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May 1971
serious minded, with not only a very
deep feeling of compassion for bis
people and many of their serious
problems, but with a passionate desire
to help them and to better their lives
and conditions.
Ever since the dawn of history there
have been many heads of state in vari–
ous nations in the world who have
posed as public benefactors, but whose
real concern has been their own per–
sonal self-interest. Too many politicians
are concerned, first of all, with their
own personal welfare. But here was a
king with a deep-seated passionate
desire to better the lot of his people.
But conditions have become such in this
world that no king, ruler, president or
prime minister can wave a magic wand
and suddenly transform the state of his
people from one of illiteracy, poverty,
disease, filth and squalor into one of
vigorous general good health, right
knowledge and understanding, right
ways, prosperity, and right moral, spiri–
tual and intellectual well-being.
Again
1
say, it all started with the
"forbidden fruit" incident sorne 6,000
years ago. Those who will not look at
and
tmderstand
that incident tbat set
the course of human history will con–
tinue to FAIL to UNDERSTAND the world
conditions of today - and to have NO
SOLUTIONS!
1
found His Majesty the King
already somewhat familiar with our
Ambassador College Extension Program
of worldwide educational actlv1tles.
Early in our conversation
1
mentioned
our collaboration to help King Mahen–
dra
in Nepal in the training of
teachers for the isolated mountain
people in his country. And I mentioned
that
1
understood there was a similar
problem in getting education to the
mountain people in Thailand.
But immediately the King explained
at length the differences between the
Thai and the Nepalese situations. He
said considerable sums of money were
being expended by his government -
and even financia! aid from the United
States government - but all official
government programs were ineffective.
He emphasized quite plainly, but sadly,
that the funds, manpower, and other
material were, in fact, being
wasted.
Let me add at this point that
The
PLAIN TRUTH
although King Mahendra of Nepal
governs with an absolute monarchy -
bis powec is absolute - the King of
Thailand presides over a Constitutional
Monarchy. Even though His Majesty is
victually worshipped by his people, the
government is elected by the people,
and the King's power therefore is some–
what limited, though he may have
somewhat more actual power than the
British royal throne.
Then for a solid hour and a balf this
King poured out his heact to me about
the pit.iful and tragic problems of large
portions of his people - especially the
mountain people. He has frequently
gene out among them to see cond itions
firsthand with bis own eyes, and to talk
to bis people.
He wanted to impress us deeply with
the principie that in bis country one
could not effectively superimpose a stan–
dard structure of education - academic
or technological - from above. Foun–
dations must be laid, he said, and help
brought from below in a
practica!, rele–
vant,
AND FLEXIBLE MANNER. He
explained how foolbardy it has been for
professors of agriculture or animal hus–
bandry to try to explain their techniques
in academic or Latin terminology. They
must, instead, demonstrate the processes
by working directly with the people.
"The people being helped must have
a feeling of participation," he contin–
ued. "1 want to help them to
heip
themselves!'
At tbat point
1
explained that
1
had
always believed in the principie of
"pump-priming,"- giving sufficient aid
to put people into position to stand
on their own feet from that point oo.
"That's exactly what I mean," said
the King.
So far as education for his mountain
people is concerned, His Majesty said
there was no problem of training teach–
ers or of
sending
them to the mountain
areas. "The problem is
keeping them
there!"
he exclaimed. Very few are
willing to make the sacrifice. The offi–
cial government ministries do not
apparently admit the ineffectiveness of
their program.
Then the King said: "What we need
to help my people is a practica}, work–
able program, and efficient, effective per-
47
sonnel to administer that program.
Tben funds expended would help."
He then startled me by saying, quite
emotionally, "The United States govern–
ment cannot help me, merely by finan–
cia! aid. My government cannot help
me!
Me.
Gotoh,
yo11
cannot help me!
Mr. Rader,
yo11
cannot help me! ÜNLY
MR. ARMSTRONG CAN HELP ME!"
He admitted that bis people are handi–
capped not only by their illiteracy, but
also by their inherited culture. Because
of more than 4,000 years of cultural
beritage, resulting in many rules, rituals
and the like, not even understanding
the reasons for them, they will be
unable to change their ways of doing
things, and their ways of thinking
about themselves in relation to the
universe.
All the time this King was telling us
of tbese tragic problems,
1
had to think
of the many, many areas around the
world where the problems are as great.
In many places, it would require three
generations of not only EDUCATION -
but REeducation - befare about two
thirds of all eacth's inhabitants could be
ready to be helped !
1
thought of Caico,
Egypt, and the pitiful conditions I have
seen in other areas in Egypt. I thought
of King Hussein of Jordan, who also
has a passion to help and better the lot
of his people.
1
thought of the
uncounted MILLIONS in India, China
and Russia, whose state of living is
tragic. I thought of other millions in
Indonesia, in Africa, in South America!
Tben
1
thought of AMERICA - Brit–
ain - the countries of EuROPE! The
affiuent nations! But are OUR people
happy?
1
thought of the demonstrations
of PROTEST - the riots - the violence.
1
thought of the CRIME - of how our
morals have skidded all the way clown
to the stinking cesspool - of how fam–
ily and home life is disintegrating! Civ–
ilization is DEGENERATING, not being
improved!
And now
1
have to come back to my
interview right here in Saigon with
Dr.
Trao-Nguon-Phieu, Minister of Social
Welfare of the Republic of Vietnam.
" IF the war should be over - or,
looking toward mid-year
1972,
when
President Nixon says the American
troops will be pulled out of here -