However, despite all the Western influences demonstrated by the 1973 student revolution, it also reveals a major aspect of traditional Thai culture that had survived. The king, for example, was still revered by the people, even when they were divided against each other. The students sang the King’s Song during the Ramkamhaeng protests, and when they marched in October, they led the way with pictures of the king and queen to show their loyalty. When he decided that the bloodshed needed to end, he called in both sides and arranged a compromise, and it was settled. The three military leaders who had been running the government simply left the country as he asked. The students, although they had wanted them to go on trial, accepted the king’s decision. Few Western countries, even if they had a king or queen, would allow their monarchs that kind of power. But then again, even today few Western countries respect their highest officials as much as the Thai respect their king. Therein lies one of the greatest remaining differences between the West and Thailand.