Blind demonisation of opponents doesn't help anybody

However, when their version of reality becomes too simple, it often gets distorted and people can find themselves lost in a world of their own imagination – a world in which they are unable to connect or empathise with those they have branded as the enemy. 

This, unfortunately, is what has been happening in Thailand over the past decade – and doesn’t seem to be changing. 

Consider the political caricaturing of the red shirts versus the yellow and multi-coloured shirts that has given way to mutual hatred. 

Members of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) are – in the most simplistic view of their opponents – gullible, uneducated, naive, easily manipulated, corrupt, anti-monarchist, anti-coup people, who are on the payroll, if not slaves, of Thaksin Shinawatra. Also apparently, the ill-intentioned West is fooling them with its notions of liberal democracy. 

This is perhaps why those against the pro-Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra camp will go to just about any length to ensure the red shirts are never given a chance to determine who will form future governments again. 

Then you have the crude caricaturing of the yellow-shirt People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the multi-coloured shirts of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, which morphed recently into the People’s Democratic Reform Foundation. 

In this simplistic rendering, these people are seen as selfish and arrogant, not to mention supporters of inherent inequality and self-superiority, fearful of losing privileged positions in society and duped by the elite propaganda. They are also considered docile supporters of military dictatorship, while their political inclination is close to what is preached by fascists.

Creating a crude straw man of those who think differently is convenient and offers instant gratification.

This simplistic view, however, does not take into account the complex reality of politics, ensuring that there is never any space for empathy or dialogue. 

People seem to forget that reality is far more complicated. For instance, anybody who voices opposition to this coup is immediately branded as a Thaksin or red-shirt supporter. Little notice is taken of the fact that many are against the coup simply because they believe it goes against people’s fundamental political rights, and they are fed up with the Army’s repeated intervention. 

Similarly, not all those who support coups are mindless supporters of military dictatorship. Some say they support this coup for the simple reason that they hate Thaksin – also some people from this very group have openly protested against certain mega-projects being considered by the current military regime. 

So, what has happened to the idealism on both sides? The red shirts’ belief in equality, or the zealous yearning shared by yellow and multi-coloured shirts for a country free of corruption?

There is little hope for a country where millions create crude caricatures of each other, perpetuating ignorance and mutual demonisation. 

Thailand has already lost a decade in protracted political conflicts. If people on both sides continue feeding their conflicts, then they should at least be mature enough to acknowledge certain positive elements and aspects of their opponents, instead of continuing to paint an increasingly unreal picture of their enemies, which sheds no light on the Thailand of today.