Thai and Lao, Thai and Lao Options

[alkrub]

Hi

I just have found this web board a few days ago. After reviewing many posts, it does really broaden up my perspective of Thai and Lao relation. There are many things that never came across my mind before and there are many things that people really misunderstand about it.

I got stunt when I read the post that mentioned people in Lao really have a genuine dislike feeling for Thai people and especially the isan people who don’t admit themselves as a Laotian. This is very bad. I hope this feeling is only limited to limited number of Lao people


I really hope Lao people to understand isan people. Especially nowadays we are very mixed blood. We never thought about something like” I am 50% Thai 25% Chinese 25 % Lao or whatsoever. We will say something like my mum was from Surin, dad was from Ubon, and I was born in Bangkok.

I‘ve tried to rationalized that and I thought about many Asian born American who doesn’t feel that they are Asian anymore. Their parents was born there, they themselves was born there. There is very weak family link to the motherland. They felt that they are American not Asian.

In Chinese term we call that people “a banana” That’s mean outside you look real yellow but inside you are real white.


I think that Thai government have done a very good job for this. We always have taught that we all are Thai and all people in Thailand have the only one race which is Thai. This is because of the reason of unity. Everyone have the same opportunity whoever you are and wherever you from because we are all equal. You are a Thai. There are very no racial discrimination, I think it is good. We look almost the same anyway.

Over here in Thailand if you come from isan we wont call yourself a Laotian. You will call yourself as an isan people or which the province you are from like you are Surin people, Ubon people, Chiang Mai people, Phuket people etc.

For me myself I am a Thai-born Chinese, 100% pure Chinese blood, but I rarely referred myself as a Chinese but an Ubon people. I was born and live here in Ubonrachtani the border of Thailand and Loa. I do speak Thai and Isan alternately with my family but not Chinese. My older generation does speak Chinese but very rare for my generation.

There were a times on my visit in Lao and I found that a Lao culture over here in isan is even stronger than in the motherland itself (just like in china, many of my friends’ family, I found that they don’t pay much time for traditional Chinese activities like my family do) I can hardly find a somtum (papaya salad) shop to eat. There are much more “Pho”( Vietnamese noodle) than somtum shops . In Ubon where I live a somtum shop and somtum street vender is everywhere. This applies the same to Bangkok and other provinces. Isan food is popular whether not you are isan people.

For the culture side, over here in Thailand “morlum” and “luktung” (Lao style song) always get a very big hit. Many non-isan people like it too. It’s always popular for all time. Many morlum and luktung singers got very rich with it. This is not because they are proud of Lao culture but just because it is very enjoyable. whoever you are you can enjoy it. But in Lao side itself I haven’t see it that much. Many things seems to be very much influence by Vietnamese culture and Thai culture

[PervertBurger]

Well..Lao & Thais share history together..I'm not too sure why Laos don't like them..I think it has something to do with assimilation..if this is the case I would hate Thai too.
Its important to note though that the very first Lao king ever was Thai. He had commanded Laos before it even became known as Laos.

As a result of the expansion and contraction of mandala, places of importance were known by more than one name. Muang Sua was the name of Luang Phrabang following its conquest in 698 by a Thai prince, Khun Lo, who seized his opportunity when the king of Nanzhao was engaged elsewhere. Khun Lo had been awarded the town by his father, Khun Borom, who is associated with the Lao legend of the creation of the world, which the Lao share with the Shan and other peoples of the region. Khun Lo established a dynasty whose fifteen rulers reigned over an independent Muang Sua for the better part of a century.

[alkrub]

Well..Lao & Thais share history together..I'm not too sure why Laos don't like them..I think it has something to do with assimilation..if this is the case I would hate Thai too.
Its important to note though that the very first Lao king ever was Thai. He had commanded Laos before it even became known as Laos.

As a result of the expansion and contraction of mandala, places of importance were known by more than one name. Muang Sua was the name of Luang Phrabang following its conquest in 698 by a Thai prince, Khun Lo, who seized his opportunity when the king of Nanzhao was engaged elsewhere. Khun Lo had been awarded the town by his father, Khun Borom, who is associated with the Lao legend of the creation of the world, which the Lao share with the Shan and other peoples of the region. Khun Lo established a dynasty whose fifteen rulers reigned over an independent Muang Sua for the better part of a century.

???

no i dodnt think it relating to the history. i think some lao people dislike isan people for not acknowleage thei (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_neutral.gif) r own race .

[PervertBurger]

Oh yeah I know I just wanted to note it (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif)

[Vince]

alkrub, your story is very interesting. Thanks for sharing. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_wink.gif) (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_wink.gif) I hope those bashers read your story and see that ethnicity is up to oneself to decide.

Ethinicity is not always clear. That's the main reason everyone should have the right to say who they are. My friend in Bangkok is a descendant of a Persian Muslim family who came to Siam during Ayutthaya period. Her last name is clear that her father-side lineage was never discontinued. So should she call herself Thai or Persian? It's up to her !!! (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I myself might not be so "Thai." My great-great-grandfather came from China but his own son (my great-grandfather) discontinued the Chinese last name and totally adopted Thai culture. Even more confusing, the other half of my blood were the pale-skinned, brown-eyed people - definitely not physical traits of common Thai. So should claim I'm Chinese and return to use the abandoned Chinese last name? Or should I try to find out what race were my mysterious pale-skinned, brown-eyed ancestors on my mother side?

Well, I simply say I'm Thai. Not because what's in my blood or how I look like. But because I was born in Bangkok, was raised like Thai, think and act like Thai, and feel good to be Thai. So I'm Thai. It's that simple. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_wink.gif)

Let's share your stories. Who are your ancestors and how you define your ethnicity.

[alkrub]

hi vince

i am glad that someone appriciate my post. i wondered if anyone would care enough to finished my loooonnnggggggg ad. if anyone does that people is interesting already ! and further more you have a remark for it LOL

for me ,since i am 100% chinese blood, my family still keep so much chinese tradition. i still go to chineses temple on the special occation ( dont want to, but i have to). my mum was buried in chinese semetary. and my family is a sponsor to chinses temple in ubon it named after our chinese last name so i define myself as a thai with chineses blood.


however all of that is just the family thing that i have to do. but inside i feel that i am 100% thai. i love thailand and thai culture.

i was born and liv here in Ubon now

and how about you vince, where do you live at the moment?

[Rocky Cuong V]

man, what's with all these comparison topic lately.

[alkrub]

man, what's with all these comparison topic lately.

???what do u mean?

[Rocky Cuong V]

^ check around the forum..there is tone of alliance topics.

[Nung1]

its better than "bashing" tone. if we are lucky u can make a truce with all the cultural forums and put an end to the flame wars...

[PtrckHri]

Alkrub: where did you go in laos? I was in vieng chan and lunang prabang a few times. I remember seeing stands selling som tum, larb, ping kai, and others in every corner, at the markets (talaat sao and talaat laeng) and bus stops, although not as much as you would see in nong khai, thailand. The reason is that as for the lao food, most lao people rarely eat out, they prefer prepare those lao dishes themselves. If they eat out, it's usually for "pho" or sometning else, like khao poon (knom chin in thai) and other vietnamese or chinese food.

As for the music, the morlam and other traditional musics were almost dead when the communists took over. It has been revived and remains much more popular in the countryside, i.e., villages outside the cities. You see morlam of different types at every ceremony (to celebrate the wedding, birth, and death) and festivals. I agree with you that people in vieng chan, mostly the young ones, prefer watching thai tv and listening to thai lukthung.

[Vince]

I agree with you that people in vieng chan, mostly the young ones, prefer watching thai tv and listening to thai lukthung.

Kind of understand that. I watched American reality shows and series much more than Thai soap operas. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif) (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif) (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif)

[RockHeart]

Keeping in touch to altogether...Then it will be better in the future!!!!!!!!!!!! (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Bamboo]

I'm Lao and know alot of Lao people and nobody I know hate Thai people. But I have met some Thai people that didnt like Lao People.

[ER33]

I never hate lao people but sometimes annoyed, all of them seem to have a mindset that is Thai people
willing to look down them in every step they were.

:guitar: :singing: Oh my...no one can be down after going to the town..:headphones:


No one can look you down just only yourself!


(IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/hump.gif)

[chenko]

I'm Lao and know alot of Lao people and nobody I know hate Thai people. But I have met some Thai people that didnt like Lao People.

I come to Lao website ...

and found that some reply say they didn't like thai .

[penny lane]

lao people are so nice and friendly!

(IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) เบยลาว ROCKS!!! (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[dalawapo]

is that how u say Lao in thai script? how come u guys are writing in small font, it looks like u can barely read it>