Why we go to polls?

by Cod

(apologies to JFK :) )

Thailand has come a long way. Despite the striking fact that we have been hampered by military coups, despite street protests, and turmoil, and fraud and graft, our nation continues to grow. Despite the odds, and in the face of despots the Thai people have shown incredible resilience. The course of human history is littered with stories like ours. Many of these struggles took decades to complete, many more took centuries. Thailand’s course is hardly unique but at the same time not any less real than any of history’s struggles.

So it is not surprising that some would have us stay where we are a little longer to rest, to wait because progress is coming too fast. But this country of resilience, this kingdom of kings, this land of freedom was not built by those who waited and rested and wished to look behind them. This country was conquered by those who moved forward, the world will not wait for us, so we must push on.

If this capsule history of our progress teaches us anything, it is that man, in his quest for freedom and progress, is determined and cannot be deterred. The world moves forward, with or without us, and no nation that wishes to be part of the 21st century can afford to stray behind any longer.

The promises of this country, the potential of this nation, the capacity of its people can only move forward when freedom is guaranteed, the freedom from interference, the freedom to choose our own leaders, the freedom to make our own mistakes.

Therefore it should be the wishes of all free men and women in this country to ask that all others who would move behind the scenes, who would put their interest above that of the country, of freedom, of democracy to stand down and let us move forward no matter how foolish this might seem to them.

The ultimate goal of any democracy is a country where there is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict. Where we fight the natural hazards that are hostile to us all. Achieving this goal deserves the best of all mankind, and this opportunity for peaceful cooperation many never come again.

We will make mistakes of that I have no doubt, but it will be our mistakes. Let us learn, let us grow, let us fufill whatever potential we have and let us do it on our own two feet.

The famous British explorer George Mallory was asked why he wanted to climb Mt Everest.

He replied because it is there.

He would go on to die on that mountain. We might not succeed on our road to democracy but that promise of a better tomorrow is there, that hope is there so by God let us climb it.