EDITORIAL
We need to start loving one another again
The Nation

Political propaganda has been so potent it has turned thai against Thai

BANGKOK: -- Politics, more often than not, brings out the worst in us. More so in Thailand, which has not had political peace for about a decade. That is to say what happened before the 2006 coup - street protests and the tumultuous share-concealment saga - was democratically "normal."

The current state of affairs is sad, because national harmony had always been the country's strong suit. Political volatility was usually spoken of in total separation from how Thais really felt toward one another. We might have stormy politics, but the bottom line was Thais always loved Thais.

The "reform" promised by the National Council for Peace and Order must end the circle of cut-throat politics. When the stakes are big, everyone wants to win - and to hang on. And by trying to win and hang on, our politicians have resorted to the only tactic they know: they try to make Thais love them and hate their enemies' guts.

While many things have failed in Thailand over the years, political propaganda has worked wonders. Thais have been bitterly divided. Many have come to love their politicians to the point of killing or dying for them.

It's not going to be easy for those advocating reform. Bringing back "peace" is one thing; making Thais love and understand one another again is quite another.

Mistrust, fear and prejudice have been deep-rooted over the past few years. Much of the negative forces have been suppressed thanks to the military bunkers on the streets, but the current "peace" is fragile at best and deceptive at worst.

It doesn't mean we mustn't try, though. The characteristic harmony presented itself during the flood disaster almost three years ago but disappeared just as fast. Somewhere inside the national psyche exists love, understanding and sympathy. Those positive qualities have only been blurred by propaganda and extremism. Thais were made to look straight at their TV screens and assume what they saw was life's true meaning.

They were made to forget to look at both sides. They were made to distance themselves from relatives who held different ideological beliefs. They were made to "unfriend" people supporting "the other side".

Politics is like this everywhere, one may argue. That is true, but Thais this year were in danger of being totally consumed by it. Many people - those in the West in particular - have questioned the NCPO's motives, but the truth is this: the threat of national strife deteriorating into something worse is real.

The reform process will be rocky. Proposed measures favoured by one side will be condemned by the other. Then a post-reform election - its prelude or aftermath - can easily reopen old wounds. Propaganda machines can work in full swing again, if politics remains all about making people love you and hate your enemies.

How can we make politics stop being a game of gaining love and spewing hatred? It goes back to the "stake" issue. When winning an election means not just "working for the country", but also "getting what the country has to offer", everyone wants to win at all costs.

The "losers" won't let go and neither will the "winners". The cut-throat nature of politics brings out the worst in everyone.

Can the reform stop that and make politics bring out the best in us? NCPO leader Prayuth Chan-ocha has not said "Yes" directly, but he has implied several times that if that hadn't been his objective, the coup wouldn't have had a point.

Many people remain unconvinced, obviously, and it's up to him to prove them right or wrong.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/We-need-to-start-loving-one-another-again-30239026.html


-- The Nation 2014-07-21

...what bull , the laws need to be enforced, anyone who thinks it will not go back to the corruption and 2 sides before the coup is a fool ...in fact it will be much worse

I love you long time...

Maybe they need another program "returning love to the thais"

I don't see any political division in Thailand and if there were any, it is the red shirts fault.

Wow! Love is better than hate! What a new idea!

5648237th article on the same topic with same words.

I've loved Thai's long time but do they love me long time?

You gotta feel for the media....there's only so much that they're allowed to write about....expect more of this trash as the weeks go on!

Thais don't understand the concept of public service.

Love each other??? Are we farken kidding here? Thais love nothing more than getting themselves into a strong financial position so that they can heap <deleted> on all and sundry. Isn't that the Thai dream?

And everyone lived happily ever after.

In contrast to what has gone before, let us try and be optimistic. Since the coup things seem alittle calmer and time is what is needed if a new way is to be found. I hope that this time will provide more understanding from all political sides and that we do not return to the type of politics and politicians ( well most of them ) that have recently been serving the country, as elections are not scheduled until after october 2015 I hope this will enough time for people consider what the future might offer them, a chance to serve the country first.

I hope that a new brand of politicians will emerge, that, with impending review of how the Police operate, laws will be upheld and enforced. That corrupt officials will be dealt with accordingly, the best and most competent get the positions rather than seniority or cash is the norm. In the future politicians found guilty of corruption should be banned for life rather than 5 years, that is not going to put people off.

I live in hope, we live in hope that times can change, in anyone can reset this country than General Prayuth is the man to do it, I wish him well, if he should fail, coups may be the order of the day, every 5-10 years.

I love you long time...

Me so horny!

A Thai saying, '' If you have money you are like my brother, if you have gold you are my brother'"

Here's one i like '" Wives get old quickly but take a long time dying''

"What's Love Got to Do with It? What's Love - but a Second hand Emotion" (credit to Tina Turner).

What's needed in NOT Love but Respect. When a certain group feels they are entitled to something because they have been used to being in a certain position for sooo long destroys the fabric of society.

Usurpation of power or authority DOES not promote Love Nor Respect.

Hmmm my post might be deleted shortly but then the ball is on their court if they want to heal this gaping wound.

I don't see any political division in Thailand and if there were any, it is the red shirts fault.

Great post, you really have your finger on the pulse!

so force it on them with a military coup, martial law, censorship, closing thousands of websites, forcing people to exile, sending soldiers and cops to intimidate public. There won't be democracy, just eternal love and happiness

The Nation's editorials don't seem to have improved since the coup (neither do their political cartoons from the talentless steffart). It's not about "loving each other" it's about respecting that others with alternative viewpoints might win an election and have the political maturity to accept that. To date, the powers behind this coup (and the protests in the streets over the last year) seem unable to make that jump.

Sure, clean up the processes, but until Thailand grows up politically it won't heal.

Thais only love money they hate everything else especially hate it when they discover they have put a cross in the wrong box on Election Day and discover their party was only second.

...what bull , the laws need to be enforced, anyone who thinks it will not go back to the corruption and 2 sides before the coup is a fool ...in fact it will be much worse

Seems the future can be read by some. As for calling others, "fools"...

Thais only love money they hate everything else especially hate it when they discover they have put a cross in the wrong box on Election Day and discover their party was only second.

Thank you for taking a poll of all 66+ million Thais. That's quite a feat.

Love is in the air...let me check to see if I have enough baht to cover the bar tab...and lady lovey tonight...

Ask any Thai which is more important...Love or Money? I've done this numerous times down the year's and not one of them has ever said the former; oh no, it's always the latter.

I have a Thai friend who's favourite music track is Abba's Money money money. He knows none of their other numbers.

Never mind the love, we need to start giving 'the people', the same benefits that the small percentage of the population solely enjoy at the other's expense.

A decent education, and adequate health care would be a good start !

Is it Woodstock revival time again? Looks likeTHE NATION hired a bunch of old hippies to their editorial staff and I wonder if the smell of ancient perfume is blowing around their corridors…

Maybe they need another program "returning love to the thais"

Just convert the NCPO to NCPOL, and it's done!

All this lying hypocritical Thais love Thais nonsense which hasn't worked anyway how about a little honest ''out in the open''within the legal framework hatred for one another,might clear the air a bit

This narrative, popularised by the conservatives, assumes a halcyon, fairy tale past where all Thais loved each other- it is widely believed by otherwise intelligent people. Never mind that the past is full of intra Thai wars, enslavement and exploitation of each other and a justice system best described as whimsical. And, of course, the evil people were the foreigners.

This narrative, popularised by the conservatives, assumes a halcyon, fairy tale past where all Thais loved each other- it is widely believed by otherwise intelligent people. Never mind that the past is full of intra Thai wars, enslavement and exploitation of each other and a justice system best described as whimsical. And, of course, the evil people were the foreigners.

For everyone the good old days are a result of filtering out the bad and remembering the good times, nothing wrong with that at the individual level.

Bangkok is on top, they look down on everyone, chiangmai looks down on isaan and the south, isaan looks down on the south too.

The south, has a big voice and cause it'd democrat, isaan has a voice because they are red.

Isn't this basically it? What an amazingly united country. The fact that people have been patronised forever is one of the reasons for the schism today. Stop patronising and start serving and maybe Thais will learn to appreciate their govt a little.