When You're a Red, You're a Red All the Way

Our favorite line of the movie South Park is when Kyles sings, "She likes him 'cuz he's political and stuff." So in light of the current situation in Thailand, we decided to make some political commentary (and stuff).

Right now the city of Bangkok is being stifled by red shirt protesters. The reds are comprised of mostly poor rural citizens and are in favor of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. They are calling for new elections because their nemesis, the yellow shirts (of "close the airport in Dec. 2008" fame) have landed themselves in power through dubious means. (Are you technically still in power when your opposition can storm government buildings and the military doesn't do what you request?) By the way, the yellow shirts are comprised of urban middle to upper class, so this whole hullabaloo boils down to a class struggle. Anyway, what would you do if you felt your voice wasn't being heard and you wanted new elections?  Would you shut down major shopping centers and hit the urban elite where it really hurts?  Would you cause general unrest, forcing major traffic jams and causing businesses and schools (woot woot!) to close down? Would you host a blood drive and then throw all the blood you collected on government buildings? If you wear a red shirt, your answer to all of these questions would be a resounding YES!

Luckily Ryan and I live outside of the city center so although we now find ourselves limited to drab colors in our wardrobe, we haven't been affected by the political situation all that much. We have had 4 days off of school (and perhaps another tomorrow) this year due to anticipation of red/yellow confrontations. And although a few grenades have gone off in the city center (in banks and other buildings of interest), no one has been killed. I saw a caravan of red shirts on my way downtown a couple of weeks ago and they look like a cheery bunch with their music and clappers.

Cynical Ryan predicts a coup, and glass-half-full Rachel thinks the red shirts will tire of sleeping on sidewalks in 39 celsius heat and disperse quietly. And just like that - poof! (visualize Kevin Spacey in The Usual Suspects) -  they'll be gone.