[VIAGRA-]

I thought that "Thai" is primarily a nationality, which encompases many ethnicities. Therefore all the localities and and ethnicities can be Thai to the extent that they identify as Thai. For instance many Thai have a Chinese genetic heritage. It appears to me, that many are half farong. So what? If they think of themselves as Thai, they are really Thai. The Thais I know and knew, reached out across ethnic groups and were very compassionate. I have heard Thais say that Hmong and other hilltribes are "our brothers and sisters."

It also annoys me when people who know nothing about Thailand want "an authentic Thai experience," meaning they want to see everything old-fashioned, like buffalo pulling carts and elephants moving logs and rather than computers, cars, and cell phones with no Western influences at all. I want to see the Thai people doing well economically, picking and mixing any influences they like into their own culture. It will still be "really Thai." Just like Americans (my nationality) never worry about not being American enouph when they borrow and incorporate anything they want from around the world. Being American is whatever we say it is. So Thais should (and I think do) act that way too.