Along the way, we will also find an increasing number of cynics. That, too, isn't such a great surprise. But how do we explain the sudden emergence of a society full of wimps and suckers?

It took only a few rumour-mongers and one or two sensational newspaper headlines to shake the very foundation of Thai society by spreading speculation that chaos would rein and violence would rock the country if the Constitution Tribunal handed down a verdict to dissolve one or both of the country's major political parties.

It seemed that everybody began to assume politicians or their henchmen had the right to break the law if they didn't like the decision handed down by the country's highest constitutional legal body. It didn't seem to occur to them that the rule of law should prevail in a civilised society that is in the process of returning to a general election.

It seems we are all too ready to succumb to the politicians' selfish proclamations. We not only got scared, we let them know that they can continue to pour scorn on our dignity and intelligence. Since when have we surrendered our citizens' rights to a handful of people screaming for their own interests?

How, for example, can a decent society put up with a threat delivered by a group of political operatives that if a certain party is dissolved by a court order, they would storm various provincial city halls to show how serious they can get if things don't go their way.

If these irresponsible politicians' threatening pitch was worrisome, the submissive reaction from the public at large to the intimidation was even scarier. The "Silent Majority" decided to remain silent and the few who managed to utter a few words confirmed my worst fears. It's this growing defeatist attitude that is most depressing. Their reaction has gone something like this: these people who promise violence if their wishes are not met may be thugs, and they may be ruining the country's very foundation of good governance and reputation, but they have money and hence influence. So, what can we do?

The suckers among us - who refuse to be forced to become starry-eyed apologists or virulent critics of the current scheme of things - probably don't realise that if the "old power clique" can frighten us with such threats of violence in order to pressure the panel of judges to tone down their verdict, the "powers-that-be" could also exploit our fears to their advantage. The military and military-backed elements (and they don't necessarily have to be in the government) could well counter any threat of public unrest with their own threat to stage a second coup or take any other action that will plunge the country into another vicious circle.

Now, what do suckers like us do? Perhaps, we believe that both sides are capable of doing evil things to the country - and we therefore live in constant fear of both sides, choosing to lend credence to the side that seems to scream louder or that seems to have the potential to win over the other side, regardless of whether they are morally or ethically acceptable to us or not.

Wimps, after all, don't choose. They go where the wind blows. That's the kind of mentality that subverts the very foundation of any democratic society.

Or we can decide to embark on a more enlightened path. We could stop behaving like nervous, weak and ineffectual members of society - and declare our independence by stating our case which is as simple as: we won't tolerate any more threats by any side to use violence or the threat of violence to achieve their political goals.

If we are convinced that only the rule of law can carry us through the current crisis - if we insist that only law and order can prevent this country from being plunged into the abyss of a "failed state" - then the suckers and wimps among us will have to emerge from the shell of fear and anxiety caused by all the ongoing political manoeuvres that, in effect, boil down to nothing more than empty threats and irresponsible machinations.

All suckers, unite! We have nothing to lose but our naivety and unfounded anxiety.

Suthichai Yoon