No One Takes Responsibility

"If vans were people, they would be weeping in frustration and wailing for compensation.  The government, claiming wisdom, has declared vans the chief culprits in highway deaths. ... In other words, the government has designated vans as humans, responsible for killing thousands every year." 
So I read in last Sunday's Bangkok Post. 

By what is written, the government is not targeting speed or alcohol abuse, nor the lack of good regulation covering the working conditions for van drivers.  Rather it is all about the vans themselves.  This highlights what I learnt very early on in my time here when dealing with Immigration.  I was told to always check the stamp I was given by the Immigration officer as if I was given the wrong date, it would be my fault and I would have to deal with it.  

I had wanted to continue on with my reflection from last week but then I read this on Sunday and could not miss the chance to take up on this point.  Still I have to ask if there is a connection. 

Once again, this last Sunday, no other priest came to help give out communion at the 10am mass which had its usual big crowd.  I could accept that this is the way it is in the Thai Church where only clergy and seminarians are designated to distribute communion and just continue the task of distributing communion alone.  However, that would be irresponsible of me as communion would always take too long.  I also know the practice of the wider Church in fostering inclusion in ministries and so why make people suffer with long communion times which act against good liturgical practice.   I choose then to act such that this does not happen at the 10am mass. 

It is only here that I know that only clergy and seminarians can distribute communion.  I have no reasonable or even any reply at all to the question - Why is it so here?  All I can say is - This is Thailand.  This is an often used statement used by foreigners when trying to understand what goes on here.  There is often no reasonable or even logical explanation for what you may see or experience here.  So you just accept this is the way it is and nod your head to the thought - This is Thailand.  Still there remains the next step if you are going to accept responsibility for what happens in your sphere of influence.  This is about taking the action you need to take to deal with what is before you.  This is taking responsibility.

Taking responsibility means you are not just ruled by outside forces, even if it is local culture.  It means standing back and thinking through a situation and the issues surrounding it.  Then act wisely in response to make the situation better or rectify any wrongs.  That makes sense to me but my mind is so western and I am in Thailand.