Posted 2009-05-30 20:31:47
 Mapguy, on 2009-05-30 16:19:25, said:
Look at the consulate itself. Ever visited there? It is like entering a fort!
Well, happy birthday, America, but perhaps it should be a time for reflection, not celebration. Why indeed the need for all this security? What is the face America presents to the world as it passes by the consulate or visits it? How did it come to be that?
First, for your information, the US Consulate Office in Chiang Mai once was the royal residence of the last prince of Northern Thailand, Chao Kaew Nawarat, the history of the Consulate allows its staff to justifiably say they work in a very special place.
Second, America need not be 'concerned' about how it is viewed. Where would Europe be without America, or many nations for that matter? Who offered assistance to the extent America did following the Tsunami, or any other natural disaster worldwide. But did any foreign governments assist America during the flooding in Louisiana, or 9/11? No offers of assistance from anyone, but it is a time for "reflection, not celebration" during America's Independence Day? Are you serious?
Edited by venturalaw, 2009-05-30 20:33:15.
Posted 2009-05-30 22:34:03
Mapguy, on 2009-05-30 16:19:25, said: First, I want to say I appreciate all the thoughtful and hard work being done by the American veterans of foreign wars. They are assisted by the American Consulate, but the VFW started doing some of the scut work last year. As such parties go, it is pretty nice; or at least it was when held on the consulate grounds.
What is a shame is that such extraordinary security precautions must apparently be put into play. This was also evident at the consulate parties. Indeed, I suspect that the reason that the party is being held off consulate grounds has to do with the Americans' continuing passion for security.
Look at the consulate itself. Ever visited there? It is like entering a fort!
Well, happy birthday, America, but perhaps it should be a time for reflection, not celebration. Why indeed the need for all this security? What is the face America presents to the world as it passes by the consulate or visits it? How did it come to be that?
You'll notice the Chinese Consulate is also heavily guarded.
Posted 2009-05-30 23:01:35
I won't be there this summer but my Thai wife, who has a green card (permanent residency) and our 19 month old son, who is a U.S. citizen, will be in Chiang Mai for the month of July. I know she and some Thai friends could go as "guests" of my son. But wouldn't someone with a U.S. green card be allowed in on their own merits?
Posted 2009-05-30 23:16:35
venturalaw, on 2009-05-30 21:31:47, said: Mapguy, on 2009-05-30 16:19:25, said: Look at the consulate itself. Ever visited there? It is like entering a fort!
Well, happy birthday, America, but perhaps it should be a time for reflection, not celebration. Why indeed the need for all this security? What is the face America presents to the world as it passes by the consulate or visits it? How did it come to be that?
First, for your information, the US Consulate Office in Chiang Mai once was the royal residence of the last prince of Northern Thailand, Chao Kaew Nawarat, the history of the Consulate allows its staff to justifiably say they work in a very special place.
Second, America need not be 'concerned' about how it is viewed. Where would Europe be without America, or many nations for that matter? Who offered assistance to the extent America did following the Tsunami, or any other natural disaster worldwide. But did any foreign governments assist America during the flooding in Louisiana, or 9/11? No offers of assistance from anyone, but it is a time for "reflection, not celebration" during America's Independence Day? Are you serious?
We as a people are well intentioned in helping this rock we live on to be a better place but all the efforts only gets us condemnation.
It is time to take care of ourselves. It looks like rain. You other tribes will have to make do on your own. Chok Dee !!
Posted 2009-05-30 23:28:24
Well, I --- the dolt --- is back! I wasn't so naïve to suspect I wouldn't get a blast --- or much more --- back!
By the way, before going on, this is about the "American Fortress Chiang Mai" as well as about the American image and its state-directed diplomatic compounds elsewhere.
I can't say that Past President George W. Bush or his vice-president, Cheney, did anything to improve things. I wouldn't have voted for them! I most emphatically never supported their approach to the world. Nor, of course, would I support or condone the terrorists in the news today. But there is a bit more history, present interpretations of which we pass each day, and future consequences) to what we see in the American official presence in Chiang Mai than that!
In recent years, I have been in a few American consulates and embassies, including one which was bombed! I think some others were bombed or attacked somehow, but I have forgotten the details.
My point is that America has done a lot to make itself a target, and embassies and consulates are easy targets It wasn't Bush 43. It takes time to build up such hate that people would bomb embassies and consulates and softer targets not obviously protected by armed forces. UG probably has a simplistic book on this on his racks entitled The Ugly American written by by Eugene Burdick and William Lederer in 1958. That's a long time ago! Even though it is simplistic, it does give you a clue why America is a target for many people instead of being a friend. There is, of course, a considerable literature to elaborate on that theme.
Back to the consulate fortress in Chiang Mai, if you travel around the world and compare the compounds (like the Chiang Mai compound) with those of similar importance of other nations, you will see a huge difference regarding their appearance and security when compared to that of other countries. You don't know whether to laugh or cry!
Okay. So, do some local research on your own, or report on your experience. Check out the diplomatic facilities of various countries in Chiang Mai. What do you find? And I am NOT talking about how expensive various paperwork tasks might be, as I have seen with reference to the British consulate in town!! People from Oz and a lot of others have to go to Bangkok to get anything serious done! Be thankful! Anyway, no need to identify the country. Don't, in fact. No need to.
Posted 2009-05-30 23:36:24
getgoin, on 2009-05-30 22:34:03, said: Mapguy, on 2009-05-30 16:19:25, said: First, I want to say I appreciate all the thoughtful and hard work being done by the American veterans of foreign wars. They are assisted by the American Consulate, but the VFW started doing some of the scut work last year. As such parties go, it is pretty nice; or at least it was when held on the consulate grounds.
What is a shame is that such extraordinary security precautions must apparently be put into play. This was also evident at the consulate parties. Indeed, I suspect that the reason that the party is being held off consulate grounds has to do with the Americans' continuing passion for security.
Look at the consulate itself. Ever visited there? It is like entering a fort!
Well, happy birthday, America, but perhaps it should be a time for reflection, not celebration. Why indeed the need for all this security? What is the face America presents to the world as it passes by the consulate or visits it? How did it come to be that?
You'll notice the Chinese Consulate is also heavily guarded.
Yes, it is! Do you know anything about Thai-Chinese relations, diplomatically and ethnically, in the past?
Posted 2009-05-30 23:38:50
venturalaw, on 2009-05-30 14:31:47, said: Mapguy, on 2009-05-30 16:19:25, said: Look at the consulate itself. Ever visited there? It is like entering a fort!
Well, happy birthday, America, but perhaps it should be a time for reflection, not celebration. Why indeed the need for all this security? What is the face America presents to the world as it passes by the consulate or visits it? How did it come to be that?
First, for your information, the US Consulate Office in Chiang Mai once was the royal residence of the last prince of Northern Thailand, Chao Kaew Nawarat, the history of the Consulate allows its staff to justifiably say they work in a very special place.
Second, America need not be 'concerned' about how it is viewed. Where would Europe be without America, or many nations for that matter? Who offered assistance to the extent America did following the Tsunami, or any other natural disaster worldwide.
As a matter of information the US government pledged US$134 M for tsunami relief. The EU pledged US$154M, the UK US$137M and Japan US$502M.
Posted 2009-05-30 23:52:09
endure, on 2009-05-31 00:38:50, said: venturalaw, on 2009-05-30 14:31:47, said: Mapguy, on 2009-05-30 16:19:25, said: Look at the consulate itself. Ever visited there? It is like entering a fort!
Well, happy birthday, America, but perhaps it should be a time for reflection, not celebration. Why indeed the need for all this security? What is the face America presents to the world as it passes by the consulate or visits it? How did it come to be that?
First, for your information, the US Consulate Office in Chiang Mai once was the royal residence of the last prince of Northern Thailand, Chao Kaew Nawarat, the history of the Consulate allows its staff to justifiably say they work in a very special place.
Second, America need not be 'concerned' about how it is viewed. Where would Europe be without America, or many nations for that matter? Who offered assistance to the extent America did following the Tsunami, or any other natural disaster worldwide.
As a matter of information the US government pledged US$134 M for tsunami relief. The EU pledged US$154M, the UK US$137M and Japan US$502M.
Posted 2009-05-31 00:03:11
cmdream, on 2009-05-30 17:52:09, said: endure, on 2009-05-31 00:38:50, said: venturalaw, on 2009-05-30 14:31:47, said: Mapguy, on 2009-05-30 16:19:25, said: Look at the consulate itself. Ever visited there? It is like entering a fort!
Well, happy birthday, America, but perhaps it should be a time for reflection, not celebration. Why indeed the need for all this security? What is the face America presents to the world as it passes by the consulate or visits it? How did it come to be that?
First, for your information, the US Consulate Office in Chiang Mai once was the royal residence of the last prince of Northern Thailand, Chao Kaew Nawarat, the history of the Consulate allows its staff to justifiably say they work in a very special place.
Second, America need not be 'concerned' about how it is viewed. Where would Europe be without America, or many nations for that matter? Who offered assistance to the extent America did following the Tsunami, or any other natural disaster worldwide.
As a matter of information the US government pledged US$134 M for tsunami relief. The EU pledged US$154M, the UK US$137M and Japan US$502M.
Posted 2009-05-31 00:06:58
I've also read, but I can't provide a link for it, that Japan is the only country that has actually coughed up every last penny that they promised.
Edited by endure, 2009-05-31 00:07:45.
Posted 2009-05-31 00:09:49
endure, on 2009-05-30 23:38:50, said: venturalaw, on 2009-05-30 14:31:47, said: Mapguy, on 2009-05-30 16:19:25, said: Look at the consulate itself. Ever visited there? It is like entering a fort!
Well, happy birthday, America, but perhaps it should be a time for reflection, not celebration. Why indeed the need for all this security? What is the face America presents to the world as it passes by the consulate or visits it? How did it come to be that?
First, for your information, the US Consulate Office in Chiang Mai once was the royal residence of the last prince of Northern Thailand, Chao Kaew Nawarat, the history of the Consulate allows its staff to justifiably say they work in a very special place.
Second, America need not be 'concerned' about how it is viewed. Where would Europe be without America, or many nations for that matter? Who offered assistance to the extent America did following the Tsunami, or any other natural disaster worldwide.
As a matter of information the US government pledged US$134 M for tsunami relief. The EU pledged US$154M, the UK US$137M and Japan US$502M.
Total US dollar tsunami relief figures here are not particularly convincing of American generosity. Express them on a per capita basis relative to the population of the donor, and America among various nations will probably come up down the list! Not to be cynical, but I think a more meaningful expression of helpfulness might be in comparing the number of tourists from each nation in that place --- or in Thailand generally --- relative to the amount of aid provided by that country. You might find that countries like The Netherlands and Sweden, for example, were a lot more generous per person than America and others.
Anyway, is there some flag waving going around here on this topic, or am I mistaken?!
Posted 2009-05-31 00:10:29
And a bit more up to date:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6789555/
It is good to see folks working so hard to destroy this ridiculous thread.
And cmdream, it is posturing "American Exceptionalism" speeches like your's that put people off about America - and I am one of them - and I AM one!
Please take your ravings back home to the Ozarks, willya? 
Posted 2009-05-31 00:13:50
Total funds pledged by the US including donations was over 1 Billion Dollars. Funds actually committed was 792,000,000.00.
//edit - Dustoff is right, we are steering off the topic of the party and being a bit too ultra nationalistic. Or was that sarcasm cmdream? So, back on topic and the hotdogs/hamburgers/budweiser please.
Posted 2009-05-31 00:17:27
So, what does all this have to do with the inane rant against Americans being able to go the 4th of July celebration? Does the OP hold a similar grudge about Bastille Day?
I vote this one of the top ten most ridiculous threads ever for the CM forum. And you guys generally produce some doozies.
///CLOSED///
|
Sponsored by ...
|
0
This topic is locked
