1984

From Under Thailand's Military Rule, Protesters Pick Up Books To Defy Coup:

"Their defiance, if you can call it that, is found in the titles they chose. Among them: 'Unarmed Insurrection,' 'The Politics of Despotic Paternalism,' 'The Power of Non-Violent Means.'" 

And, of course, my personal favorite, Nineteen Eighty-Four. 



In fact, a friend of mine has been participating in these protests, although carefully. She keeps an eye on escape routes, and is avoiding places the military has already closed off. She's reading Nineteen Eighty-Four. And she's going slowly - the story makes her sad, because it is too real. If you've read the book, you probably thought the draconian system was a bit overblown, yes? But it's becoming reality for the Thai people right now - including worries that family members will be the ones to turn you in to the authorities, that the government is carefully watching what you say and to whom you speak, and utter confusion about who is in charge and why. It's chaos, and it breaks my heart. I hope and pray democracy - true democracy - will come to the Land of Smiles. Then we'll all have something to smile about.

For more on the situation: 

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