It's time to take a close look at our country

However, when it comes to reflecting and reviewing the state of Thai politics, human rights and democracy, many seem to be stuck in the present and are often unable to think long term. As always, many are caught in the all-consuming short-term conflicts and are not able to ask or say what needs to be done in order to turn their country into a democratic, liberal society in 30 or even 50 years from now.
If they can think long term, perhaps their priorities for today, next year and even the year after will change considerably and they will no longer be engrossed by a war of different colours.
For many who feel Thailand’s move down the road to Constitutional democracy has been a “hopeless” failure, with more than a dozen coups and 18 charters, it must be pointed out that change only came about eight decades ago in 1932, while England proclaimed its Magna Carta in 1215.
If we look at things from a long-term perspective, we can’t avoid paying greater attention to fundamental issues instead of focusing on the current conflict, which dictates that you annihilate or at least suppress those you disagree with via all means possible, be they legal or not.
We can pay more attention to issues like fostering a democratic culture or tackling an unjust structure of power. We can also ask what happens to the red, yellow or the multi-coloured shirts in say three decades from now. Will they prove that they were worth “dying for”?
As for people who support the lese majeste law out of their devotion to His Majesty. Will they be able to explain why they support this draconian law in say 20 or 30 years?
If we look at Thai democracy on a long-term basis, then we will likely recognise that there’s a need to ensure civilian control over the military, particularly the Army.
With such long-term view, it is also necessary to bring those who committed crimes in April-May 2010 as well as those who had a hand in the Tak Bai and Krue Se incidents to justice.
With a clearer long-term vision for Thailand, people can perhaps detach themselves from the current raging emotions and likely see things that transpired over the past seven years as just another juncture in Thai history.
They will then be more able to focus on what matters in the long run and perhaps realise that turning Thailand into a democracy is a task spanning generations.
We need patience – patience for the electoral system to work, for democracy to work – instead of succumbing to the temptation of installing “good men” to govern by whatever means possible and without the consent of the majority.
The mass media is also guilty as it tends to be overwhelmingly consumed by the political conflicts of the day and knee-jerk reactions. If society cannot rely on the media to provide a clear vista on politics and democracy, then it will have to rely on itself and work toward a more democratic Thailand with a vision that is not dependent on anybody who might be pulling the strings from behind the scenes.
Our time on Earth is brief, so instead of just thinking about now or the next year, let’s start thinking about what actions would be best for us 50 years hence and spend some time looking at what has transpired in Thai politics over the past half century or more.