Friday, 10 September 2010
Democracy is more than hero worship and costume dramas
Sat, 30/01/2010 - 12:25
Leaders of both the red- and yellow-shirt movements appear to have succumbed, in their self-absorbed way, to thinking of themselves as out-of-this-world characters - often to comic effect. Some time ago, the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy supremo Sondhi Limthongkul dressed all in white like some holy man, splashed his PAD followers with what appeared to be holy water, like that dispensed by Buddhist monks. That was at the height of the PAD's seizure of Government House.
And today, the red-shirts' leading trio don what appear to be pseudo late-Ayutthaya-period battle gowns, appearing on stage with big war drums behind them as they prepare for their political battle. The dress would awe even those used to watching Kabuki performances at Tokyo's Kabukiza Theatre. It appears as the cover photo of the current edition of Truth Today news magazine (January 26 to 28), taken from a recent red-shirt rally stage.
Photo by JPLSOFT at Prachatai webboard
On the back page of the same magazine, red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikua fancies himself as a junior boxer on the cover of a book penned by himself. He wears a white T-shirt with red boxing gloves, ready for a fight- as the book title suggests - against opponents beyond his weight category
Are these people so absorbed in their imagined roles that they have become self-deluded, or are they just acting their parts to spice up their respective constituencies?
Self-absorbed or not, these leaders are adored by their supporters and followers. They are literally mobbed by their political fans as if they were superstars. For sure, Thaksin Shinwatra, who fancied himself as the politician of the poor, and Abhisit Vejjajiva, viewed as the well-bred leader of the educated, do have their followers, though their dress sense may not be as exciting.
Supporters of these leaders place much hope in them for political salvation. Come heaven or hell, they will stick with them - like audiences glued to a soap opera because they have strongly identified with characters in the story.
Given that both red- and yellow-shirt leaders are turning their political struggle into a reality show, it would be no exaggeration that many followers are die-hard fans of these political reality-shows. Fans get a chance to get close to their stars, who tell them what to do through their media. They are constantly reminded they are on the right side and that "victory is near".
Whether these leaders are increasingly self-deluded or not, or already dwelling in a political fantasy land, not much can be done about them. The fans and followers who adore them should wake up and get real if they are serious about democratic progress; excessive political adoration and dependency cannot bring about democracy. If anything, such attitudes will only deepen dependence on heroes. Others may seek to adore coup leaders in green uniforms as their political saviours, as in 2006, and "feared" again on Monday night when 22 armoured vehicles entered Bangkok unannounced.
There's little place for little people in the politics of these mega reality-shows with their big stars consumed by costumed fantasies. Lazy politics turn citizens into passive followers waiting for their leaders to tell them what to do next. If only democratisation could be so simple.
Activity
2010-08-11 08:30
ISIS/ASP Public Forum on “Harnessing the Mekong: Human Security and Regional Stability”
2010-06-30 09:00
Public Forum on The Thai Media in Times of Conflict: A Reflection One Month Following Thailand’s Political Turmoil
2010-06-26 14:00
Invitation for Campaign against Torture
2010-03-21 10:00
Exhibition: ‘Colorful Melody of Nature', Chiang Mai
2010-03-12 09:30
“Art Exhibition on the Disappeared and Their Families” to mark the 6th anniversary disappearance of Somchai Neelapaijit
2010-03-11 09:30
"The Art of Not Being Governed" by Professor James C. Scott
2010-03-10 (All day)
EarthRights International invites local activists to join training in its Mekong School
2010-03-05 09:15
A Buddhist Memorial Service for Professor Ishii Yoneo in Bangkok
Comments
Call it a Thai-style
Call it a Thai-style democracy, which represents everything but 'democracy'.
The fans and followers who
The fans and followers who adore them should wake up and get real if they are serious about democratic progress; excessive political adoration and dependency cannot bring about democracy.
Ain't nobody here but us chickens. As long as we're willing to "let George do it" he will continue to, and we'll continue... not to be betrayed because we, all of us, know exactly what's going on... but to betray ourselves... like junkies afraid to kick.
We are the only ones to have our own interests at heart. These poseurs are giving a command performance, and it is at all of our commands.
We've got to quit fooling ourselves and just knuckle down and do what must be done.
Quote:"Lazy politics turn
Quote:"Lazy politics turn citizens into passive followers waiting for their leaders to tell them what to do next. "
I suppose it';s easier to be passive followers in Thailand, but then being passive most of the time seems to kill people little by little (politically and intellectually). Dr J called it "Thai style democracy' but obviously a number of Thais struggle to live with it as well. it's not easy to find yr place and identity in this country (or elsewhere as well?)
so i suppose sometimes
so i suppose sometimes people just prefer their 'leaders' to put on fancy costume to save their time and trouble from getting to know what sort of people they really are
Passivity is always "easier"
Passivity is always "easier" than activity, isn't it?
I see things in various time scales, in geologic time things look a lot different. Even in biologic time everything we're talking about here is happening in just the last flicker of a candle that's been burning for days, and has many days left to go... it's an old fashioned Paansa candle, I hope. But maybe you get the idea. One lifetime is not long enough for real change to happen, but we all want it to be in our life times that the Mettiya is born.
Still it's sad to be a part of the one step back rather than the two steps forward.
The next two steps forward in human politics must be the people taking control of their governments themselves.
It's been one subset that's been controlling things, the greediest and most ruthless among us, for a long time now. More widely dispersed control's been possible for some time now, but still difficult. Requiring activity at an heroic scale.
Maybe the technological boost to two-way communications can hasten its adoption. Or retard it, as enhanced one-way communications have done... look at television, the tool that most contributes to pacifying all of us, the masses.
I can envision the future after the change has come, and how to get there, most thoroughly developed in "my own" political reality. And I can imagine the great awakening required to get there, the realization that all we have to do is do it. That's easy for me to envision as well.
But so are the alternatives, including the most predictable and boring: fascism.
Most predictable, most boring, and most painful as well. I think, just for the hell of it, why don't we try something different following this breakdown.
I don't actually advocate
I don't actually advocate passivity, and i agree with Pravit that this kind of blinding adoration of leaders and their staged roles is silly. But I personally feel it's not easy to find a balance /compromise between going along with what other people seem to believe in/expect or want u to do (polically and otherwise) and stand up for what u believe in/or at least think it is the right way( if u are unsure abt yr own beliefs yrself).sorry to be somewhat contradictory.
It's ok. We've come to expect
It's ok. We've come to expect it. It is clear that you are "unsure abt yr own beliefs yrself".
yes i know this forum is for
yes i know this forum is for those who are very 'clear' abt their beliefs only.It is clearly not a place for people like me(or me only). apologies for wasting yr space.
People "activism" is
People "activism" is seriously overrated. Vast majority don't care about politics and governing and happily let their leaders do whatever they want to because getting personally involved is just not their thing.
Take this case study;
Remember interview with "Noi", red shirt protester who set up a road block at Ding Daeng last April. What is interesting is that she wouldn't give her real name, because her job might be affected.
So here we have as dedicated revolutionary as they come, confronting the army, yet only up to a point where her job is still safe (did she ever pause to think how her actions might affect other people and their jobs? )
How far does her "activism" really go? What about millions of people who wouldn't dare to go even as far as her?
I think Pravit still keeps in touch with her, btw.
This criticism from a
This criticism from a pretender of serial masks brings a smile to my lips :)
Heroic actions are not required. If everyone on the boat leans a little to one side... it changes course. I'm as lazy as the next guy. I'd like a representative government in the wheelhouse 24/7... the key word is representative.
Representative of the people with the real power... who are us. Every human institution is headed for perdition the instant it is founded. It will take on a life of its own, evolve interests of its own, and those interests will be faithfully seen too by its slaves, the people who enliven the institution and "run" it.
We need to put the levers of power within easy reach of the people themselves for use in otherwise "dead stick" situations like now, when the US government, for instance, pursues aggressive warfare in defiance of the wishes of a majority of the American people; when Capital's compradors in the Thai government work for the interests of Capital in defiance of the interests of the Thai people and the Thai land itself in Map Ta Phut. We need a glass to break in case of just such emergencies.
I apologize for sounding like the grumpy old fart that I too often am, Joy. I meant to chide you a little but obviously I was instead stupid and brusque.
But you have beliefs and you know you do. You can tell what's right and what's wrong... a part of it is even genetic... probably :) Sometimes you just sound too precious for an old curmudgeon like myself... but of course you whose name is eponymous are really and truly precious, and not of the simpering sort or the cloying kind.
sorry JFL , i whined too much
sorry JFL , i whined too much most of the time. of course the right way is to stand up for what u believe in, not finding this and that excuse to justify your (i mean 'my) passivity.
the best i can do is perhaps
the best i can do is perhaps just perform my duty, fulfill my responsibilities no matter how insignificant they are
That's the best I can do, too. I think it's the best anyone of us can do. We each have our own view of our responsibilities... maybe that's what you're unsure of. Don't worry.
The struggle is the human race's struggle with itself, whether it takes responsibility for its actions or not. That's, maybe, the doctrine of "original sin" in western thought. Once we realize we are free to act in any way we can imagine, then we are responsible for our actions, over the whole terrain of the geography of the imagination. The decision is taken at the level of the individual in every case and its the sum of individual decisions over the entire population of the planet that determines the degree to which the human race acts responsibly. Or irresponsibly.
But it's not such a big deal. A little bit this way, or that, makes a big difference over time. So there's plenty of room for hope... and expectation.
I found a better video of any major dude. Take it from a major dude rather than this minor dud.
Apologies for whining and
Apologies for whining and personalizing things. As usual, pravit's article is thought-provoking, although my comments might miss his main points.
Re: Stan : i suppose mass activism is not the only way to change Thailand. I suppose people can just start from their own everyday duty (which could be political in its own way). as a coward, i think i won't jump into either the Red or Yellow Camp (yes i don'tbelieve in any of them, i have no clear political ideologies). the best i can do is perhaps just perform my duty, fulfill my responsibilities no matter how insignificant they are (but not without struggling, which i suppose is okay after all).
"Lazy politics turn citizens
"Lazy politics turn citizens into passive followers waiting for their leaders to tell them what to do next. If only democratisation could be so simple."
That's what the leaders are there for - to tell people what to do. Some don't like it but many are happy to delegate this decision making to whoever wants to take charge, and then stretch it the limits of their laziness.
I think it's a problem with assumptions about democracy.
It's ok. We've come to expect
It's ok. We've come to expect it. It is clear that you are "unsure abt yr own beliefs yrself".
Personally I'm most wary of people who are sure about their beliefs, as I find them quite dangerous, perhaps even more dangerous than people with no beliefs.
Personally I'm most wary of
Personally I'm most wary of people who are sure about their beliefs, as I find them quite dangerous, perhaps even more dangerous than people with no beliefs.
It depends on what basis are their beliefs based upon. Blind faith is surely the most dangerous one. : )
Let me take this moment to
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