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Very Cute and Surreal: 6 Year Old Prince on First Solo Public Engagement

by derekwong28
12 replies
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There was a full military band and guard of honor waiting for the arrival of the 6 year old prince of Thailand. He seemed a but bewildered and was sucking his thumb as he left the car. But it is just surreal seeing all these adults kneeling and prostrating before him.

In Thailand, you are supposed never to be higher than a Royal person's head. This would be very difficult to do for a 6 year old. Later in the series as the prince was about to leave, the whole audience knelt down. I just can't imagine what it is like for his teachers at his school or kindergarten!
  • Profile picture of the author spotwing
    That's just not normal. Crazy...
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  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    If a people choose to honor royalty in their country that's great, but that stuff about never being higher than a Royal person's head is silly - as far as I'm concerned.

    I'm not sure what type of gov Thailand has but...

    ...I see nothing wrong with a constitutional monarchy type of arrangement for those that are in favor of it.

    Since there is royalty in Thailand, do they also have the equivalent of counts, dukes etc.?


    All The Best!!


    TL
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    "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    TL, you can't have a democratic monarchy unless the monarch agrees!

    Frankly, I think it is nice to be able to respect royalty, etc... Customs are nice. But they should NEVER fawn over a child such as this so openly and freely. Eventually, such kids may develop a temperment that would not only alienate society and the worlds respect for the country, but ALSO their ability to lead. I don't think they treat young UK royalty like that. GRANTED, they could show UK royalty a bit more respect, but UK royalty COULD be more royal, if you know what I mean.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      TL, you can't have a democratic monarchy unless the monarch agrees!

      Frankly, I think it is nice to be able to respect royalty, etc... Customs are nice. But they should NEVER fawn over a child such as this so openly and freely. Eventually, such kids may develop a temperment that would not only alienate society and the worlds respect for the country, but ALSO their ability to lead. I don't think they treat young UK royalty like that. GRANTED, they could show UK royalty a bit more respect, but UK royalty COULD be more royal, if you know what I mean.

      Steve
      I don't know about that democratic monarchy you mentioned, but the Brits have a "constitutional monarchy" and it gradually came into being whether the royal family wanted it or not.

      The royal family now has ceremonial power and not actual political power as in the past.

      I suspect the happenings of the French Revolution had a lot to do with the Brits moving towards that form of gov.

      I also suspect one of the main reasons the Brits kept their royal family is because without a royal family you can't have barons and dukes etc. and Britain just wouldn't be Britain to the well-healed, without that arrangement.

      Of course, I could be wrong.

      All The Best!!

      TL
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      "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

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  • Profile picture of the author Patrician
    He is after all, just a kid. A really cute kid.

    It is refreshing that he showed up in his casual clothes and tennis shoes, showing they are letting him be somewhat natural. (I loved it when he stumbled coming off the 'throne').

    Personally I think it is blasphemous to bow down to any human being, I don't care who it is. (although I love just a quick bow of a head to everyone as is the custom in many Asian cultures, because it shows humility).

    However I think all things Thailand are fabulous - let me count the ways - the arts - music, cuisine, dance - so I am with them whatever they want to do.

    I hope they don't make this little cutie up tight, that's all.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Patrician View Post

      I hope they don't make this little cutie up tight, that's all.

      Yeah, THAT is what I hope also!

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
    I for one, have never understood the concept or custom of "royalty" -
    It's all very silly and archaic...
    Unless someone has the absolute power to chop off your head at a moments whim...:rolleyes:
    What really is the point?
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by MoneyMagnetMagnate View Post

      I for one, have never understood the concept or custom of "royalty" -
      It's all very silly and archaic...
      Unless someone has the absolute power to chop off your head at a moments whim...:rolleyes:
      What really is the point?
      Yeah, it is funny. In MOST cases, perhaps all, that I have heard, communities, especially families FOUGHT for control over land. Eventually, a person gets control of a LARGE area, and rules it. Other areas may be friends allowed to do likewise, or enemies that aren't considered to be worth fighting. Anyway, they generally have kids who then inherit the position of some part of it. I guess in SOME ways the idea of such graces has been with the idea to gain favor, etc... TODAY, it is just custom in many areas.

      HECK, some do that in the US with politicians, etc... Just saying...

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author JennySweets
        As a mom of 3, one who is 6 right now, looking at the actions and expressions on that boys face just made me feel sorry for him. That nervousness when he got out of the car. The uncertainty as he had his fingers in his mouth, standing near the chair looking around at the wide expanse and all of the people.. then him sitting there trying not to fidget, he looked like there were a million places he'd rather be.

        That's a whole lot of pressure on someone that young, especially if they have a quiet, sensitive spirit.

        However even a quiet, sensitive spirit can turn into a raging egomaniac with enough of the right (wrong) kind of treatment.

        I just wanted to run up to him, swoop him up, tickle and make him laugh, then plunk him down in his chair and sit on the floor next to him so I could hold his hand if he needed reassurance.

        It must be awfully lonely to be worshiped and restricted in that way.
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        • Profile picture of the author seasoned
          Originally Posted by JennySweets View Post

          As a mom of 3, one who is 6 right now, looking at the actions and expressions on that boys face just made me feel sorry for him. That nervousness when he got out of the car. The uncertainty as he had his fingers in his mouth, standing near the chair looking around at the wide expanse and all of the people.. then him sitting there trying not to fidget, he looked like there were a million places he'd rather be.

          That's a whole lot of pressure on someone that young, especially if they have a quiet, sensitive spirit.

          However even a quiet, sensitive spirit can turn into a raging egomaniac with enough of the right (wrong) kind of treatment.

          I just wanted to run up to him, swoop him up, tickle and make him laugh, then plunk him down in his chair and sit on the floor next to him so I could hold his hand if he needed reassurance.

          It must be awfully lonely to be worshiped and restricted in that way.
          Yeah, that's another thing. It is like those shows were a prince or princess or some such is left alone in an area, sees kids playing and decides to endanger it ALL just to join the group. Adults NEVER seem to remember THAT part of their lives. Like when my mother took me with her to a store for what seemed like HOURS to get shoes for her. Toby Keith shows the SAME thing in his video for "I wanna talk about ME"!


          Yeah, the prince is probably treated like a kid by his parents, and even his TEACHERS may treat him normally, although they are probably fairer. MANY politicians and royalty and RICH people don't understand it, but you HAVE to be treated at a certain level as a kid. OH, show them respect, GREAT! I think ALL kids should get respect they are due. But that does NOT mean doing everything for them, primping them, or fawning over them. HECK, even an EMPORER can't be 100% certain that they won't one day be left to their own devices. OH, it IS rare, but it HAS happened before. And how can they understand the actions and all of the people if they don't understand the needs? HOW can they manage millions or more if they haven't managed a budget?

          A chinese friend told me a joke.

          One day, a chinese prince had to learn math. After all, he had to deal with money, etc.... So he went to class. The teacher showed him the symbols for 1,2, and 3. The prince, seeing the pattern, told the teacher to stop. When it came time to write a number, it was a big one like 1000,000! He had never discussed numbers over 3, or place. You see, numbers from 1-3 in chinese DO follow a pattern. Others DON'T!

          Chinese numerals - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

          So SOMETIMES, a teacher even has to say NO!


          Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    The royal family does have some political power. The queen, for example, has some power over the major corporations. And she IS the main ambassador to dignitaries in the country. I'm not sure of the power she wields, but it IS far more than many would think. As I recall, they also have some say in the military.

    But yeah, they used to be like kings and queens. NOW they are more like the president and vice president. In the case of a tie in the US senate, the vice president can vote to break the tie. In the case of a questionable merger, etc... in the UK, the Queen can also override the decision. Interestingly, according to wikipedia, the EU wanted to get rid of that power but later decided it would be best if most was retained. The queen also selects the PM.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
    Thailand does have a constitutional monarchy but the King retains huge influence in the country. The King was allegedly involved in a military coup against his own prime minister in 2006. The royal family is protected by one of the most severe lese majeste laws in the world. A blog owner was jailed recently just by pointing a link to a banned book about the King. So if can definitely be reported for lese majeste if you do not show respect in front of royalty.

    To show how bad a effect this fawning could have, look no further than the father of the kid. He forced his wife to go topless at a hedonistic party for his dog several years ago. Besides womanizing on a grand scale, he is reported to have a violent temper.

    http://www.warriorforum.com/off-topi...party-dog.html

    In the past in such absolute monarchies, very few people dared to speak openly and give honest advice in front of the monarch. A good example is China where there were very few great emperors, but lots of lazy sexual perverts who preferred to spend time with their 3000+ harem.
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