The Brighter Side Of Life

As you may have observed posts haven’t really been updated recently. There are several reasons for that. Well, after nearly three years of practically nonstop blogging I did not burn myself out yet. That’s not it. It just there are so many other things ahead and in life. Gonna blog occasionally, but finetune priorities in the weeks ahead, and then decide. So many plans, so many projects.

The recent terrorizing of Bangkok was a blogger’s dream. Healthy stats and great traffic. But mighty depressing. That can’t be it. The blood of others should not allow for one’s profit. Even though it was a waste of blood and I really don’t want to beat a dead horse, but having to defend common sense, sanity and reason on this blog against prevarication and lies was hard to swallow.

In the days before the red march started, when it became clear that mayhem is the only strategy the reds have, when I switched from a neutral position to a clear “no, this kind of sad movement is insane,” formerly loyal readers turned against me. Well that happens when you go public with an opinion. Many of you joined in and encouraged. And it is you I want to thank for keeping this unimportant little blog going.

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July 2, 2010 | Filed Under On Our Own | 13 Comments 

Carpetbaggers Or Else!!!

It’s a terrifying sight, once respected minds voicing support for mayhem and death – for rather selective, hardly sane reasons. The leaders of the red shirts were successful at inciting hatred and violence in society, but not that the red cause lost support. The reds are dead. Long live the reds. Now even the “real Thaksin disciple” and political dinosaur Chalerm Yoobamrung is poised to continue the dynasty of the political dinosaurs Samak and Chavalit – a succession not rejected by the true Thaksin converts, but accepted as a sort of “what good guy can survive in the Thai system.”

Well, that’s why those guys make life so hard for a guy who’s not yet as low as them. One can hardly dispute that the Democrats and their powerful hidden backers represent patronizing bullies. But then again, that’s balm for politics compared to an opposition that’s on the brink of intellectual collapse, supported by academic firebrands and hardcore loyalists whose emailed pamphlets, writings and comments suggest you’re ruled by the Butcher of Bangkok, the Pol Pot and Hitler of modern times, by a fascist regime killing the innocent. Worst of it: people keep on repeating and – obviously – believing this nonsense. Even in parliament.

Their choice of strong words reflects the failure of these hardcore reds’ imaginary world, as their attention-grabbing approach by moronizing dissenters has not much to do with the betterment of society. It’s their desperate attempt to pretend strength and get the numbers. But the numbers never added up. So they had to radicalize the remaining few by applying peer pressure and comradeship. Hierarchal obedience yes, but Thai people are not that dumb, stupid. Take our red hero – or “red herring”? – Jatuporn during the censure debate. Lying on live TV about peaceful protest, no weapons and that he submitted pictures of police carrying loads and loads of gasoline into Central World to blow up the place … Jatuporn did not submit a single picture. And red apologists are still not “questioning” him. Outrageous? Now why’s that.

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June 1, 2010 | Filed Under History, News & Media, On Our Own, Politics, Society | 23 Comments 

Bangkok’s 9/11

The events of the passed few weeks, days and hours will be burned deeply into Bangkok’s psyche. Our Bangkok will be back. Not tomorrow, not next week – and any other attempt to hold a colored mass protest masqueraded as peaceful will ring alarm bells. Warning, graphic, this is what happened on May 19th, 2010. The anniversaries of 1973, 1976 and 1992 are remembered for democracy. May 19th, 2010, will be remembered for a gigantic collapse of common sense, for utter failures on all sides. The government, the reds, the people.

However, it is doubtful the red leaders will see the light of day again anytime soon. There will be a hard crackdown against government enemies and you won’t have a clean conscience not defending that. Look at the human toll, the destruction, the lost opportunities, all in the name of fairness, equal chances and democracy. It’s not about Central World torched, this our most pleasant, most open shopping mall. The red leaders will be hunted by what they said and did.

But this is also no time for even more hate and revenge. Enough of it already. When you point the finger at someone three fingers point back at you. Sure, people were hijacked, taken hostage – like the motorcycle guy who told a reader he was paid 200 baht a day by the red shirt security for the past three days. Was threatened with violence if he left. He’s glad it’s over. Maybe he even feels remorse. Clear game plan of the reds was all along to force the regime to commit suicide.

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May 19, 2010 | Filed Under History, News & Media, On Our Own, Politics, Society, The Thai Mind | 49 Comments 

Carte Blanche

Say what you want here. Post your anger, fear, regret. Post a link, a photo, whatever matters. What’s next?

A shut mouth catches no flies. Silence is golden. Still, everyone has a strong opinion right now.

This site takes the useless pride in having warned from the beginning all the reds have is escalation. That’s exactly where we’re now. With each new day reds are using heavier weapons. Back to the round table? You can’t crush ‘em.

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May 15, 2010 | Filed Under News & Media, On Our Own, Politics, Society | 58 Comments 

Backlash Say Hi!

Well blame Mr. Nice aka our dear prime minister for being too cozy for way too long, just to mention a free bus service for enemies of the government. But maybe, hopefully, there’s a strategy behind Abhisit’s policy of passive containment. By doing not much the anger of the people grows, giving Abhisit the green light for stronger action. The luxury hotels around Rajprasong are emptied. Collateral damage minimized they’re ready to go.

But that’s not good and reading blogs and Twitter these days is an even less happy pastime. Red sympathizers seem to get even more radical and determined while the reds’ opponents cannot wait for a crackdown, and bloody it shall be. Not you farang, but many Thais ask for harsh measures. Now you tell me whom to blame. The poor reds for their provocations and open lies about a “peaceful” protest? The rich non-reds for urban arrogance and their deriding of “pure” democracy?

If the reds fail, they’ll be marginalized even further, and they asked for it. If the reds succeed, it’s the ultimate Pyrrhic victory in recent human history. The kingdom will be torn apart by more hate and distrust than ever. An election under these circumstances would lead to the world’s most laughable vote in recent human history. Who would accept an Election Commission’s intervention? With reds not being able to campaign in the south and non-reds hunted down in the north and northeast?

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April 20, 2010 | Filed Under Culture Shock, News & Media, On Our Own, Politics | 30 Comments 

Timeout, Somewhat

The Thai political saga has reached religious proportions. Nonpartisans are called fascists, a voice crying in the desert is accused of instigating violence. Others start believing in miracles, others again turn a blind eye. There is a savior, after all – I know, it’s not about him. Change is in the air, a better world lies ahead. There is even talk of a Thai People Power. Well, the Philippine version involved over 2,000,000 people including military figures.

Manila was a sea of yellow ribbons – sorry about that unfortunate color analogy. Here in Bangkok you see a red ribbon on a taxi once in a while. The sea of reds fluctuates dramatically. The other day some 2,000 gathered, on weekends tens of thousands amass. I know, this is to undo the coup. Anyway, and this is great news for some:

Am about to take a short leave traveling to the old world. May post a thought now and then, or rather not. Who knows what will happen these days. Already missed last year’s Songkran mayhem due to overseas travels. So for the faithful this is a good time. Believe it or not, I’d actually be looking forward to a change of government. Would be in the opposition already (as pre-rally against govt by the way), and all the voices cheering the red liberators now would maybe have to keep on cheering for them. That’s gonna be fun.

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April 1, 2010 | Filed Under On Our Own, Politics | 6 Comments 

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