Many questions

I thought it as so smart to get a photo of me using the elction poster for the BhumJaiThai Party. Then I found that in putting it onto my blog that I could not work out how to have it stand up and down. So there it sits to the side, looking so funny. Maybe that itself is a reflection on my life in Bangkok.

Last night, I went out with a trusted friend, an American here for 40 years, for dinner. We went to a fantastic Italian restaurant. As usual, we just talked at length about life here and life in general. I shared how I have been here for over five years and have never really connected with the Thai clergy as they so often appeared to me as arrogant and even, at times, rude. He said not to see it like that, saying that is who they are. He went on to say how Thais have such big egos and can't see what we see in them.

I was then at a meeting yesterday when a Thai priest walked in. he greeted everyone in the Thai way but seemed to overlook me. I thought that I would not just accept this. So I did the real western thing and stood up, streteched out my hand and said, "Hi, I am John". I then discovered a man who instantly relaxed and changed and I found a man who was sophisticated, pleasant and good company.

All of this reflects so typically on my life in Thailand and is saying something. As I said last night to my American friend, we so love it here as it is never dull and always fascinating, meeting such great characters - Thai and otherwise.

Thai Election

On Sunday, 3rd July, Thailand has its national elections. Political posters are everywhere, polluting one's view of the environment which is polluted enough already.

By observing these posters, there seem to be 33 possible political parties. The two major opponents remain prominent - the Democrats and Pheua Thai. There is a lot of propaganda. I would even say more strongly that the political story is not being told as it is. There is no facing the real issues and no dealing with the pain felt within a society divided and still bleeding after the events of robust protests managed by both sides over the past five years. The policies of the parties seem to centre on running a huge natioanl jumble sale. Basically, vote for me and I will give you for the mere price of one vote ...........

The posters of Party 16 say it for me. They show the body of their candidates but they have no face. Where there is supposed to be a face there is a circle cut out of the poster. So anyone can put their face into the hole made and become that candidate for that moment.

This really speaks to me about the nature of this election.

I wonder if democracy really works. I believe in it but I see it being used as a front by many forces throughout the world. How often do we hear -
This is about democracy
or
We are about democracy
or
Democracy has spoken.

Amidst it all, I feel for the ordinary people, the little people. Do they benefit from what is happening or are they being used and just continue to suffer their lot?

Keep your focus

Yesterday, I was hit in the face by three separate encounters with various ones who make up a big part of my life in Bangkok. Each party presented a different theme that hit into my own life space. One was hurtful in their lack of inclusiveness and basic graciousness. Another was being far too quick to be bloody minded with someone at the workplace over a small issue - and why? I asked. Another was just moving too fast and just changing the game plan far too rapidly as they shared with me about their life's present happenings - and I wondered what is happening as this is too much for me. How do they cope? I asked myself.

I talked about it all with my good friend here. He made a point using Pascal who gave some statement about diversions in our life and how they stop us from facing ourselves. Then I heard a line on TV - Islam teaches that the greatest jihad we all face is the one where we face the inner struggle and face ourselves.

Then it hit me. I had actually forgotten one of my own central principles in living here - KEEP YOUR FOCUS. My own little chaos of yesterday made me remember my own good advice.

You first have to name your focus. For me here, that focus is and has always been - working with refugees and building up a healthy life that is in line with who I am. This leads onto one of my other guiding principles for life here - being is more important than doing. Your doing comes out of your being.

How Connected Am I?

I must apologise for not being so faithful to this blog yet again. I was actually focused on another blog - the blog of UCAN (Union of Catholic Asia News). You can check there - www.ucanews.com - but I would like to share one entry from there here on my own blog with you. It goes like this.

I live in Bangkok, one of the many great cities of Southeast Asia. There is no shortage of life and people on its streets. Yet I sometimes wonder as a westerner living in the midst of such heaving life, just how connected we all are to life and those around us.

I see the western guy taking his friend home from one of the many bars and clubs. I see the blank look on his face and wonder what there is between them.

I reach out to a western friend to meet for a chat but realize after the call that he was already on his sixth or more beer and it is only eight in the evening. We never meet.

I think I have finally made a Thai friend amongst my neighbours and then I am asked the question - can I give some money to help?

I try to understand what is going on around me and the ultimate response to my questioning is simply that Thai culture is at play, nothing else.

I love being in Thailand. I admire the Thais for so many reasons. I love my work here. Yet I do pay a price. It is named by my simple quest - to become more connected in a city where so many around me seem to want anything else but this. It remains my quest as being connected with others is not just good for my soul but necessary for my survival.

Thank God for the good friends I do have. They keep me grounded in a city where life can just become crazy at times. They keep my faith alive in the midst of craziness.