From Ancient Wounds to Modern Bridges
On a recent podcast episode, Kenneth Wong explores the complex relationship between Thai and Burmese people. Burmese individuals aspiring to live in Thailand permanently face significant uncertainty due to unfamiliarity with Thai immigration laws. Besides legal challenges, there's considerable racism and historical tension influencing Thai perceptions of Burmese people. For instance, the fall of Ayutthaya in the 18th century, when the Burmese King invaded Thailand, destroyed the city, and forced many prominent Thai individuals to relocate to Burma, left a lasting traumatic mark on Thai history. While this event is seen as a triumph in Burmese history, for Thai people, it was a devastating period akin to other colonial occupations.
“Many [young Burmese activists] have witnessed brutality and torture and have suffered losses over the past three years that we probably cannot imagine encountering in our entire lifetimes.”
Despite these challenges, Kenneth was hopeful during his trip, observing varying attitudes towards Burmese people in Thailand today. He found that while some Thai individuals hold onto historical grudges, others, particularly the younger and more educated generation, are more open-minded and progressive. Meeting young Thai people who study Burmese culture gave him hope that future generations will be less likely to harbor historical grudges and more inclined to foster understanding and positive relations between the two groups.
Kenneth also shared his personal journey of falling in love with Thai culture and language. Before his visit, he saw Thailand merely as a fun tourist destination. However, his trip captivated him so much that he decided to learn Thai, buying books, children's alphabet books, and signing up for a Thai language podcast, making Thai study a lifelong endeavor. He believes that similar experiences could happen to Thai people who visit Burma and fall in love with its culture and people. However, current circumstances make this difficult.
The political situation in Myanmar, under a brutal military junta, deters foreigners from visiting and falling in love with the country. This situation impacts Burmese language and cultural studies, as PhD students and researchers cannot visit to study historical records, and potential visitors are discouraged by the tragic and violent news from the country.
Kenneth emphasized that knowing the language is crucial for understanding why the military has ruled for so long and for helping Burmese refugees at the border. The current political situation makes it hard for tourists to visit Myanmar, reducing the number of people interested in learning the language. However, researchers and NGO workers still need to learn Burmese for their work, especially when communicating directly with people affected by the conflict. He pointed out that after the conflict in Ukraine, more people became interested in learning Russian and Ukrainian. He hoped that despite the difficult situation in Myanmar, more people would see the value in learning Burmese, allowing them to communicate directly with Burmese people and gain a clearer understanding of their experiences without needing an interpreter.
He considered that learning a language is more than just translating words; it’s about understanding and connecting with the culture. Some phrases, like the Japanese “itadakimasu” or the Burmese “ah nar deh,” have special meanings tied to their cultures that can’t be translated directly into other languages. To truly learn a language, one must dive into the culture and its customs. This way, we don’t just speak the language but also start to think and feel like a native speaker. As we become more fluent and immersed in the culture, our feelings and attitudes toward the country and its people can change significantly, creating a deeper connection.
Kenneth was inspired by the young Burmese activists and refugees who, even in desperate and uncertain situations, were turning around and helping those less fortunate. “One of the actresses that I met, a young Burmese activist who used to belong to the Burmese Student Union, fled to Thailand after the coup. She couldn't attend one of the meetings I had at a tea shop because she was distributing Christmas gifts to some of the needy people in Thailand. When I hear stories like that, I have nothing but admiration for them. Despite their difficult situations, they find pleasure and reward in selfless acts like that.”
“I believe these are the people who will lead the nation-building efforts in the post-coup, democratic Burma that we envision. They are the kind of young people who can foster goodwill between Thailand and Burma. If they go back to Burma, they may retain fond memories of the good experiences they had in Thailand. Or, if they continue to stay in Thailand and do something meaningful with their lives, they can facilitate cultural exchanges between Thai and Burmese people.”
He shared that even though young Burmese activists and refugees have been through a lot and show signs of trauma, they can still find joy in simple things like a cup of tea and donuts. This resilience gave him hope for the future. “I am particularly hopeful and full of admiration for these young people because they have shouldered an unfair burden during this conflict. Many of them have witnessed brutality and torture and have suffered losses over the past three years that we probably cannot imagine encountering in our entire lifetimes. Despite showing signs of mental and physical trauma, they can still wake up, smile, and take simple pleasure in a cup of Burmese tea and fried donuts at a Burmese tea shop. So, I am hopeful.”