Why Do They Fight?

Many of you have seen the news about the Red Shirts (generally the poor and those from the provinces outside of Bangkok) fighting the yellow shirt soldiers (government ruling party) in Bangkok last week. We were there in Thailand's capital when the fighting was at its worst. Sounds scary, but Western tourist (that is the group we get put in of course, we don't have a shirt color...) are the least concern of these "freedom fighters." In fact, it seems that greater effort and concern was placed on welcoming us and serving us by the staff at our hotel during this last week when we were having a small conference in Bangkok with our sister team (Antioch Mission International) from Krabi, Southern Thailand.

Thais are well aware that the world is watching and thinking twice about visiting beautiful Thailand right now. Confounding to think about when you recognize that Thailand's chief source of income is tourism. So why fight when everyone knows that Red Shirts being shot by government backed soldiers in the capital will cause Americans and Europeans to go elsewhere?

The taxi drivers we spoke to, at least the calm ones without three red shirts on, noted that Thailand used to be know for its "brotherhood." The soldiers on TV were genuinely embarrassed to talk about the fact that Thais were fighting, and killing, Thais. Lots of head shaking and hands in the air in frustration.

Last night we were having dinner with a Thai family that we have been blessed with as friends. Leng, the father, made the problem very clear. He reminded me that there are many more people who do not side with the Yellows or the Reds. Yet these people feel helpless as they watch pride and desire for control tear apart Thai society. Unfortunately when the Yellows shut down the airport last year and forced the direction of government their way, the Red leaders responded by garnering support and shutting down busy business centers with demonstrations. These groups are large enough to create chaos, but never noble enough to guarantee peace. A prime opportunity to speak the reality that the peace He gives is not anything like the peace of this world. Thailand will find temporary peaceful solutions, but this prideful, ugly head will keep popping up (just as it did in the 70s, 80s, and so on). We are longing for the peace of Christ to come. A peace that will give hope a voice.