The famous words of King Mongkut of Siam to Mrs Anna Leonowens, the British governess he employed to tutor his fifty-eight children, which included his heir, Crown Prince Chulalongkorn, later the King who revamped Siam.
I was watching "Anna And The King" last night, the one with Jodie Foster and Chow Yun Fatt, with the young English boy Tom Felton who later became Draco Malfoy in the "Harry Potter" movies. These words were not spoken; in fact the closest Chow Yun Fatt's king character said were "and so on, and so on."
These words were uttered by the original "The King And I" star Yul Brynner (also King Ramses in "Ten Commandments"), as well as in the musical version of the movie (or is it the movie version of the musical?).
The show is so well-loved because that was Yul Brynner's meatiest role by far. Of course the new version, although a good movie on its own, could never hold a candle to the original version. It was as if Yul Brynner was born for the role.
The show was actually based on the diaries of Anna Leonowens after her return to England, on her experiences with the then-backward customs of Siam (now Thailand), her tutoring of the children, how the country changed her, how she changed the King, and her love for the King. She could not understand why the King could have so many wives, yet claimed he loved all of them. But when she fell in love with the King, apparently she was the last woman he ever really loved.
I used to wonder how can someone love two persons (or many people) at the same time? For instance, if a guy and a girl is in a relationship, and the guy or the girl was attracted to someone else, is that being unfaithful?
I suppose it is unfaithful if he or she decides to just take the best of both worlds and start two-timing. On the other hand, if he or she breaks up with the partner only to end up with the other person, is that any less hurtful?
Maybe I am naive, but I always believe in being faithful and loyal to just one person - the person you chose to love. After all, if you really love someone, there should be commitment and faithfulness. So why do some people become the "victims" of unfaithfulness?
One reason can be that one party may have met someone else more compatible or suitable. That is often the case. So when that happens, although it may not be that right a thing to do, but be kind to the "victim" and break up so he or she can move on. Of course the hurt will be there, but in the long run, it may be the best after all if they are really not compatible and he or she is more compatible with the other person.
Another reason can be temptation. At times when people got together while still schooling, everything was still innocent and sweet, but when they went out into the working world and meet people more secure or prettier or smarter, some people may stray. Then they find that the girlfriend or boyfriend who has been with them since school days may not be that attractive anymore, and they will start to look for new ventures. Perhaps that is why school day romances fail about 80% of the time.
Sometimes one cannot really judge whether it is right or wrong to fall for another person while still with someone. Circumstances like these do exist. The partner may have changed, or wanted something else, or simply just felt that someone else would be more suitable. So they may stray.
The person who strayed may be at fault for not being faithful, but I guess at times one cannot really pinpoint who is totally at fault. Perhaps both parties should work things out more, or both should change to adapt to each other. Whatever it is, straying is not condoned because it causes lots of hurt and grief, but at times, it may be for the best of both parties, and I guess the people involved may just have to accept it if it turns out to be for the best after all.
And when this happens, for goodness sake break up and not hold on. Loving one person at a time is still much less complicating than loving two people, one more than the other, and trying to sink two boats at one time. Holding on will only cause more complications.
I was watching "Anna And The King" last night, the one with Jodie Foster and Chow Yun Fatt, with the young English boy Tom Felton who later became Draco Malfoy in the "Harry Potter" movies. These words were not spoken; in fact the closest Chow Yun Fatt's king character said were "and so on, and so on."
These words were uttered by the original "The King And I" star Yul Brynner (also King Ramses in "Ten Commandments"), as well as in the musical version of the movie (or is it the movie version of the musical?).
The show is so well-loved because that was Yul Brynner's meatiest role by far. Of course the new version, although a good movie on its own, could never hold a candle to the original version. It was as if Yul Brynner was born for the role.
The show was actually based on the diaries of Anna Leonowens after her return to England, on her experiences with the then-backward customs of Siam (now Thailand), her tutoring of the children, how the country changed her, how she changed the King, and her love for the King. She could not understand why the King could have so many wives, yet claimed he loved all of them. But when she fell in love with the King, apparently she was the last woman he ever really loved.
I used to wonder how can someone love two persons (or many people) at the same time? For instance, if a guy and a girl is in a relationship, and the guy or the girl was attracted to someone else, is that being unfaithful?
I suppose it is unfaithful if he or she decides to just take the best of both worlds and start two-timing. On the other hand, if he or she breaks up with the partner only to end up with the other person, is that any less hurtful?
Maybe I am naive, but I always believe in being faithful and loyal to just one person - the person you chose to love. After all, if you really love someone, there should be commitment and faithfulness. So why do some people become the "victims" of unfaithfulness?
One reason can be that one party may have met someone else more compatible or suitable. That is often the case. So when that happens, although it may not be that right a thing to do, but be kind to the "victim" and break up so he or she can move on. Of course the hurt will be there, but in the long run, it may be the best after all if they are really not compatible and he or she is more compatible with the other person.
Another reason can be temptation. At times when people got together while still schooling, everything was still innocent and sweet, but when they went out into the working world and meet people more secure or prettier or smarter, some people may stray. Then they find that the girlfriend or boyfriend who has been with them since school days may not be that attractive anymore, and they will start to look for new ventures. Perhaps that is why school day romances fail about 80% of the time.
Sometimes one cannot really judge whether it is right or wrong to fall for another person while still with someone. Circumstances like these do exist. The partner may have changed, or wanted something else, or simply just felt that someone else would be more suitable. So they may stray.
The person who strayed may be at fault for not being faithful, but I guess at times one cannot really pinpoint who is totally at fault. Perhaps both parties should work things out more, or both should change to adapt to each other. Whatever it is, straying is not condoned because it causes lots of hurt and grief, but at times, it may be for the best of both parties, and I guess the people involved may just have to accept it if it turns out to be for the best after all.
And when this happens, for goodness sake break up and not hold on. Loving one person at a time is still much less complicating than loving two people, one more than the other, and trying to sink two boats at one time. Holding on will only cause more complications.
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