The Platinum Mob

People ask if we are troubled by the political turmoil in Thailand. The answer is definitely NO.

In Thailand we have two mobs: the Yellow Mob wears yellow shirts and yellow headbands. The Red Mob wears red shirts and red headbands. The Yellow Mob has taken over the airports. The Red Mob, using Vietnam-era grenade launchers, is attacking them. For most people in Thailand, including my family, it's simple: avoid the Yellow Mob and the Red Mob.

The Yellow Mob says that the government is corrupt because it was elected by masses of people whose votes were bought. They're right, but it is hard to sympathize with the Yellow Mob because they're a bunch of idiots. For example, by seizing the airports they have pushed public opinion to the opposition. To their credit, though, they seem to be genuinely non-violent.

The Red Mob is a bunch of thugs who drink rice whiskey, support Thaksin, and believe that the best way to solve your problems is to kill your enemy, or at least give him a blood-soaked beating that he will never forget. True, they "won" the elections, and they represent the rural poor, the rice-farmers, so it is difficult to condemn them, but they are too fond of violence for my liking.

Today a new mob emerged. They call themselves "anti-war" and they want peace, an end to the airport seizures, and the government to resign. They protested at Thailand's largest shopping mall: Central World. They will get nowhere until they choose a color; what are you? green? blue? orange?

In line with Thailand's shopping mall and credit card promotions, perhaps they should be the Platinum Mob.