How Imperialism Shaped My Thai Identity

This submission is an adaptation from George Orwell's autobiography, Shooting an Elephant.
My piece depicts the story from the perspective of the Elephant rather than Orwell himself to symbolize
the forces of imperialism, nationalism, and colonialism in play. Even though this story is set in Myanmar,
it reflects many similarities to Thai culture, especially with Thai history teaching Thai kids that Thailand
has never been a colony of any Imperial power. Coupling this nationalistic teaching with the more modern book
by professor Wasana, The Crown and the Capitalists: The Ethnic Chinese and the Founding of the Thai Nation,
I realized how our Thai identity has always been a fluid-filled, shape-shifting archive of stories, beliefs,
and hierarchies. We once considered ourselves a royalist identity and later shifting to a territorial identity.
What does it mean to be Thai? Must we live in Siam to be considered Thai? Must we bow down to the monarch
to be so? Is the right to self-determination correct? I believe this piece reflects my identity because
of how Thai history has shaped who I am. Even though I might despise Thai politics, Thailand is indeed part
of my culture. And therefore, I shall explore it at its very roots.