Fight

We all have our good days, I happened to have a bad one.

Why is it that sometimes a little deal can turn into something that shakes us to the core? It is frustrating that one detail can make my day a fight for control, and yet the detail is so minute. There is so much out in the world and in my own life that has so much more value and should matter more.

Today doesn't concern me though, today was a fight for 20,000+ Thai people. Today was a special day in history as 20,000 walked four miles around the perimeter of the old Chiang Mai city wall and protested against their government. Don't get me wrong, many people would die for their king, but there is a separate section of Thai government that is not protecting the people and is over-taxing the masses. For this reason I marched with them through the encouragement of my Khun Paw (my dad) and protested along with them. Unfortunately I didn't understand every issue I seemed to be supporting by walking with them, but I learned a lesson, or two.

Democracy is such a blessing that we Americans possess. We need to be continually grateful that we have the government system that we have and we need to give more support than we do to our President. Most of the people in Thailand would willingly lay down their lives for their king ( my friend basically said she would die in an instant for him), and we publicly chastise and poke fun of our leader. How many rude cartoons are created about our President and how acceptable has it become to slander him? It has even become stylish in some sort to make crude comments about Bush. Granted the President hasn't done every good deed that the Thai king has accomplished to deserve his Majesty's loyalty, but aren't we as Christians and as respectable adults supposed to be respectful of authority? Since my landing on Asian soil a month ago, my stomach has turned over countless times over the embarrassment I feel from the lack of loyalty my country showed to our late President.

Our newly elected Obama has a big responsibility on his hands. I was never a supporter of him during the election, but now I have made a choice to support him in any way I can. Thai people have taught me that I need to be supportive of anyone who is in authority over me, especially my President, and I should do it willingly. He has a huge job ahead of him that should intimidate any man or woman. I have learned how much hope is placed in Obama's election, and most of this hope is coming from my newly found Thai friends. He is not only a new hope for half of our country ( ;) ), but he is also the hope for the rest of the world! What a responsibility!

My march taught me to listen to the politics going on around me, and to care about what they are saying. It also made me thankful for the fact that I am Amercian and I will be able to return to the land of the free. No political scream will cut to your bones like a scream for simple freedom. Simple freedom. Not so simple after all. It is important to be thankful, to listen to what is going on in our country (i.e. be less self centered), and to support our President in respect. I will resort to my ever-so-wise mother who told me several times in my childhood that 'if you don't have something good to say, don't say anything at all.'

I walked four miles in a red shirt and red bandanna showing my support to the Thai people who support their king, but ask the corrupt government to give them rights. My blood pumped. My heart was convicted and my ways were questioned. My white face was one in 5,000 tan faces therefore making me one of a tiny minority of maybe 4-5 American/ Europeans marching alongside these Thai people. I had people taking photos of me just for my skin color and posing with me to snap a quick shot (usually without my knowledge of the photo until it was taken) because I was a white person who heard their cry. I have a special position in this world. I am an American who has so much more freedom and privilege than most of the world. And so are you. So what are we going to do about it?

I hope this finds you well, may His peace fill your soul with gladness and may He transform our minds into ones that are selfless.
Loves, Katie

Prayer requests: Please pray for my heart right now. Not sure what is happening or what will happen, but I am in need of support. Also pray for the Thai government, it is unsettled right now and we don't want any violence to break out. Thanks, blessings to you :)