When I was watching the mainstream media cover the story, there were just so many times where I noticed the American media kind of misrepresenting something or not getting it. Just so many examples, not understanding the religion, making fun, a little bit of the way that families would leave offerings and pray to this princess, this goddess of the cave. Guess goddess is not the right word, but her spirit, and just not being as respectful as they could. But also other things like the way that the boys responded when the rescue divers came in to help them, and how the boys were very calm and not seeming to get upset. And so the American media kind of acted like, oh, these funny boys, they weren’t even upset about anything because they were smiling. And I just, that was a misunderstanding of Thai culture, which is that you, they’re trying to be respectful by not showing they’re upset, and of course they’re upset, and of course they’re so terrified and overwhelmed and emotional, but they’re not going to show that to British diver because it’s not appropriate, and that would reflect badly on them, so it’s on them and their family.
So it was things like that that I felt like, okay, oh, when I write this, I have so much to say that’s going to help you understand it. If you don’t know what Thai culture is like that I felt just had to go in there. That’s part of understanding the story just as much as knowing the facts, the facts about the rescue.
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