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One Nation's
Heritage
andHope
M ANY
people in the United
States eagerly awaited the prívate visit of
Queen Sirikit of Thailand earlier this year.
Americans are fascinated by royalty, and
the coming of a reigning queen to their
shores is always a stellar occasion.
Her Majesty did not disappoint them. She
was everything a queen should be. The dignity
and yet natural friendliness with which she
conducted the many social engagements won
the hearts of all who met her.
Whether it was dinner at the White House with
the President and First Lady, a gala banquet at
Palm Beach, or a less formal reception for Los
Angeles' Thai community, Queen Sirikit's visit was
reported in intricate detail.
But in looking over those reports, it seems that
one important reason for her visit was overlooked, or
at Ieast underestimated. Queen Sirikit carne to
American shores on a mission-a mission she has
shared with her husband King Bbumibol Adulyadej
since they were crowned more than 30 years ago.
On that day King Bhumibol made the traditional
promise of all Thai kings: "We will reign with
righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the
Thai people." In their long reign together (the
longest so far of any of the kings of the House of
Chakri, which dates back 200 years to the founding
of modern Thailand), King Bhumibol and Queen
Sirikit have devoted their Jives to fulfilling that
promise. From the beginning they have made it a
practice to serve even the poorest of their people.
King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit travel
thousands of miles every year to all parts of
Thailand. They spend long and often exhausting
26
hours talking with their people, d iscussing their
problems, observing firsthand their needs, and
otfering constructive help whenever possible.
This remarkable devotion to Royal duties has
strengthened the bond of )ove and respect that exists
between the Thai people and their Monarchy, and
the Thai throne is still a stable institution in a
volatile part of the world.
Queen Sirikit has been at her husband's side from
the day she became queen. She sees herself as his
Joya) assistant, sharing his concern for the needs of
all Thai people.
It
is to this that she has devoted her
life. Her particular contribution has been the
establishment of the SUPPORT Foundation. lt was
to further promote the Foundation that the Queen
carne to the United States.
Royal Support
Early in her reign, Her Majesty began to see that
she could combine her interest in the traditional arts
and handicrafts of Thailand .with her desire to
support her husband's etforts to help the rural
people improve their standard of living. Most of
Thailand's people live on the land, and many are
very poor. In areas where the farmland wi ll only
support one crop a year there are severa! months
where there is little for them to do.
Her Majesty noticed that their clothes, jewelry,
embroidery and household objects were often works
of art, crafted with great skill and following
time-honored designs. But as mass-produced
consumer goods became readily available in
Thailand, the skill to produce traditional handicrafts
was dying out, and a part of Thailand's heritage was
in danger of being lost forever. The Queen realized
that if markets could be found for the rural people's
work, the old skills could be preserved, and the
months of idleness could be used for productive
labor. The people would benefit from the extra
income, and their standard of living would improve.
This, then, is the idea behind the SUPPORT
Foundation.
Her Majesty has worked hard to reestablish
traditional handicrafts in many regions of Thailand.
For example, in tbe dry and agriculturally poor
northeast the people are skilled silk weavers. Their
specialty is tie-dyed or
mudmee
si lk. The Queen has
encouraged the women to preserve the complicated
and time-consuming process, which produces a
long-Jasting, brilliant and beautiful fabric.
In the south, Her Majesty has helped the rural
people rejuvenate the art of Yan Lipao basket
The
PLAIN TRUTH