lawlessness and blatant lack of enforcement of laws that in actuality do exist. And exist for a reason, largely.
For without them, what would we have? Utter chaos? Civil disobedience? Danger in our homes and on the roads? Or maybe this is just me... getting older; and wanting to keep my small family safe, happy, healthy - and out of harm's way.
Re: The Cost of Freedom
Time for that guy to go home.
Re: The Cost of Freedom
You feel more freedom here cause your not in the nine five grind anymore and have time to as you wish, really not that complicated.
Here in the end it is up to you what you make it. So how is your little family in danger? You didn't take them to Bangkok for the riot did you. What is so different today then a year ago?
Or as the guy said above go back, you will be back here in short order.
Here in the end it is up to you what you make it. So how is your little family in danger? You didn't take them to Bangkok for the riot did you. What is so different today then a year ago?
Or as the guy said above go back, you will be back here in short order.
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Re: The Cost of Freedom
yep, he,s lived the dream ,UdonExpat wrote:Time for that guy to go home.
and is ready to return to his homeland ,back to his roots,
for the final curtain , on terra firma . RIP .
Re: The Cost of Freedom
Depends what you want.
Some people yearn to be surrounded by whining, petty, slack-jaws. It makes them feel right at home.
Back in the land-o-plenty where any layabout scumbag can score a free house and a job from which to embezzle.
Nine thousand cameras per square city mile.
The downside is that the pricetag of living in such a utopia is 70% of what you earn. It's like working Monday through Thursday for the idle society waste and Friday is "all" yours. All yours. FREEDOM! Take your Friday pay to scrub the rent, the car payment, the weekly food and entertainment, the utilities, the blown head gasket.
And then give yourself a HUGE pat on the back for Mon-Thu. The cows laying at home heavy with seventh and eighth child really appreciate your effort. The prisoners in jails around the country love your benevolent magnificence. The elected leaders appreciate your benefit toward carpeting the foyer of their third home out in the bay.
And delude yourself into believing you actually care about those lounging cows pushing out children like guppies. Convince yourself that your contribution to the street thugs and illegals is right -- in a humanitarian sense. You are such a nice guy.
But don't ever go back to live there. You'll get your throat slit. Ain't freedom spectacular?
Some people yearn to be surrounded by whining, petty, slack-jaws. It makes them feel right at home.
Back in the land-o-plenty where any layabout scumbag can score a free house and a job from which to embezzle.
Nine thousand cameras per square city mile.
The downside is that the pricetag of living in such a utopia is 70% of what you earn. It's like working Monday through Thursday for the idle society waste and Friday is "all" yours. All yours. FREEDOM! Take your Friday pay to scrub the rent, the car payment, the weekly food and entertainment, the utilities, the blown head gasket.
And then give yourself a HUGE pat on the back for Mon-Thu. The cows laying at home heavy with seventh and eighth child really appreciate your effort. The prisoners in jails around the country love your benevolent magnificence. The elected leaders appreciate your benefit toward carpeting the foyer of their third home out in the bay.
And delude yourself into believing you actually care about those lounging cows pushing out children like guppies. Convince yourself that your contribution to the street thugs and illegals is right -- in a humanitarian sense. You are such a nice guy.
But don't ever go back to live there. You'll get your throat slit. Ain't freedom spectacular?
Re: The Cost of Freedom
Almost forgot.
If it weren't for easy pussi, cheap khao-pat and ten dollar hotels, Thailand would be nothing more than an extension of Laos. Show me a person who comes to Thailand for the temples and I'll show you a person who should have gone to Tokyo or Beijing.
If it weren't for easy pussi, cheap khao-pat and ten dollar hotels, Thailand would be nothing more than an extension of Laos. Show me a person who comes to Thailand for the temples and I'll show you a person who should have gone to Tokyo or Beijing.
Re: The Cost of Freedom
For those that are bothered can I suggest they Google the lyrics of Neil Young's Rockin' in the Free World, read, and then reconsider repatriation. Things haven't changed that much in the 20 years since the song was written.
Re: The Cost of Freedom
Barstool if you are truly serious, which I doubt, you are the first person I have ever met who can make any sense out of any of Neil Young's lyrics. Being that he was totally stoned when he wrote most of that crap. Don't get me wrong, I am a fan, I love his music, still listen to it all the time. It's just that the lyrics make no sense at all. Unless you are high on acid, mushrooms, etc.
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Re: The Cost of Freedom
Christ Texpat, don’t tell me that you have just posted derogatory slander about your homeland, the land of the free, the saviours of the world, the modern day ‘Uebermensch?’ God bless America and all that.....Texpat wrote:Depends what you want.
Some people yearn to be surrounded by whining, petty, slack-jaws. It makes them feel right at home.
Back in the land-o-plenty where any layabout scumbag can score a free house and a job from which to embezzle.
Nine thousand cameras per square city mile.
The downside is that the pricetag of living in such a utopia is 70% of what you earn. It's like working Monday through Thursday for the idle society waste and Friday is "all" yours. All yours. FREEDOM! Take your Friday pay to scrub the rent, the car payment, the weekly food and entertainment, the utilities, the blown head gasket.
And then give yourself a HUGE pat on the back for Mon-Thu. The cows laying at home heavy with seventh and eighth child really appreciate your effort. The prisoners in jails around the country love your benevolent magnificence. The elected leaders appreciate your benefit toward carpeting the foyer of their third home out in the bay.
And delude yourself into believing you actually care about those lounging cows pushing out children like guppies. Convince yourself that your contribution to the street thugs and illegals is right -- in a humanitarian sense. You are such a nice guy.
But don't ever go back to live there. You'll get your throat slit. Ain't freedom spectacular?
Not a regular poster on here but read a lot and you struck me as anally patriotic, to the point of sprouting so much pro US BS all of the time and hater of all other Western countries, this is against the grain for you eh?.
No offence intended, just an observation. You have a nice day now!!!!!
Re: The Cost of Freedom
Hi Jimbo.
KORITFW appeared on his Freedom album released around 1989 when the communist block was crumbling. The point of the song was that all is not so brilliant as it's cracked up to be in the West ie USA, UK, (then) West Germany etc with verses addressing pollution, homelessness, drug-addiction .. nothing heavy, just allusions. Apparently he gave up mushrooms for the composing of the album .. !!
The point of my post was that the "west" or "home" is not what it is cracked up to be and there is virtually no chance of ever seeing my repatriation to that small rock north north-west of France.
BTW, the aforementioned track is arguably one of the most decent rock songs ever .. surely you must agree
KORITFW appeared on his Freedom album released around 1989 when the communist block was crumbling. The point of the song was that all is not so brilliant as it's cracked up to be in the West ie USA, UK, (then) West Germany etc with verses addressing pollution, homelessness, drug-addiction .. nothing heavy, just allusions. Apparently he gave up mushrooms for the composing of the album .. !!
The point of my post was that the "west" or "home" is not what it is cracked up to be and there is virtually no chance of ever seeing my repatriation to that small rock north north-west of France.
BTW, the aforementioned track is arguably one of the most decent rock songs ever .. surely you must agree
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Re: The Cost of Freedom
I think you have been away from your original country for a long time. Things have changed a great deal in the west, not for the good. You can go back but don't expect life to be like it was before. Very expensive,way too many laws and rules, feminism and political correctness and a lot of overworked stressed out people struggling to make a living. I am from Canada and my wages have gone up about 70% in the last 25 years and the cost of everything here has risen about 400% to 500%. The middleclass is being eliminated and crime and lawlessnes is on the rise as well. Plenty of scams here as well. Lying politicians and in B.C. where I am from the government is pretty much a dictatorship. Thailand has it's issues but I feel more freedom there. I balance my life with 6 months in each country every year and try to see the good in both. I could retire now in Thailand but definately not in Canada.
Re: The Cost of Freedom
Bad mouth America are you nuts they give me money every month they are wonderful, gave me the freedom not live there to boot. What's to complain about
I have to disagree with you JimboLV sounds to me like he hasn't lived here long enough to realize it's home.
You know I knew I would get homesick a time goes along bad memory's are replaced by the fun times. So I took the time to write down exactly why I left, first four years I had to review that form time to time. Haven't looked at it in years.
Social outcast that one is interesting, just how much socializing did you do there, other then my job and dating I didn't do much never had the time. If you need that contact and don't want to go to the bars, at one time I got a bowling activity started here. Back won't handle that anymore so I had to stop. Golf lots of guy play here, hey you don't know how I never did, but it was fun to talk the guys while I chased that little white ball. For me it's riding I get all the social activity I want through that. If there is not a ride planned and I want to get together with the guys to share my hobby, I put a ride together. Your only a social outcast if you choose to be. But, don't sit and wait on it, do something for yourself and create it. If you can't make the effort then you have what you earned.
I have two grand children I haven't seen yet. I would love to. Have the money set aside to bring everybody to come here for a visit. Why haven't I went there, because my daughters are working they don't have time. Just like I didn't when I lived there.
Be careful what you wish for you might just get it.
I have to disagree with you JimboLV sounds to me like he hasn't lived here long enough to realize it's home.
You know I knew I would get homesick a time goes along bad memory's are replaced by the fun times. So I took the time to write down exactly why I left, first four years I had to review that form time to time. Haven't looked at it in years.
Social outcast that one is interesting, just how much socializing did you do there, other then my job and dating I didn't do much never had the time. If you need that contact and don't want to go to the bars, at one time I got a bowling activity started here. Back won't handle that anymore so I had to stop. Golf lots of guy play here, hey you don't know how I never did, but it was fun to talk the guys while I chased that little white ball. For me it's riding I get all the social activity I want through that. If there is not a ride planned and I want to get together with the guys to share my hobby, I put a ride together. Your only a social outcast if you choose to be. But, don't sit and wait on it, do something for yourself and create it. If you can't make the effort then you have what you earned.
I have two grand children I haven't seen yet. I would love to. Have the money set aside to bring everybody to come here for a visit. Why haven't I went there, because my daughters are working they don't have time. Just like I didn't when I lived there.
Be careful what you wish for you might just get it.
Re: The Cost of Freedom
freedom?????????Barstool wrote:For those that are bothered can I suggest they Google the lyrics of Neil Young's Rockin' in the Free World, read, and then reconsider repatriation. Things haven't changed that much in the 20 years since the song was written.
"The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind"
Re: The Cost of Freedom
An interesting Topic =D>