Thailand celebrates the 80th birthday of their beloved monarch
Today marks the 80th birthday of the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX). Thrust into the role at a tender 18 years of age when his older brother, King Ananda, was fatally shot. He became the ninth king in Thailand’s Chakri dynasty.
King Bhumibol is now the longest-serving monarch in the world, and one of the most beloved. I know what you’re thinking—”yeah, right, beloved-schmeloved, that’s just PR talk.” But seriously, the Thai people love this guy! During the two years and two months I lived in Thailand, I never once heard a bitter word against the monarch from friend or co-worker. Only grateful affection.
It’s an odd about face for a gal from the United States, where we could elect Santa Claus as president then end up with a breaking and entering scandal, with half the country railing for impeachment and pundits discussing the need for tighter security of the nation’s chimneys. We’re not really a “love our leaders” kind of country—it’s just not our thing. At least, not until they’re dead. Then we’ll fawn all over them. We love nostalgia, and love remaking history into something we can revere, but history in the making? We’re more a “the grass is greener” kind of folk.
In all fairness, though, the Thai king’s powers are far more limited than the US president’s. As Constitutional Monarch, he holds three rights—the right to encourage, to be consulted, and to warn. Those rights, however, King Bhumibol has always exercised with compassion. It is in exercising his “right to encourage” that he is most appreciated and loved. The king has traveled into every corner of his kingdom to visit his people in their own environment, usually leaving much of the pomp behind.
Perhaps it’s a blessing that his rights are so limited, and that the hard decisions are left to the Prime Minister, whom historically, is considerably less well-loved. Just last year, elected PM Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a military coup. But such is the burden of power. Even still, you have to respect a man who has maintained a position in the public eye for 61 years with no scandals to mar his reign. And even beyond that, he is a leader who has taken his duty to the Thai people as their king seriously and performed it with honor.
So King Bhumibol, on behalf of my malcontented countrymen, I wish you a happy birthday, good health, and ongoing prosperity.