Why do Thais allow stupid people to equate Thai with Dumb?

I have heard many times over the past year a stupid Thai saying, "but I am Thai." Ok, after all they are a stupid person so they can't be held responsible for what they say. My question is why Thai’s put up with this crap. Thai's are not stupid. Stupid people are stupid. Lots of Americans, British and Canadians are Stupid that does not make them Thai!

I find it so odd that Thai's, who are very proud to be Thai, allow such statements to be said unchecked, unchallenged or ignored. Maybe smart Thais are really smart and don't want to argue with a stupid person in fear of onlookers getting confused with which one is stupid. Fair enough!

Why would you allow a Thai that is stupid to say "I am Thai" when what they should be saying is "I am stupid!" or "I am an idiot!" I know Thais do not like to be confrontational but if I went around erroneously stating that saying "I am Thai" is the same as saying "I am stupid!" I am sure that many Thais rightfully so would get angry with me and put me in my spot where ever that might be. At the very least in private conversation they would say I am an asshole, which I would deserve to be considered if I believed that statement. I never hear my Thai friends say this when their fellow countrymen purport such banter.

The damage done when a stupid person states stupid stuff is paramount. People here what they say and if effects people’s attitudes. When my friends say general wide reaching statements such as "but they are stupid or they are Thai", I quickly correct them for their error. I do not have to confront them; I just back up my statement with some facts and ask them to do the same. These people in question quickly change their statements, rephrase what they have begun to say and continue with their story. No love lost.

When my girlfriend hears a Thai say "I am Thai" instead of "I am stupid!", she looks at me and says to me "that person is abusing their privilege of being Thai! What a stupid person!" As simple as this sounds it has a far reaching effect on me. I respect her standing up for Thailand and Thais; I respect her for her opinion and for her candor in her statement. When I hear her say this, my confidence in Thais is validated and I feel good about what she says, as well, my impression of that person is now "that's one stupid person" instead of "Dang, Thais are stupid!"

I often wonder why Thais allow this to go on every day in Thailand. Thais are fun-loving, generous, good-natured, intelligent people, why they allow these types of statements to shadow their great name is beyond my understanding.

Perhaps, a Thai person can clue me into their take on this type of behavior.

Thanks for reading my rant!
Paul