absolutelyBangkok archive · Culture shock
Originally published April 17, 2010
TFY — Think For Yourself. But first: am stuck in Europe. About to head back to the realm, but Icelandic volcano ashes grounded some 16,000 flights. Well looking at the Central European sky this sunny Saturday afternoon I cannot see a single darkish cloud. Satellite images show marginal ash contact with outer Continental Europe. Yes the ash plume will move and may pose some risk. Still… closing down the continent’s air space? They could fly!
And how about that H1N1 mass hysteria? Crises are easily made in these days of governmental paternalism and instant digital simultaneity. This brave new world is no stranger to hysterical overreactions — yes, maybe there might be some ash risk, but the volcano will continue to erupt and the paranoia will settle soon as if nothing ever happened. A made crisis? What this has got to do with Thailand?!
Are tens of thousands of stranded passengers the victim of massive overreaction of super cautious politicians and bureaucratic herd instinct? And how does this remind us of the Thai crisis. Of this our “made Thai crisis.” Yes we heard all the arguments. Some say it’s necessary to fight for democracy exactly now. Why? And fighting for what exactly? Democracy? Come again? Did we just fall into that same trap of herd instinct and mass psychosis? They made their point. Let’s move on.
Had an interesting conversation the other day with a foreign news editor of a leading European newspaper. “Why don’t they just allow an election,” he smiled. “Look how they came to power. Even if the vote’s gonna be dirty, you think elections in Italy or Germany are cleaner? Let the people vote, and who knows, the reds may wish they hadn’t protested.”
It’s not that, I tried to reply. We’re prisoners of an endless cycle of vigilante justice, arbitrariness and more and more anarchy. Thailand was hoping to find some balance again. Now we’re thrown back even behind square 1. Why give in to mob pressure again. It’s time to gain some sort of foothold. Why curses and blood and death again when quiet progress and reform can do.
I felt ridiculous trying to defend the, yes, status quo. Even worse: you start thinking of a “Singapore solution.” Thai democracy. By now ever Thai citizen can present an own list of experienced injustices, setbacks and double standards. Everyone turns out to be some sort of a victim in a crisis with not a single winner so far. With the hardest part remaining: how to put the past behind.
So why do we have to hear the “willing to die for democracy” and martyrdom stuff again now. Why now.
It seems so much easier to start a fight than stopping one. In a crisis thou shalt be united. We’ve become good at singing from the same hymn sheet. Even there’s peace, we’re looking for a fight.
How about start thinking for ourselves again, not just dancing to someone else’s tune.
How to?
Question everything
Be curious and ask “why, why, why”
Think outside the box
Vaccinate against mental viruses
Challenge your assumptions. Proven wrong? Accept it Look for selfish motives Stop being a people pleaser. Trust your gut. Don’t worry what others think about you Do the research yourself. Be as informed as you can about topics relevant to your life Why not stop being lazy. Thinking for yourself takes some effort Say bye to the blessing of ignorance Live outside your comfort zone Put no authority higher than your ability to think for yourself It’s simple, really. Annoy your opponent. Think for yourself.
But what do I know.
Amen.
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