FOR THAILAND, READ SIAM
One Thai historian has launched a campaign to get the Government to change the name of Thailand back to Siam, the name that was used until around 1939.
"People who have been part of our country have different ethnic, linguistic and cultural identities. Therefore, to reflect historical fact and the present reality, the name of the country should be Siam, not Thailand," historian Charnvit Kasetsiri wrote in an open letter issued yesterday and reported by The Nation.
Personally I think Siam conjures up a more romantic and historical image of this country, but what do you think? The costs of changing would be huge and I am not sure there will be any noticeable and instant benefits.
2 comments:
I think that the name Thailand has some negative connotations for many people here in in the Western world. I would prefer Siam - it seeems to be more honest and stable and a bit more friendly.
Teresa,
To me Siam conjures up images of The King and I, which will be the subject of a blog in the coming days.
Andrew.
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