Before the country became modernized, Siam—the original name
of Thailand—was a traditional society whose values were articulated
in terms of Buddhism. The name was changed to Thailand in 1939 as
a step toward westernization or modernization.20 Although Siamese
people, measured by modern economic standards, were poorer in
terms of material wealth and public health, members of older generations
report that they used to be generally happier and more humane
than Thai people nowadays. The contrast between yesterday’s Siam