"Nobody can escape death. Rich from cheating and taking advantage of people ... Do they think they can take money to spend in hell?" These were the angry words of a Thai soldier, published on his Facebook page, as he went on a murderous rampage here in the town of Korat on Saturday.
The questions sit with me in my Bangkok.
How to deal with wrongs in a just and right way?
How to deal with our feelings of being aggrieved in healthy ways?
Knowing here, I can interpret the meaning behind his statement of vengeance but it still does not make sense of such outrageous violence where so many innocent people are mown down.
In my Bangkok, corruption is not the sole prerogative of political and business elites. Corruption is rather a reality at every level of society.
I had just put my American friend into the hands of God when another development came my way that just rocked me to the core. Over his time here, he married his favorite bar girl. The story does get richer as you go along. She stayed with him until she had used up all his money in establishing her own bar, then moving onto other men, doing the same again and again, thus building up her empire. On leaving him, she would never agree to a divorce, while remaining ever aloof.
When he recently collapsed into his ultimate demise, she was approached with the news, only to respond, "He is already dead. Never get in contact with me again about him". So she did nothing to help. Now that he is dead, she is coming forward to make a claim on his US pension. I was just stunned and angry.
So the individual, mercenary stories of callous abuse of others for personal greed and gain multiply. People can be so ruthless, taking advantage of others' weaknesses and suffering. Then I turn back to the soldier of last Saturday.
He had been wronged in a personal business transaction concerning real estate. He was understandably angry but he went berserk and dealt with it in such a bad way. He just utterly lost the plot.
As I reflect on the injustices of the past week, I can only call to mind a brave woman back home who recently lost three of her children to the actions of a drunk driver. Her words from the heart were powerful and a true witness to who we are as people of faith. Simply she said,
"I can't hate him. That's not who we are. In my heart, I forgive him but I want the court to be fair."
The answer to my questions for this week comes from a great woman, facing such loss and wrong. It is a two sided answer - forgive from the heart while seeking justice. I say no more and just let her speak.
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