admin
03-01-06, 06:03 AM
I am trying to find more details of why this image (http://www.2bangkok.com/images/britsout.jpg) is still hanging in an army camp, but perhaps the 2B forumers can comment on the following inquiry from a reader:
"I was wondering if there was a deeper explanation for the WW II era military poster featuring Thai/Japanese soldiers bayoneting the ass of a Brit (who looks like Churchill).
"I am aware of the severe angst created by historical foreign intervention in SE Asia and the lingering resentment of it in some regards, and I am also aware that Japan and Thailand were allies early in WW II, and that British and U.S. military forces clashed with the Thai on Thai soil in the early days of that conflict (The U.S. bombed, the Brits had infantry in the region).
"But I also know that the Free Thai Government set up headquarters in Washington, DC, shortly into the war, and that it worked hand in hand with the U.S. against the Japanese thereafter. Washington is not London, but they were allies. So it would seem that, despite the pre- and early WW II angst, that this type of sentiment might not be prevalent.
"Is it an anti-foreigner and/or pro nationalist sentiment from yesteryear that represents Thai nationalism today? Is it a pro Asia/anti “West” sentiment? And is it a nationalist military sentiment, or is it common throughout Thailand?"
"I was wondering if there was a deeper explanation for the WW II era military poster featuring Thai/Japanese soldiers bayoneting the ass of a Brit (who looks like Churchill).
"I am aware of the severe angst created by historical foreign intervention in SE Asia and the lingering resentment of it in some regards, and I am also aware that Japan and Thailand were allies early in WW II, and that British and U.S. military forces clashed with the Thai on Thai soil in the early days of that conflict (The U.S. bombed, the Brits had infantry in the region).
"But I also know that the Free Thai Government set up headquarters in Washington, DC, shortly into the war, and that it worked hand in hand with the U.S. against the Japanese thereafter. Washington is not London, but they were allies. So it would seem that, despite the pre- and early WW II angst, that this type of sentiment might not be prevalent.
"Is it an anti-foreigner and/or pro nationalist sentiment from yesteryear that represents Thai nationalism today? Is it a pro Asia/anti “West” sentiment? And is it a nationalist military sentiment, or is it common throughout Thailand?"