Communal spirit got us through a challenging year

The Year of the Dragon should signify a sanguine beginning for Thais, who managed to scrape through a series of crises over the past year. We can proudly say that we emerged as unlikely winners from a tumultuous 2011, which was defined by the historic flood disaster. We also felt the heat from simmering political tensions at home, as well as a partial economic meltdown in the developed world.

However, we survived all these trials just fine. There was good reason for us to pop a champagne cork on Saturday night. 

Of course, we have yet to swing back from the flood misery to a festive mood. Upscale department stores are swamped with shoppers but the tone at the usually buzzing Chinatown has been relatively subdued, suggesting a grim mood among low-income people.

Vivid reminders of the floodwaters still blight the walls of homes and buildings, even though many communities have already kicked off mop-up missions.

A political crisis is brewing and could flare up anytime with anticipation growing for a political pardon debate this quarter. But people are still looking ahead with a conviction that we will be able to overcome the political division together.

The overall economic picture does not look bright. The US is wrestling with an economic slowdown while the debt crisis will continue to haunt the financially struggling European Union.

Nonetheless, we have good reasons to look forward to the promise of the New Year by learning from the crises and wishing for a better future.

First of all, the crises have demonstrated to us that we can always make it through difficulties, regardless of their severity, by tackling them in unison. 

While the government was criticised for being too slow or inefficient in assisting flood victims, we managed to endure the flood through the collective contributions of private organisations, volunteers and communities that helped each other out during the time of need.

The spirit of compassion for those suffering from deprivation persisted without consideration of political colour. 

Many flood victims came out to volunteer because it was in their self-interest to help others in need. Armies of volunteers and people in the community helped each other out by raising funds, cooking food, making EM (effective micro-organism) balls and joining clean-up operations. Their self-righteous commitment was admirably displayed in full.

We can still believe in the New Year’s promise because we have shown that we refuse to be a victim of circumstances. We have prevailed over challenges by taking control of the situation through our deeds.

We also managed to enjoy a free and fair election in 2011 with political parties from both sides of the aisle exhibiting fair play in line with the democratic spirit. Although political division still runs deep, the past year went by with much less violence and political disruption. The fact that we beat the odds to rise above the past year’s crises shows that we are equipped with hidden strengths and guiding humane values.

The New Year festival provides us an interlude to reflect on our experiences and learn from our achievements and failures over the past year. This should provide us valuable wisdom and knowledge to improve ourselves in the future.

After the New Year parties wind down, we should take the opportunity to evaluate our lives and how we plan to carry on with a sense of purpose and pleasure based on our moral approach. 

All of us would naturally hope for a happier and more fruitful year to come. But New Year wishes would be illusions without the effort and the determination to make our dreams come true. Otherwise, it will be just another day on the calendar.