Although I am not sure which group I am, since I have been accused of being both, it suffices to say I did not feel relieved at all when I learned about the coup. I was upset and sick to my stomach. I was so angry, shaken, and almost threw up.
What else could be worse than the feeling that 30+ years of my and many other lives and the losses of so many have wasted? Suddenly a whole chunk of life seemed evaporated. The virtue of this coup may be debatable. But to me, it threw away at least 14 years of history of Thai democracy into historical dustbin. As much as 33 years of history are in jeopardy.
Thats enough about our different positions.
I disagree with Aj Jons call for unity among the people sector. The call is based on the assumption and expectation that a unity of the people sector is good and it is possible. No matter how well intended the expectation is, it is an illusion. Worse, such expectation turned out to be a huge obstacle in the fight against a larger cause when the so-called people sector cannot agree on that issue such as the PAD during the recent crisis. Many were tagged along only for the sake of saving the unity of the people sector. Those who disagreed and refuse to yield were trashed. The assumption of unity was a serious mistake. Instead, we should let the differences and debates go like in any other community of differences.
Having said so, I do agree with Aj Jons call for respect and civility in the exchanges of opinions. Some people said respect and civility are being ดัดจริต, being aristocratic, sakdina, and so on. I disagree with that view. In a community of political differences, civility and respect is even more important than many realize. Why?
If we want the exchanges of opinions, discussions, ideological fights, who would want to exchange with people who have no respect for us. Worse, lambasting usually intimidates people. Who would want to show a different view, let alone an engaging debate, if they are intimidated? Who would want to get lambasted? Somebody may have thick enough skin, but we should not require thick skin to be prerequisite for exchanges of ideas. Only the like-minded and the brave ones are not scared, or even enjoy trash talking and scolding at other people. The exchange of ideas then degenerated.
Dont we think lambasting is a form exercising power? Do we want a discussion when one wields power and the other is scared? Do we achieve a good discussion? Some might argue, if so why scolding at elected politicians? I agree with that, though such an argument is only partially valid. There may be one who is not afraid to challenge the coup but is scared by cockroaches. Lambasting here can be more intimidating than the coup! Who knows -- there may be somebody who showed up at Paragon last Fri but who was too scared to join a debate on some web boards?
I am scared and intimidated by the web board culture too. Some may say I am coward, not having enough courage for the exchange on this web board, let alone a struggle for the larger cause. Well
I admit that fighting some larger causes seems less a tax to me than a debate here. It is really scary even to me.
I myself is nasty sometimes. : :PP I hope it is not too bad.
:P But I think Aj Jons call on this point is reasonable. Again, this is not for unity of the people sector. But it should be a political culture in any community and society with differences.
We should try as we can and tolerate who cannot. But please do not justify lambasting. It is not helpful, but can be poisonous, to any community of differences. Civility and respect to others are not the same as ดัดจริต. Please do not conflate them. Civility and respect doesnt mean flowery words or pretension to be nice or acting calm and unemotional. We can be respectful while being ourselves -- normal person with opinions and feelings. In fact I believe most, if not all, already are. All of us are smart enough to make strong and rigorous arguments with respect and civility, and without having to lambaste others.
There are not many people whom I respect so much for spirit, courage, and integrity, despite our different views on things. Aj Jon is one of them. Our views and reactions to the coup may be different this time, my respect to Aj Jon is the same. Sometimes politics and ideology should take a back seat to many other aspects of life.
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