Reference: Hypocrisy about sex damages society's health, Bangkok Post, January 9, 2007

Khun Jon Ungphakorn tells it like it is in the tradition of the great Howard Cossell and points out the contradictions between what Thais believe to be their traditional values and how they actually live their lives (Hypocrisy about sex damages society's health, Bangkok Post, January 9, 2007). His courage and sincerity are admirable but it must be said that whatever the reality on the ground may be, all societies need a moral compass just to define what it is that they aspire to. Traditional Thai values do serve that purpose in spite of the contradictions described in the article. In all the countries where I have lived I have always found that traditional values serve only as a reference and do not necessarily reflect reality. However, the problem of Thai men fathering and abandoning children is a serious one and requires urgent attention. The single moms are left to fend for themselves and even ostracized by a male dominated society as undesirable women with a "history". Many of them end up resorting to prostitution or concubinage just to raise the child. I know of no greater institutionalized social injustice.

Cha-am Jamal
Thailand