Today, you have the right to do whatever you deem is in your motherland's best interest. Some have told you to do this, others have said do that. And they all say it is for the sake of the country. The good thing about democracy is that nobody owns you: when you open your eyes today you can do whatever you think suits your ideology. You have the right to take your own action, whatever it is, and make it count.

This is a special election day for obvious reasons. The country has gone through months of turmoil that sometimes pushed us to the brink of violent confrontation. Divisiveness has been widespread. Families have quarrelled. Taxi drivers have shooed customers away. Some leading political figures have been booed and jeered in public places. Newspaper offices have been surrounded by hostile protesters. There have been uproars among academic communities. Poor farmers have joined the political fray. Even our most revered institution, the monarchy, has been troubled by the present crisis.

But in a way we can be thankful we still can have great divisions. There are countries where the leadership tells people who to choose and what to think. That families in Thailand can argue and make different choices at the ballot booth is a blessing. Things are unlikely to return to normal after today, and there's even a strong possibility that they will get worse. But you can consider this either as bad fortune for our beloved Kingdom, or a valuable learning process that could be a blessing in disguise.

The most important thing today is not that we know whom to vote for or how to exercise our political right correctly, because all of us humans are entitled to make mistakes or bad choices. The most important thing today is that we recognise the real values and essence of democracy. It's important that we understand the reasons behind the pro-Thai Rak Thai votes, or the "abstain" votes, or even the "illegal" act of staying home in protest. It's important that we realise that casting our ballot is just one part of democracy, that the system requires other things like good checks and balances, respect for human rights and the rights of minorities, and freedom of speech.

Democracy is everyone's responsibility. It can only be taken, and not given. Don't let anyone fool us that they are "giving" us a chance at democracy. The system does not mean that an election is called once in a while and everything is fine. It doesn't necessarily mean that a leader who calls or allows an election is a champion of democracy. That leader has to also adhere to its other principles - every one of them - from the bottom of his or her heart. He or she has to accept your rights to scrutinise or question the government, or to voice your disagreement when you think something seriously wrong has happened to transparency and accountability or even the morality of our leadership.

Today is important not because of Thaksin Shinawatra, or Sondhi Limthongkul or Chamlong Srimuang. It's important because it's an ideal time for reflection. Democracy allows everyone to support or defend or defy or challenge. It gives you the right to act or not act - as long as it is within the framework of fundamental human rights and your aim is to help forge a national course. Thai people have these rights, under the Constitution. We have these rights every day, not just today. And we can exercise these rights every day, and not just today. And it's our duty to make the powers-that-be, or future powers-that-be, realise this.