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Why should we obey older people? Pratya Prachakrit from Thailand Photo: Zudzowne We believe that if old people order young people to do something, young people have to do whatever they want with no exception. One value of Thai culture that I do not accept is that young people in Thailand have to respect and obey old people all the time. We believe that if old people order young people to do something, young people have to do whatever they want with no exception. Also, when we have to make a decision and young people and old people have the opposite opinion, we must believe in the old people's opinion and then go for it. I strongly deny this value because young people are supposed to have their own opinions and they should be allowed to express themselves whenever they want. Sometimes young people can have good and reasonable ideas. In addition, old people may have a wrong opinion. If we know that it is wrong, why do we have to obey them? For example, if a child wants to study business, but his/her father forces him to study another major that he really does not like, he will not be happy if he has to do something that he feels against. So, we should allow the children to do whatever they want to do. However, old people should give them instructions and support their opinion if it is right. If this value in my country disappears, my country will develop more than the present because now we still believe old people, such as a Prime Minister. Now young people have no right to vote or make any decision for developing the country. Young people should have more responsibility,; they have knowledge but they do not have a chance to show their abilities, so we should give them some more chance. Return to: Cultural Glimpses | It's International | Home Page TOPICS Online Magazine ©1997-2009 - Sandy and Thomas Peters - topics.mag@gmail.com