Photo: Tyler Batson

Here’s what I learned today: The Red Shirts are a political movement made up of mostly marginalized blue collar laborers. Seated right up against the stage at the rally, a man informed me that they seek democracy and justice for those they claim have been murdered and imprisoned under the reign of the King and military-lead government as they seek the simple right to vote. At this point I can take no side. I still have much to learn about this movement and I will never fully understand their plight, and I know this is just one side of the argument, but it dawned on me: these are the people of Thailand. This, in part, is what we came to learn.

Our presence there was probably one of the warmest I have ever received. People bought us food, drinks, sat and talked with us, and just wanted their story to be heard. (That, and I got to go up on stage in front of thousands of protesters. Phenomenal!) But today’s adventure was not about me or Jet Set Zero, it was about the people of Thailand, and what we don’t see unless we take a leap.

This is why I do this.