Why do so many Thais, both old and young, always try to excuse this great countries deficiencies behind the “culture” argument?

From major matters like the treatment of the poor (by the lack of social welfare) to minor matters like the showing of ridiculously gruesome pictures on the front of newspapers.

Well my friends, slavery and sending little kids to work down mines used to be part of British and Western cultures (not a heritage I am proud of I would add) but it was WRONG so we changed it.

I a fed up to the back teeth of the paranoid reaction meted out to criticisms of Thailand and its ways. Read any teenage forum and when faced with criticism they ALWAYS react with “how dare you criticise us, its our culture”. Thailand is a wonderful place, full of wonderful people but if it really does want to move into the modern world (and sometimes they can’t seem to make up their minds if they do or not) then it has to move forward not remain static.

Many aspects of Thai “culture are well worth both fighting for and preserving but continually using the “culture” argument as a mere excuse is stretching the point to far.