Listen and talk to the other person in a deep and loving way are not easy but do it to your own heart is even more difficult. When the head gets confused and the heart gets hurt, it distracts yourself from your own mind but to rely or depend on something that is out.  It is not simply to just listen and talk to your mind deeply with a loving manner unless you do practice it regularly. Everyday, so many feelings and sensation arise to our mind either to satisfy or disappoint us. We cannot really control anything.  Looking in your own heart, you may seek some solution if you do not completely sink  in such hopeless mind but looking into Thai society, you do not see any solution that could bring Thailand out of the crisis in near future yet, of course true JUSTICE will definitely bring peace (which very difficult to gain) but to stabilize it we do need also a compassion and mutual understanding. The role of communications must fulfill.  I believe in the power of communication, it can bring peace or war, though I have been doubted by the role of political media which highly enjoyed freedom producing hatred and condemnation, it went  against the construction of peace within our own mind and society,  however, I still insist that various kinds of medium shall be allowed to convey people’s concerns and diverse opinion, equally and fairly. Trying to stop people to speak or shout will even lead them to the incitement of violence. Why no one ever learned the simple lesson that trying to block expression means encouraging them to fight and sacrifice. The great lesson from May 1992 is still meaningful to think again. I am going to join the panel discussion  on the occasion of 17 years of May 1992 at the 14 October Memorial building on this  Sunday. I am going to talk about this. Currently, Thai Govt still does not allow the opponent voices, Red-shirted media to continue, I would urge Democrat Government and National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) to implement the policy that allows Red-shirted media to play its role based on its rights and freedom. Then NTC shall try to have both groups (Red and Yellow’s media) engaged to discuss the code of conduct for exercising free speech that should come with more respect and responsibility.

I know it is very idealistic but nobody has attempted to do it yet, it is worthy to try.

On Sunday 10th, May 2009, Red-shirt movement calls for a mobilization in town once again, it would lead to another incident or not, nobody knows. Hatred feeling has been so much reproduced since anti-Thaksin movement started in 2006, now anti-Democrat movement also has continued the hatred sensation within another group. Political media and speech have become tool to condemn and build hatred, it is powerful than the role to build love and harmony, obviously. Some people believe that conflict would lead to real change but I think that the compassion would do.

Before ending my note today, I would like to quote these sentences and contribute to Thai society, the power-holders, all stakeholders and every individuals.

“Love, friendship and respect do not unite people as much as a common hatred for something”
Anton Chehkov

“Loving speech is an important aspect of practice. We say only loving things. We say the truth in a loving ways, with nonviolence. This can only be done when we are calm. When we are irritated, we may say things that are destructive. So when we feel irritated , we should refrain from saying anything. We can just breathe.” Thich Nhat Hanh

LET’S BREATHE!