It was done, however, while I was on the verge of a mental breakdown having read that some people were threatening a major demonstration if Buddhism isn't enshrined in the new charter as the national religion. It could have been the last straw after hearing all about the Yala massacre, the curfew, the stubborn baht, the airport, everything from the Thaksin side and absolutely nothing from the government camp. But with great depression comes illumination. The glass is still half-full if you apply some unorthodox logic.

Here are my reasons why we should stay positive despite all of the threats, the national divide, heartache, and nonsense. No need to thank me if it helps you, as I won't take any responsibility if this list inadvertently pushes you over the edge:

1) Sunday's rally against Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda, which renewed fears of future political violence, was nowhere near to matching in size the menacing gathering at a Samut Sakhon temple on the same day by those seeking the "Jatukham" amulets. The latter incident involved thousands of wild-eyed stop-at-nothing people. It was near mayhem as teenagers fought each other and fired guns into the air.

2) Things can't be that bad if we still have ample time to scrutinise a young actress' dress inside and out.

3) They also can't be too bad if we have the luxury of being able to help psychiatrists figure out whether a man is insane, what possibly caused it, and whether it has to do with a conflict between his girlfriend and his family members.

4) One of the people who love Thaksin Shinawatra to the bone could be your father.

5) Among those who want him to burn in hell could be your girlfriend.

6) That you now have stopped discussing Thai politics with your dad or your girlfriend shows, on your part, an improved level of political civility, maturity and self-restraint.

7) The group that is still freely discussing politics with strangers and cab drivers, is still not allowed to carry guns for self-protection.

8) A public referendum on a constitution draft is imminent, whereas one survey shows that more than 50 per cent of Thais don't know what a charter is. If the survey is accurate, this is a real good chance for countrywide political education.

9) The much-loved 1997 constitution could be resuscitated after all. Deja vu is not necessarily bad, and sometimes fun.

10) That massive piece of land where duty free shops congregate and that is adorned with some runways, all costing Bt100 billion to build, hasn't gone under water yet.

11) Baht too strong? Go to amazon.com and enjoy shopping!

12) Those crusaders who want to constitutionally declare Buddhism the national religion have nothing to do with state efforts or measures to solve the crisis in the deep South.

13) And while the crusaders have done nothing to condemn, deplore, reprimand or slap the wrists of the Jatukham mob, the two camps have shown no sign that they want to converge, or God help Thailand.

14) It has apparently dawned on those "experts" who wanted the new charter to allow a "non-elected" prime minister that this provision would automatically make Thaksin Shinawatra a rightful candidate.

15) Both the military junta and the interim government have yet to sue a newspaper.

16) "Naive", "slow", and "clueless" remain the preferred adjectives for the junta and interim leadership, as opposed to "ruthless", "brutal" or "dictatorial".

17) Contrary to the changing mood here, The European Union has for the first time expressed a semblance of sympathy and understanding regarding the Thai situation. The apparent reversal in sentiment and attitude between there and here could mean that either they know something we don't, or they have stopped giving a heck. Which might be good either way.

18) Krissana Chaiyarat, the most upbeat man in a wheelchair I have ever known, has found himself a very gorgeous bride. (Wedding at Grand Hyatt Erawan, Saturday, March 31)

19) If you hate Thaksin, he won't return to politics.

20) If you love and miss him, there's a fairly good chance his former right-hand man, an architect of Thaksinomics, Somkid Jatusripitak, will be the next prime minister.

21) If you hate the military junta, they won't return to politics. (I think they have learned the hard way.)

22) And, if you love and will miss them, then there's still a fairly good chance their strong new ally Somkid, the short-lived guardian of the sufficiency economy, will be the next prime minister.

23) Veteran director "Than Mui" is back at his best. And the world's best football club, Liverpool, is still in the Champions League.

24) Thaksin's name has only been mentioned five times in this article.

25) Oh, he's buying some property in London. While the interim leaders' critics again are slamming their "gullibility" after Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra was allowed to take Bt400 million out of the country, it's not such a dumb move in my opinion. As long as the said property is intended to serve as a permanent residence, that is.

Tulsathit Taptim