Being a Thai Person in 2014

I have not been home for almost a year now since my last time visiting home in 2013 and did not plan to go home for another year.  But because of our current technology, I have received lots and lots of news about Thailand while I am abroad especially from Facebook when my friends shared articles online. Being removed from the country made me looking at the current event with a different perspective. This is not because I want to, but because I do not have the same context and information as a person who live in Thailand has. My foreign friends often ask for my comment about the situation in Thailand, but the answer that I always gave is simply 'I don't know much about a situation.' I wish I could give a better answer, but I simply can't. Here I would like to share my feeling about the situation.

Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall I visited last time I went home (Summer 2013)

     "Thailand has passed many life changing events in the last decade such as (too) many political conflicts and protests from all sides in Bangkok, seven prime ministers in the last seven years,
the South Thailand insurgency and other national disasters like 2004 Tsunami in the South and 2011 Thailand flood. And, we lost our signature smile in the process.

     As a Thai person, we must realize that although we have a lot of disagreement among one another during this period and shout to each other all the time, we should remain calm and silence because violence and fighting are definitely not a solution for any issues.

     Everyone needs the same things in life: a safe environment to teach our children, a good career, a comfortable house, and the rights to be who we are. So, why do we fight each other? Instead, we should have empathy toward one another since we are just a tiny part of a Pale Blue Dot at the corner of the universe.

     Also, it is neither politicians nor public policies that make Thailand special. It is you and me, Thai people, who make Thailand special. If you ask someone why you like Thailand or why you want to visit Thailand, most of the time they will answer 'Thai people' because Thai people are friendly and welcoming. No one will answer Thai political system or Thai politicians.

     Therefore while we are still in the conflict, the country definitely need the best from all of us, not just politicians, to solve the conflict and make Thailand a special and beautiful place again. We need you. We need your hardworking. We need your friendly smiles. We need your humor and values. And we need the best out of you, so that others will call Thailand 'The Land of Smile' once more." 

Update: I want this post to encourage everyone to think about the next step, the next possible solution that will help us pass this situation as soon as possible and discourage unproductive criticisms that is just going to make things worse.

PS. I would like to give some comments about the photo that I took during my visit at Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall. It is so close to my house that I can walk to the exhibition. I recommended this place to anyone who want to get a sense about Thailand, its history and how we get to where we are now in the first place. Also, knowing its history will help you understand the context of the current situation better.