[8jIDXQ80]

I think the Thai King is a man with extraordinary capabilities.

But as an outsider I sometimes wonder, if his achievements were actually done by him or by Thai people that donated the "rights and honour" of their achievements to him. After all, the king is a man and not a God. (I am not talking about the achievements in the list in the original post).

I also believe the almost Devine image Thai people have of the king is sometimes supported and at the same time exagerated and misused for less honorrable purposes (especially by politicians).

If hope the king still has many years left to guide the country. Loosing him would be a tragedy for Thailand.

[FoetAgerhot46]

I think the Thai King is a man with extraordinary capabilities.

But as an outsider I sometimes wonder, if his achievements were actually done by him or by Thai people that donated the "rights and honour" of their achievements to him. After all, the king is a man and not a God. (I am not talking about the achievements in the list in the original post).

I also believe the almost Devine image Thai people have of the king is sometimes supported and at the same time exagerated and misused for less honorrable purposes (especially by politicians).

If hope the king still has many years left to guide the country. Loosing him would be a tragedy for Thailand.

Suggest you read "The Revolutionary King" by the American author William Stevenson-available via "Amazon"-then judge for yourself.

[8jIDXQ80]

Thanks. Another book is "the king never smiles" (A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej) by Paul M. Handley.

[FoetAgerhot46]

Thanks. Another book is "the king never smiles" (A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej) by Paul M. Handley.

I have heard-and read-that particular book is very ill informed, the author never having never actually met the King, and interpreting events from a warped perspective. Subsequently his book very critical of His Majesty. Some have even said the book was deliberately written in a sensational manner by Handley, a Journalist, purely to sell copies. Stevenson, on the other hand had constant direct access to His Majesty, and became His confidant.

[indahouweres]

I'm reading Handley's book now....and have been for several months. It's taking me a while to get through it because I get so angry -- find myself talking back to the book... Handley has written a narrow thesis and is set on proving it.

[8jIDXQ80]

I've never actually read any of these books (besides some part that were put online). I just can't find any time now, too busy with work and studying Thai (exam is coming). I'll keep into mind that the writers wrote these books from totally different perspectives when reading them. Thanks for your feedback.

[FoetAgerhot46]

Good luck with your exams, Kris.

[nakeseireo]

More than our king

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej was born on Monday, 5 December 1927, at Mount Auburn Hospital, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. This coming year He will have reigned over Thailand for 60 years. December 5th is the time of the year when all Thais celebrate His Majesty the King’s birthday. This year NJ would like to pay its own tribute by presenting some interesting facts about King Bhumibol.


DID YOU KNOW?

Our King’s complete name is: Phrabat Somdej Phra Paramindra Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej Mahitaladhibet Ramadhibodi Chakrinarubodindara Sayamindaradhiraj Boromanatbophit
¾ÃкҷÊÁà´ç¨¾ÃлÃÁÔ¹·ÃÁËÒÀÙÁÔ¾ÅÍ´ØÅÂà´ª ÁËÔµÅÒ¸ÔàºÈÃÒÁÒ¸Ôº´Õ ¨Ñ¡Ãչĺ´Ô¹·Ãì ÊÂÒÁÔ¹·ÃÒ¸ÔÃÒª ºÃÁ¹Ò¶º¾ÔµÃ

His Majesty is currently the world’s longest-reigning monarch according to the Guinness Book of World Records 2006.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records 1998, His Majesty has been awarded more honorary academic degrees than anyone else in the world, a grand total of 136!

His Majesty has composed 46 beautiful and eternal songs such as Love at Sundown, Falling Rain, and Near Dawn, which are loved both in Thailand and abroad. His first song, Saeng Thian (Candlelight Blues), was composed in April 1946.

On 12 December 2000, the Thai Cabinet approved the proposal by the Office of National Identity Promotion to honour His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand as the Father of Technology of Thailand and also declared 19th October “Thailand’s Technology Day.” (Information by Royal Thai Consulate-General)

He is the world's only monarch to hold a patent, holding several patents on rainmaking since 1955: the "sandwich" rainmaking patent in 1999 and lately the "supersandwich" patent in 2004.

Our King loves Jazz music and can play the piano, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, and cornet. He plays soprano saxophone the best.

He has played with many of the world’s most famous Jazz musicians such as Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Lionel Hampton, and Stan Getz.

In addition, he is a painter, photographer and best-selling author and translator. His translated works are "Tito" (The biography of Josip Broz Tito, former Yugoslavia president, by Phyllis Auty) and "Nai In Phu Pid Tong Laang Phra" (The Man called Intrepid by William Stephenson). National best-seller "Phra Mahachanok" is based on a traditional Jataka story of Buddhist scripture. "The story of Thong Daeng" is the story of his dog Khun Thong Daeng. He suggested making this book into a bilingual comic illustrated by a nationally famous comic illustrator Chai Rajawat, and it sold out quickly.

His favourite sport is sailing, and He won the Southeast Asia Peninsula Games gold medal on 16 December 1967.


Source: Adapted from NJ

[ibiDb4uu]

Initially, I would have thought steve's post was accurate. But...not often is a person thought of as a sovereign. Countries with government's are. And, legal or not?? numerious thai nationals who are also citizens of other countries are allowed to pass into, live, and depart as thai nationals when visiting thailand. That is, their foreign passports are not stamped on entry or departure. I have e mailed at least 20 gov agencies to get clarification on duel citizen's ....No gov agency will respond.

[klnbgqr]

His Majesty, since he was born in The States is the only monarch til this day, to hold American citizenship/nationality.

I also read that although other countries allow you to hold two or more passports, Thailand does not so.

[Soassesaisp]

Interesting to see that this thread has been dug up again.

I got my original information from...... i think it was the newspaper. I read that it was due to possible political changes that could have erupted...... like during the 1930s. And when you understand the history, it is very plausible indeed.

Im not sure about Crocodile's statement. It would be great if anyone could post any link to a very reliable source, which directly mentions the king and US citizenship.

[Soassesaisp]

One more interesting fact from the top of my head.

His Majesty, since he was born in The States is the only monarch til this day, to hold American citizenship/nationality.

[ibiDb4uu]

Diplomatic immunity, lack of jurisdiction. Rather complicated subject. Often bestowed on military persons and diplomats representing their countries and assigned to other countries around the world.

[elalmhicabalp]

The highlighted phrase would seem to exlude the King from US citizenship. That is, if his parents had diplomatic immunity at the time they resided in the United States.

That's the question that needs answering.


Amendment XIV
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several stat es according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the executive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such state.

Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

[textarchive]

He does? I didn't know that. Cool, thanks Steve!

[Uttephabeta]

His Majesty, since he was born in The States is the only monarch til this day, to hold American citizenship/nationality.

Plausible, but not quite true.

His Majesty was indeed born in the U.S. while his father was studying there. However, he is not a citizen by birth due to a little-known legal exception.

U.S. Supreme Court in U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649 (1898) upholds that, based on 14th amendment, all people born within the U.S. are citizens by birth, "with the exceptions or qualifications (as old as the rule itself) of children of foreign sovereigns or their ministers, or born on foreign public ships, or of enemies within and during a hostile occupation of part of our territory..."

[textarchive]

This topic is a nicely written collection of His Majesty's accomplishments. It shows that his privileged status aside, he is still a great man with many talents.

One thing I'm not sure of is the value of honorary university degrees, and so the number 136 doesn't mean much to me. Nevertheless, the rest of the facts are still impressive.