We should challenge the system and change it out of desire for the better. The task of nation-building should not be based on hatred and fear.
From analysing to criticising and even to condemning the prime minister and the Pheu Thai government _ to protesting against the Mae Wong Dam project, the rice pledging scheme, the two trillion baht borrowing scheme _ and more: We need to critique and rally as concerned groups and individuals who want a better future for this country.
We shouldn't be critiquing and protesting as yellow or multi-colour shirts, or with Guy Fawkes masks on, or as any sort of rabid anti-government group or individual who _ rather than being motivated by doing good for Thailand _ are instead driven by hatred and fear of Thaksin Shinawatra and his political machine.
Like the red shirts and others standing against the Democrat Party and the old establishment _ without motivation rooted in hatred and fear _ we ought to be driven first by doing good for Thailand.
We may differ in our vision over what is good for Thailand, but we need not let evil, hatred and fear be the weapons in our fight for the future of this country.
It's a change of values and mindset and it's no easy thing. Not all will be convinced, perhaps not even the majority. But individually we all have a role to play _ collectively we can make a difference.
There will always be those who refuse and ridicule, just as intelligence and stupidity coexist in balance, but that should not deter us from persisting and insisting in our battle against the great stupidity.
Through the past eight years of the Thai socio-political divide, our loyalties have been divided according to colour-coded politics, tribal allegiance and cult of personality worship. But if we were to bridge the gap, then our loyalty would be toward Thailand first: A common ground.
Through common ground and understanding we progress; clouded by hatred, fear and distrust, we continue to stumble and fall. Naive? Perhaps. Idealistic? Of course. Necessary for our future? Definitely. Sound familiar? Surely. This is a theme worth writing about again and again and again.
I discussed this in my column on Thursday and a conversation with two gentlemen followed.
Both have often taken me to task when I critique the prime minister and the Pheu Thai government. Both started off challenging my theme, but through conversation one came to an agreement, at least in principle, if not in all the details _ and perhaps may still be rather sceptical.
The agreement is that yes, wrongs can be addressed, real progress can be achieved and true reforms can be made (from constitutional to democratic to education, infrastructure and all the rest). This is if we can transfer the destructive atmosphere of hatred and fear into a more constructive climate of common ground and understanding.
On the other hand, the other gentleman continued to champion the enemy, insisting on a plot against democracy and a possible knockout blow. While there are validities to all three points _ as I've written about them enough through the years _ the insistence on being driven by these factors would surely nurture the climate of hatred and distrust that may indeed make the worst come true.
The future is what we make of it. We cannot and should not ignore the realities of what has brought us to this day.
From the 80 years of this stumbling and tumbling democracy, to the past eight years of conflict _ the hate, fear and distrust from both sides are real because they have causes.
But there must be a turning point and priorities must be reshuffled. It's a matter of logic that wrongs can be addressed through understanding. In this same vein, wrongs will multiply through hatred and fear. Continuing to refuse and ridicule the need to come together is to nurture division and invite destruction.
Politicians will play their game. Hands, visible and invisible, will still pull their strings. But we the people need not be pawns or puppets. It is up to individuals to make their own choices in life. The partisan crowds must maintain the belief that on side, the Democrats are the future of Thailand; on the other, Pheu Thai are the future of Thailand, or any other party alignment.
But we need to throw in our support as Thai citizens, foreign residents too, who want better things for this country. This, rather than as personality cult worshipper, loyal to tribal allegiance and stuck on colour-coded politics, insisting on refusing and ridiculing the need to come together.
In the comment section of the Post's web forum, we see people who are consistently pro Democrat or pro Pheu Thai, while unwittingly flip-flopping on democratic ideals and constructive reforms in order to defend their tribe and cult hero and promote their colour partisanship.
Instead, we ought to back democratic ideals and constructive reforms, while consciously flip-flopping between the Democrats or Pheu Thai, or any other alternatives _ whoever can best achieve those goals.
In a healthy democracy, politicians and political parties should be our tools and not the other way around.
The proposal, as with any, is always easier said than done. It's a start, not the final solution. There's never a one-size-fits-all formula. Not all problems will be solved.
Standing in the way is false ego, the inability to admit wrong, emotional prejudices, and a fundamental lack of self-awareness _ and these are formidable opponents. For cowards, it is far easier to hide behind these things.
Courage is to make the conscious decision to change our values and mindset. Then we pay it forward to those around us and they in turn pay it forward to those around them. One can turn into two, two can turn into four and perhaps one day we will turn into a legion.
From the new individuals then comes the new civic society. Then perhaps one day a Thai society, advanced, free and democratic, will blossom. How? To start, it is up to each individual to make their own personal, conscious decisions.
We may make demands of politicians but first we must make demands of ourselves. Not everyone has to give up their tribe, colour or hero.
But if enough of us are able to put the good of Thailand above all of those emotional attachments, then our country may yet have hope for a better tomorrow.
Contact Voranai Vanijaka via email at voranaiv@bangkokpost.co.th.