The dubious merit of hurling blood

Posted by admin on March 15th, 2010 filed in Bangkok, Culture & customs, Living here, People, Politics

For someone that spends most conversations with his mother attempting to persuade her that Thailand is a civilised nation, today’s red shirt action does not bode well.

For throwing 1,000 litres of blood at Government House is an act so bizarre that even Caligula would have pondered the point. And news that the Nursing and Midwifery Council  could punish nurses who aid in the collection of said crimson weaponry, only makes the cloudy issue murkier.

For is it better to enlist trained medical personnel to assist in a barbaric act and have it administered safely? Or refuse to help and have an army of oozing self-mutilators wandering the capital feeling distinctly light-headed?

It is a question that should surely never be asked in a developed country. In these modern times of AIDS and blood shortages you would imagine more people would think for themselves and abstain from such foolhardy action. But the passion of the red shirts in undeniable, and if it did not raise eyebrows there would be no point. Red paint would create fewer column inches and not be the action of a truly incensed mob.

But should this action actually have the desired effect and Abhisit quits his post as PM, heaven forbid what bodily fluids the yellow shirts are going to fling in response..