Are we the baddies? You’d better believe it We’ve been found out even by our friends They finally saw through the lies we told As we manipulated them for our own ends
Are we the baddies? But we were told The world only wants what we can give And our freedom and democracy Is what they all needed to live
Are we the baddies? Oh we surely are Slowly our friends left our sinking ship Despite a desperate clinging on to hope We’ve slowly been losing our grip
The Bomb-happy boys enjoy Another day of telling me who to hate A dollar for each member of the population To turn them against their state
Every accusation a clear admission Of practices tested, tried and true Never let the facts stand in the way If you understand what’s good for you
The collapse is soon arriving As it has been for decades already A stopped clock is right twice a day So let’s keep the message steady
Achievements must be suppressed With the suffix ‘but at what cost?’ Assistance labelled as a debt-trap Is just an advantage that was lost
When a people claim they are happy It must said that they have no choice But if one chooses not to listen What purpose is your own voice?
As red lines keep being crossed And its no longer seen just as a game The pretense must be maintained So that it’s understood who to blame
So the plan is to keep those people poor A useless tactic, pitiful and sad And to push them towards a war To remind you all that China is bad
A 1.6 billion US dollar budget for anti-China propaganda – is that a dollar for every Chinese person? The Western world seems to be the most propagandised people on Earth. Don’t believe anything you read. Believe what you have seen – and then only trust half of that too. China is not the enemy. 4th Dec 2024 – Shared with Ragtag Daily Prompt – collapse
These Indians red took the word Of these well-dressed men of cloth But soon lines were drawn and blurred And the taking was never enough One man whispers truths to be bent And conquered all within his path Claiming their gifts were heaven sent And the pious enjoyed the last laugh On and on the conquerors strode Until the world fell to its knees So as the words further flowed They would see the world less pleased Promises broken along with trust Would see anyone’s station fall So rises the river as needs must To flood the lowest of them all
Today I’m feeling:
A little tired again but enjoyed a Saturday sleep-in. I was a little relieved that Matt hadn’t replied to my message about going over so that I can relax at home. At Utopia, Noey was working so it’s nice to see a pretty face and as Art was off doing coffee stuff, she and the boys, Gong and little Art, were enjoying a little freedom at work. After a haircut, I rode to the 20 baht shop to get some batteries and rode by the grilled pork stall on the corner. I’d previously seen a girl there wearing a CRPAO shortcut but didn’t recognise them. Today though the girl working waved and smiled a big smile at me. It was my student AumAim. I stopped and chatted a little with her and her mum, telling her that she was a good student, which is true. They live in the soi along from me. In the afternoon I ran out of energy again and woke up feeling shit after a nap.
Today I’m grateful for:
Realising I had potatoes in the fridge, which I then baked, covered with butter, cheese and a little onion, salt and pepper. I’m wondering if this is what made me feel tired though?
The best thing about today was:
Definitely the morning. I felt good, my mood was good and I got things done.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I was planning on getting Art to come with me to the air conditioning shop to convince their mechanic to come and fix mine but when I got there they told me he’d gone into the city. Maybe I’ll catch him tomorrow. Either way, the temperature is a little cooler now and a fan or two is ok to sleep with.
Something I learned today?
US media is claiming China is racist for not going to see the new Disney movie because the lead actor is black, discounting the fact that the top-selling movie in China is the latest Spiderman which also has a black lead. Anything for a China Bad story, it’s ridiculous.
What was the most interesting thing I saw or heard today?
Amy’s student from a couple of years ago, Na, will go to the university near us and Amy said she will ask her to house/cat sit for us when we need. Great idea! She’s got common sense and is respectful. I guess my day wasn’t particularly interesting but this possibility could give us a little extra freedom to travel when want.
How did I embody a beginner’s mind?
I remind myself that I know a lot of things and that amount to a fraction of all the things that are known. When I’m teaching in class I’m reminded by my students that we all share a beginner’s mind and that we should never be complacent that we know everything.
I took this picture because I have to get my ginger cat fix from the hairdresser’s cat now. I think she said its name is Hoi Tod, Fried Clam!
Oil is needed for the container Good PR from the explainer Once made, it needs to be filled Opposition to it must be killed The container is mandated by God To surround those found to be odd If the flow is something not agreed The container must be seen to succeed This box is not some piece of Tupperware It’s a restricting restraining nightmare Beaten by always holding one’s breath If not capitulated by finding one’s death Held inside, the hope and dreams of others But not to be shared with Bigger Brothers The container will succumb to decay As new containers will come into play
If there is no solution to the problem then don’t waste time worrying about it. If there is a solution to the problem then don’t waste time worrying about it.
Dalai Lama
Today I’m feeling: Happy and fulfilled. Today I’m grateful for: One of my students, Rista, came up to me and asked me if I dropped any money as she was holding out a 100 baht note. I hadn’t but she insisted I take it. When I told her it wasn’t mine she refused to take it back and consider the idea of keeping it for herself. Maybe it will bring bad luck or just the fact it’s not hers so she shouldn’t keep it and once it’s passed on she no longer has the burden. Anyway, I bought some yummy ginger fried fish and rice for dinner with it. The best thing about today was: Being in the classroom with my students again. It made me feel so happy to be a little part of their lives again. Where are you visiting soon? Amy and I were considering a quick trip to Vietnam when she’s back but we decided to visit Pimmy and Fern in Phuket instead. It will be nice to be near water again even if it is such a short time. Amy lives in Drummoyne at the moment and rides the ferry to work every morning. That’s a nice way to go to work.
Khokwan took this picture because she was playing around with a mirror photo app and asked me to look at the camera. Today I was a model teacher with two students as we posed for a photo shoot for some promotional thing or other. We were all a bit bemused as we were asked to look like I was teaching while we all smiled at the camera. Hopefully I’m not made into a 20-foot billboard.
1994ever 