While Phra Khru Thavorn Stakom, a Buddhist monk, claimed that the hijab crisis was the result of foreign intervention,brautkleider xxl , especially by Shiites determined to threaten the Buddhists in the society ( Dao Siam, 16 March 1988), another Buddhist-oriented writer posed a much more fundamental question. "Pagadhamma," a senior Matichon columnist, pointed out that the hijab crisis was generated by "people who cannot appreciate dhamma [teaching, the way] and dhamma that cannot reach people." This columnist argued that the state had to understand fundamental dhamma, namely, the diversity that exists within any given political com-
munity. Regulations formulated without taking into account diverse groups of people who belong to different religious persuasions are not based on dhamma:
It is important not to tolerate any violation of legitimate rights simply because of official regulations implemented by governing bureaucrats who believed that such a singular norm is appropriate, connotes Thainess and will protect it. They forget that there are other Thais who belong to other religions with different norms. It is as if they were determined to press the Muslims to choose between their nation and their religion, although there is absolutely no necessity to make that drastic choice. ( Pagadhamma 1988)
Although the columnist's exposition seems to be similar to the sociological reasoning of the academics cited above, the reasoning here is basically religious. By pointing out that fundamental dhamma accurately reflecting social reality is ignored, the columnist seems to question the claim that Buddhism is a basis for the Thai state. More straightforwardly, Pagadhamma questions whether the "Buddhist Thai" group who protested against Muslim students wearing hijab are real Buddhists; if they are, they should meditate on the Four Noble Truths and show compassion to all. Based on Buddhist-oriented wisdom and compassion, they should not attach too much significance to how people dress and should be able to appreciate those who dress differently. An ultimate question for "Buddhist Thais" should be "In what way does their dressing differently from us affect the extent to which we are Buddhists?" ( Pagadhamma 1988). In other words,brautkleid billig , attachment to a specific uniform sanctioned by the state does not enhance the quality of being a "Buddhist," whereas coming to terms with diverse and changing social realities by using compassion and intellect does.
The debate generated by the hijab crisis is political. Two kinds of politics based upon two different kinds of reasoning--distinguished by their capability to correspond to diversified social reality--can be identified. They are "bureaucratic reasoning" and "sociological reasoning." I would argue that as a result of its institutional character and rules governing its practice, the former tends to resist change and is less capable of corresponding to the dynamism of social reality. The strength of "bureaucratic reasoning" is drawn from regulations enunciated chiefly for governing and security purposes. These regulations, in turn, are implemented by bureaucrats who suspect the governed. 6 When facing problems, those influenced by bureaucratic reasoning have resorted to solutions that include enforcing regulations without exceptions, punishing violators, blaming outsiders for the perceived disruption of social order, even appointing a special committee to pass judgment on Muslim students'