The Good Side Of You - Our Person Of The Year

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OUR PERSON OF THE YEAR

The Good Side of You

Tulsathit Taptim

The Nation

In a year of great natural disaster and continued political turmoil, Thailand saw a silver lining. And it came from every one of us...

You were intensely and fundamentally challenged - physically, mentally, ideologically and politically. 2011 pulled no punches. You took them all. To the head. To the chin. To the stomach.

Not only did you refuse to fall, but you smiled from your rooftops, serenaded your fellow victims, helped them find food, created innovative utensils, got them to safety, gave them shelter and so on. Most importantly, you did all that because you wanted to, in spite of everything. You were the reason why this nation can bid goodbye to one of the most trying years in its modern history with some real hope in its heart.

A divided Thailand has been left reeling. A disaster at the scale of this year's floods changes more than just individual lives; the life of the country as a whole has been and will continue to be affected by the months-long devastation. Disasters like this expose every side of mankind, but you took charge from Day 1 and showed resilience throughout the crisis. Without you, it could have been much worse.

It doesn't matter if your "other side" may have been part of the "divide". This good side of yours was strong enough to reassert itself against all odds. Upcoming 2012 may dilute your strength as the other side will do everything it can to reclaim its place, but the Thai ties that you did your best to maintain this year will do their best to hold on. For solely representing true national perseverance and unity, for casting aside the "differences" that didn't really matter, and for acting purely from your "colourless" hearts, not your ideological heads, the "Good Side of You" is our 2011 "Person of the Year".

For representing true national perseverance and unity, for casting aside "differences" that didn't really matter and for acting purely from your "colourless" heart, not your ideological head, it is this "Good Side of YOU" that is our 2011 "Person of the Year".

You woke at 3am to cook 500 boxes of food for people stranded in floods. You made your way through swamps and no-man's land looking for those in need of help. You created informative video clips, websites. You tweeted. You re-tweeted. You took and disseminated photos. You spent long, odd hours delivering up-to-date data to TV viewers. You volunteered at shelters. You built shelters. You built bridges. You packed relief bags. You moulded EM balls. You entertained and encouraged stranded people. You suffered, yet had the wisdom to pass on the experience and your new knowledge to others. You donated blood. You donated money and necessities, giving no thought to your own needs. Before hitting your bed every night, you spared a thought for those trying to get some sleep with mosquitoes and stench from filthy water.

You did a countless number of things. Be it big or small, every effort counted. The helping hands reached as far as they could, and even dogs, cats and other stranded beings felt the touch of true human kindness. It was almost as if you tried to outdo each other for the benefit of others. This need to do good was infectious, by no means a contest. What you did came straight from your untainted conscience, because otherwise it would not have been like this.

You proved that you have it in you. You proved that Thailand has it in herself. As the country went through political turbulence and ideological confrontations, you were subdued. Ironically, when there is food on the table for everyone and a comfortable bed to sleep in, you probably found it difficult to come forward. Yet, when the country needed you most, you didn't let her down.

You might be feeling the urge to retreat now that circumstances have returned to "normal". But as they say, nobody can force YOU to appear or disappear. You came together "like rain from heaven, which came down to refresh the world".

2012 may see the "other" side of you coming out to dominate. That other side is always waiting. But 2011 belongs to you, and you have made your presence strong enough for everyone to know that you will "never say die", that you will always stand up and be counted - in a sincere, selfless way - when the need arises. If you are to leave, there is one thought that will always be left in your wake - should a crisis arise again, this country can always hope to pull through because YOU will be there.

-- The Nation 2011-12-30

[Bakseedaa]

But , this disaster was caused by the negligence of this current government.. blame them... and shame them..!!!

Any prime minister with Dignity would have resigned...

[JohnS0N]

What is this? For once there's a truly inspiring, uplifting and positive post here on this forum and there are no responses.

When there's shooting and conspiracy involved, everyone's automatically attracted to it and has one hundred ideas to respond.

[falangjim]

Perhaps this is what the Thai government relies on, that part of goodness and altruism in Thais, when the government is a colossal joke during a crisis. I visited Bangkok during the floods, but the area I was located in, Sathorn, was not affected. I give thanks to the mayor of Bangkok for that blessing, not the PM. She was too busy crying, talking crap about foreign investment faith and secretly plotting her brother's safe return. The goodness I saw came from ordinary people just looking to lend a helping hand. But I have to admit, from what I saw on Thai national TV took it to "Hello Kitty" absurdity. Case in point. Camera crews along with comedians went out on boats at night in search of Bangkok residents stranded on rooftops. Hi-so meets lo-so. Yeah, I wasn't really amused by how they showed a guy who only had a towel wrapped around him, looking famished, looking distraught while a high-beam camera light filled his second story flooded out home. Ha ha...very funny. All the stupid, insipid sound effects accompanied it as well like a typical Thai drama, but these were not actors. It was a reality show of grave proportions. And as the show closed it featured sweeping inspirational music as if help had been provided. Disgusting.

So yes. Thais banded together I suppose. What choice did they have when Yingluck stuck her head in the sand?

[bigbamboo]

What is this? For once there's a truly inspiring, uplifting and positive post here on this forum and there are no responses.

When there's shooting and conspiracy involved, everyone's automatically attracted to it and has one hundred ideas to respond.

Well said.

[ExoticMatter]

Nice one to Thaivisa for the updates, we were not in Bangkok at the time but the wife's family were moved to a rescue centre there and we couldn't always reach them.And a big thanks to all those who did help out during the floods.

Happy new year mods and to all TV members :-)