We are in mourning ..

As we live in the weeks beyond the Battle of Bangkok, life in the streets is nearly as if nothing ever happened. That may be the way of the people here but I find it quite strange, quite eerie. My reflection goes even deeper.

It strikes me that we in Bangkok so easily mourn the buildings lost but not the peole killed. How sad!

In Bangkok, it is as if we are more connected to the buildings than the people. We do know more about the buildings burnt than the people killed. In the Thai papers, we read about Central World and the well known cinema in Siam Square but what about the people killed? Who were they? Where did they come from?

This reflection came to me as I wandered the streets of Bangkok yesterday. I saw the signs:
We love Rachaprasong.
We love Central World.
But what about the people lost, injured and suffering from all sides?

I saw the people just looking at the destroyed part of Central World and how they were mesmerised by the destruction. Then I stopped at the nearby wat where a number were killed in supposedly safe ground. I reflected that no one was just staring at this place where people sought refuge but were murdered by someone. This was where innocent people lost their lives. A symbolic place? I reflected that the burnt out Central World is a memorial to senseless destruction but that there is no memorial to ponder the senseless loss of life - the life of anyone, the life of people from all sides in the conflict. Life is so sacred but seemingly so cheap.

What is this saying about me? About the community? Are we victims of our own lack of critical reflection, our own lack of commitment or courage to stand up for life anywhere and its betterment? I don't have an answer as yet.

Political conflict in Thailand ....

I read the Sunday Bangkok Post. There is an article within it that infers that the ongoing political conflict in Thailand is terrorism. Hmmm??????

A future direction

You may wonder something - whom do I support in the troubles here? I support neither side. I support the Thai people. It is their country and they have to make it what they want it to be together.

My personal view is that what is needed is a third wave as I see too many corrupt politicians and too many people driven by narrow self-interest running the show. I wonder, however, where this force will come from. I have held a theory that the hope for Thailand is in its younger generations as hopefully they have not been tainted by a corrupt and non-sustainable political system and can then come up with something vibrant and new for their country.

Then last night I was out for a beer at my favourite bar and my theory was confirmed through meeting a young Thai female. She was a most likeable, appealing and educated businesswoman. As we talked briefly, I sensed that here was a hope for Thailand. She was sad for her country and recent happenings. She was not with either side but had a vision for a future Thailand. I could feel that here before me was a hope for Thailand. With people like her, this country can move forward and go places. I just hope and pray that they own their vision, believe in it and claim the power to work for it so that it may become more a reality.

The end of the beginning

There was an article in the Bangkok Post following the end of the latest round of protests in Bangkok. It was entitled - The end of the beginning. I think it well named. If all sides of the political spectrum here agree on one thing, it is that any resolution of the political troubles will be longterm and will take a lot of hard work.

The Thai parliament had a debate over the protests and resolved nothing. The social divides remain and may now even penetrate deeper into Thai society. These divides reflect the widening gap between rich and poor, between the urban and rural populations, between those feeling enfranchised and those feeling disenfranchised. Much needs to be done to heal the divides. There are huge challenges to face and people need to look beyond self-interest and greed.

So where are we now? I think Thailand is still in shock and trying to put it together. It is only the end of the beginning.