A SHOOTING that took place in a downtown Bangkok mall Oct. 3, resulting in the tragic deaths of two individuals, marked the third American-style mass shooting in recent years in Thailand. Despite Thailand’s high rate of private firearms ownership, mass shootings are relatively rare in the Southeast Asian kingdom. The suspect, a 14-year-old boy wearing a hat featuring an American flag, has been taken into custody. According to media reports, the boy was known to suffer from mental illness and was supposed to be taking prescribed medication. Prior to the shooting, he had posted videos of himself training at a firing range. This incident raises concerns about a disturbing trend of senseless violence that seems to be infiltrating Thai society, reminiscent of the issues faced by the United States. It appears that the young suspect’s mental health condition was compounded by his consumption and sharing of violent content on social media, as well as his attraction to American-style games and media. However, instead of addressing the root causes of the issue, much of the Thai media and government seem to be reflexively focusing on “gun control” and increased security at public places, only treating the symptoms of the problem. Those who have lived in Thailand for the past two decades have noticed significant changes in the country. Western-style fast food has bloated the waistlines of Thais in ways unrecognizable, compared with just 10 years ago. The younger generation has increasingly embraced Western-style tattoos and developed a self-centered perspective that differs from Thailand’s traditional values of hierarchy, respect for elders, community, and collective good. These changes are reshaping certain segments of the population in a way that resembles American culture more than Thai culture, and unfortunately, these changes bring with them some of the chronic issues that plague American society. One of the biggest problems in the United States is its toxic culture of violence, perpetuated not only through the media, including games, movies, and TV shows, but also through real acts of violence such as mass shootings that occur at an alarming frequency. This toxic culture of dehumanization and violence in the U.S. is also evident in its foreign policy. With hundreds of military bases abroad and a history of waging wars of aggression against nations from North Africa to Central Asia, the United States prioritizes its own interests at the expense of other nations. This foreign policy contributes to a culture of violence in American society, where the perpetrators fail to recognize or consider the humanity of their victims, mirroring the actions of the U.S. government on a global scale. While the Thai government should certainly consider implementing stricter gun control measures to ensure that firearms are not sold to the mentally ill or minors, it is important to recognize that individuals influenced by a culture of violence will remain a danger to themselves and others, regardless of their access to firearms. Thailand has built its economic success on agricultural and industrial exports as well as tourism. Social harmony is part of what has always made Thailand an attractive destination for tourists and a partner for regional neighbors. Allowing American exports of dehumanization and violence to slowly infiltrate Thai society would mean forfeiting some of Thailand’s best attributes. Gun control and increased security measures alone cannot solve the social problem of violence. Instead, it is crucial to teach the younger generation the importance of respect, consideration for others, and the value of family and community, while also limiting their exposure to violent content in the form of games and movies. By addressing these underlying issues and promoting positive values, Thailand can better tackle the problem of violence within its society. (Global Times) | 