Feel free to express yourself

Unless you are already wealthy and no longer earning a salary, or a retirement income is what you live on, then everyone else – Thai and non-Thai – fall into that category. What does that have to do with the freedom, audacity, chutzpah or whatever you wish to call it to contribute commentary in the English-language press?

Just because Mr Vint Chavala recently channelled his inner ultra-nationalist, is no cause to think any valid commentary is without merit, or should be withheld regardless of the author’s nationality. The editors have full editing power and only print a smidgen of the drivel that is lavished upon them anyway. It’s for the editors to decide what is print-worthy in their publication. 

Agreeing with the opinions or not is your choice as it may be. Mr Chavala, Burin Kantabutra and a host of others get the opportunity to air opinions daily or weekly as much or more than anyone, so what is to be feared in that? Khun Songdej’s reply is clearly favourable to the paradigm of seeing many different views and displays more balanced, light-hearted reasoning.

That is basically up to the editors to decide what and who gets to press and it’s no less or more democratic than anything else, except it’s not up to a popular vote. That is their job.

Say what you think needs to be said without fear of nationalistic furore. Just be sure you can “face the music”, so to speak. That governments here play power trips should come as no surprise to anyone. Thais sentiments are sensitive, and always have been. Constructive debate must be seen as something to embrace that instills a sense of passion for change while resisting counterproductive and emotionally charged diatribe. An ounce of detachment is worth a pound of cure. When times get tough, it’s always hard to resist finding scapegoats. We’re all susceptible to hate, mistrust, overzealous feelings and fear and must face down our inner demons, as it were. Write On!

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