greyness

just realized i mis-linked to this call for nonviolence earlier.. which is fine since i wanted to go back and re-highlight it anyway. i loved this piece:

In every war, everyone thinks he is right. The reality is always the opposite: everyone can easily be wrong in any war. The man who lost his leg yesterday in the new outbreak of political violence can blame anyone - Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin Shinawatra, People's Alliance for Democracy co-leader Chamlong Srimuang, overreacting police or even himself.

and..

With the "elephants" clashing head-on, there is no time for the "grass" to think. The latter can do nothing but follow the guidance that serves anyone but themselves. Yesterday, police had to follow orders, while protesters had to march and seize Parliament. It does not matter that the protesters were provocative or the police were violent. This is a war, so "we" must be right, and "they" must be wrong.

the nation is a generally well-reported but poorly written english newspaper here. the grammar, etc. is forgiveable, as the paper is written almost entirely by thais (hence the solid reporting). but its urban professional middle class reporting staff is also the primary demographic of the PAD (the protesting group), so the paper tends to be rabidly anti-thaksin and anything else PPP (the party in power). so.. in a polarized environment, nice to read something articulating the dangers of absolutes in a confusing situation. and.. selfishly, makes me feel like less of an idealist/outsider for thinking similarly.

also.. in searching for this op-ed, stumbled upon this piece, written by some of the senators who came to visit con in the hospital the same day prime minister somchai showed up.