It is the little people!

The House at W Hotel in Sathorn  

Last Saturday was a little different for me as I had a wedding and I did go to the reception as it was in a most up market setting, in a place where I would never get to go otherwise. I hate receptions as they are so boring but along I went to the nearby W Hotel for the experience.  Yes, it was just a fabulous setting within the court yard of what had once been the Russian Embassy.  Yes, the food was tops and I had a couple of enjoyable conversations.

Still what hit me and left its mark was how people did not mix beyond their own kind.  The marriage was between an Irish male and a Thai female, lovely couple and highly educated and sophisticated.  All that said about them, my experience was how there was no bridge made between the Thais and the farang.  It was like there were two separate populations at the same party.  Why was this so?

My theory is that this was not a cultural thing at play but rather a hi-so thing.  I remember words of wisdom from an Augustinian in the Philippines who told me that the real difficulty in different people coming together was not to do with nationality or race but class.  What I saw at the reception was how the hi-so people kept to themselves, failing to reach out to others at the same function.  It was like there were no other people there beside their own.  So no recognition was made and there was definitely no new coming together that I saw.  That may be wrong and it may seem strong but I have said it as this speaks of my own experience.

Moving on from this, my experience whether in Church or in society is that there is real camaraderie among the ordinary citizens, the grassroots, while there is a shared experience held by the same peoples of being stepped upon from above by those who think they are in in control, believing they have the power and the answers and so the right just to act as they so choose.  Truth is that the real power is with the people which means all of us together, whether hi-so or not, whether at the top of the ladder or the bottom.

It is the little people that matter as well.  The power lies at the base for that is what holds up the pyramid where the hi-so sit so precariously at the top, We are not one above the other.  Rather we are all in together, accompanying each other in life.  So let's enjoy the party together next time.