The King's Birthday, or, why the Thai love Pink

Yesterday (Dec 5th) was the King's birthday, a major event here in Thailand, where everyone loves the king.

For example, let me describe the current political unrest and how it involves the King. There are four major factions currently competing for the hearts and minds of the Thai people. There's very rarely violence involved; the main method by which people show their support is by wearing different colored shirts. In the past, protests would involve shutting down airports or major roads by forming human blockades.

The Red Shirts love the King, but think Taksin (a former prime minister who was ousted in another non-violent coup) should come back and focus on economic development. Taksin's policies are similar to the Republican policies in the United States, he strongly allied himself with George Bush, and Taksin used his previous power to build his own personal fortune. He has a history of personally investing in infrastructural for rural Thai villages. These investments, usually telephone systems, were run by companies Taksin owned or had stakes in. Many poor villagers consider him to be a hero for building up this infrastructure and seemingly don't mind paying for the services he provides, even at an inflated price. The city folk generally distrust him for using political means to pursue personal profit.

The Yellow Shirts love the King, and are anti-Taksin to the core. They're the urban middle and upper class, and often represent the business owners of Thailand, who view Taksin as unfair competition. They typically fight through court decrees and non-violent protests, as the Yellow shirts are considered the educated class. They're currently 'in power.' The yellow color was originally the official color of the King, though due to the political partisanship recently associated with the color itself, many are now disassociating themselves from the Yellow Shirts.

The Pink Shirts love the King, and avoid any further political classification. They were the main show at the King's birthday, demonstrating that their love for the King is not politically motivated, nor are they attempting to use the King's image to further an agenda.

The Blue Shirts love the king and work for the government in one capacity or another. The Blue Shirt allows them to declare that they'll follow the orders and laws of the government regardless of personal judgment. This allows government workers from soldiers to clerks to band together, separate themselves from the political turmoil, and avoid claiming rank or allegiance. It's an effort to save face, avoiding intimidating others by wearing a uniform, yet protecting themselves and their careers from political infighting.