From the traditional headscarf to... a cultural gap.

(Baonghean) - "The Thai ethnic people demand an apology" is the headline on the social media page of a member of the Thai ethnic group regarding the recent controversy. It stems from the fact that the members of the band F Band wore traditional Thai scarves as loincloths during their performance in the semi-finals of the X-Factor - The Hidden Factor program on October 12th.

F Band wore outfits that have been causing a stir in public opinion recently.

What truly outraged the Thai community in particular, and many Vietnamese people in general, was that the piêu scarf is not simply a part of Thai clothing; it is also a cultural symbol. Originally worn by women, this symbol has been transformed from a sacred garment worn on a woman's head into a loincloth for a man. This mistake has truly crossed the boundaries of empathy.

However, looking at this phenomenon and listening to the explanation from the F Band reveals something not uncommon in modern life. In an era where "Our people must know our history/ If we don't know, we can Google it," the fact that people, especially young people, forget history and the culture of their ancestors is becoming a real phenomenon. Not to mention the young men in the band mentioned above, I'm sure there are even young men and women of the Thai ethnic group who are completely unaware of the diligence and significance inherent in each delicate stitch of their traditional headscarf.

The encroachment of modern life and the allure of advanced technology have gradually drawn young people away from their communities, especially from sacred values ​​that are not always as visually vivid as the world within smartphones.

In any case, nothing can adequately justify such wrongdoing. The young people making mistakes is one thing, but what did the organizers and broadcasters—the numerous eyes watching and the experienced, well-informed minds—do to allow it to be broadcast widely on national television and spread across social media, causing such distress to the Thai people?

That question will likely require many more rounds of blame-shifting and may never be answered, but one answer is already clear: further evidence that the cultural gap, not only among ordinary citizens but also among those working in the cultural field, is widening.

Cam Son