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| The Thai National team win the AFF Suzuki Cup 2014 |
The 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup meant a lot for us Thais. It was our first championship from a twelve year absent. The win sparked the national football fever and granted a legendary status to the team's coach, Police Lieutenant Kiatisuk "Zico" Senamuang. Whose journey started from a remote village footballer into 15 years of playing service for the national team and now the head coach of a young and winning Thai team.
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| Kiatisuk Senamuang Now a legendary player and coach |
More over from such hype what I found new is the interaction between internet users from most the tournament's participation countries. When ever the AFF cup's official YouTube channel posted a video of matches played, then comments section would be flooded with bluffs starting from the funny appreciations to harsh insults. Interestingly many Thai social website posted selected translations of some of the comments written by our neighbors. Most of them were nice and touching but some provoked the extreme hardcore which stared a long going debate and cyber bullying, in the end some people were asking for "Peace and Love" among these ASEAN web users. I personally was happy to see how technology helped us to freely communicate with our neighbor countries (It took weeks for a post card in the old days) but also felt sad of how many treat such blessing with out care.
Diversity is something that we have to accept. I am studying Theology in a class mixed with various nationalities, religious background and denominations. The Class had and will continue to have debates but up until now I have learned to accept these differences opinions. This reminds me of my pastor's sermon during this year's Candle light Christmas about "Reconciliation". You can reach reconciliation only if you have learned how to accept diversity. A practice of learning how to lean towards the thoughts of others (which might be irritating to you) while standing firm in yours.
This 2014 AFF cup did started an AEC community and hopefully it will be a smooth transition while we learn and accept other cultures (not only the food) from our neighboring countries. Learn to love things that we might hate because in the end we are all sinful humans.
19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Note: Pictures are from www.thenationmultimedia.com
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