Shouzer

I am writing this in response to Jared’s News Bits post. As you can imagine, I have a lot to say about this topic as I have lots of friends in that city. Normally, I’d put this in a comment, but it’s probably going to be pretty long. I thought it deserved its own post.

Jared already linked you to a news article about the situation so I’m not going to repeat that, but I think it’s worth giving my take on the situation. The group in control of the government right now, the People Power Party (PPP), is accused of coruption by the opposing political parties which have come together under a common banner under the name People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD). About two years ago, the military ousted the Thai Rak Thai (Thai Love Thai) party, and then ruled the country under a military junta for about a year. The coup was supported by street demonstrations by the then newly-formed PAD group. The military and the PAD strongly believed that the Thai Rak Thai government was corrupt and had come to power by buying rural votes. Now, the PAD is making the same accusation against the PPP as well as claiming that the PPP is merely a puppet of the dismantled Thai Rak Thai and its leader, Thaksin Shinawatra. This time, however, the military is refusing to intervene in the conflict, stating that another coup would be bad for the country. The PAD is refusing to back down until the PPP is removed from power, and they have mobilized many unions, particularly in the transportation sector, around the country to cripple its infrastructure.

Judging from what I saw in Bangkok, I would say it is extremely believable that the PPP is corrupt. There were physical signs of corruption all around Bangkok such as decades-old half-completed highways that were never completed because someone stole the money that was budgeted to build them. However, it is hard to see what the PAD truly hopes to accomplish. The PPP maintains strong popularity in rural Thailand, and they would probably win again if another election was held today. Presumably, then, the PAD is advocating for some sort of non-democratic government; ironic considering their name.

I find shocking similarity to our own government situation. We, too, have a party in power that is largely supported by rural voters and hated by the urban citizens. We, too, have large protests that turned violent (at the Republican National Convention). I think the biggest difference is toppling the government is seen as a viable option in Thailand because it is how they have historical dealt with political problems as a country. In the US, we had the good fortune of having forefathers who fought for revolution and then turned around and created a strong central government. That is an amazing feat when you compare the US to other democratic upstarts around the globe.

I look at the PAD with a certain amount of admiration. I question their end goal, but at least they care enough to fight for their country and do something. My personal apathy is truly appalling. I’m not suggesting when should start a sit-in at the White House demanding the impeachment of Bush, but maybe a little revolution would be healthy in our country. Our human nature as Americans is not better than that of the Thais. The only thing separating us is a historic precedent.

I was chatting with a certain friend of mine in Bangkok following the government declaration of the state of emergency yesterday, and she brought a fresh perspective that amazed me. I asked her which side she supported, and she answered “I am Thai. Everyone is Thai.” I realized today that this viewpoint has been completely eliminated from the American discourse. We are programmed to divide along party lines. One either supports the left or the right. The only other option is to support neither and hate both, a category I find myself in. The never-ending criticism constantly fueling the fires of negativity, insisting that we hate the opposing party. I hear so much of it that it makes me hate them both.

Somewhere that fourth choice of sorrowful disagreement has been lost in the haze. When two brothers fight, a strong family grieves for the lost love and urges reconciliation. They do not stoop to the level of the combatants and join the fray. Obviously, criticism is both necessary and healthy, but perhaps we take it too far and inadvertently add division and destruction to the American political arena. Perhaps instead, our refrain should be, “I am American. Everyone is American.”