I hope that all of you have at least heard about what is going on in Burma lately. A peaceful demonstrations was initiated by Buddhist monks in Yangoon to protest the military dictatorship that has been in power for over fifty years. These demonstrations grew in power and support, eventually culminating in unprovoked government violence directed indiscriminantly at the citizens of the nation. Buddhist Monks, Men, Women, and Children have all been killed by the government simply for wanting to not live under a system of crippling oppression, or simply for being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. There have been reports of police stopping commuters and attacking them due to an unfortunate proximity to the demonstators. Said demonstrations are the largest such in 20 years, with over 10,000 people coming out to oppose the government. In response the gvt has acted with undue violence and (old trick) insighting chaos to validate the excessive crackdown. Convicts have been released from prisons with intent to wreak havock and provide the impression that the demonstrations are violent and require military repression.
Last night I had dinner with friends at the home of a young Burmese woman living in Chiang Mai and she explained the situation to us. She said that her people and peers feel that if they do not push through with this effort and successfully turn the government towards one of sanity, freedom and justice then the consequences will be a crackdown of military oppression so severe that their country will not see freedom within their (our) lifetimes.
Fortunately there has been much action taken to help the Burmese people maintain their demonstrations and their struggle. I understand that the woman I met regularly works until midnight or later towards this goal. The situation is such now that people cannot even leave their homes for fear of gvt violence befalling them. Funds are being raised to help support them in their plight. Please find out more and help however you can by visiting www.givetoburma.org
I couldn't sleep last night (litterally: up until the world awoke and began to crawl) thinking of these things. There are times we learn about through history, of great suffering and the struggle to oppose it. We know where we stand individually on these matters in light of our own personal morality and beliefs. Seldom do we recognize, however that history includes now. When faced with the honest prospect of making a difference how do I respond? Do I have the courage to work towards positive change. When the prospect becomes reallity do I find myself fallen into apathy and privileged comfort? I've been asking myself these things in earnest and I'm not yet sure as to the answer. I can recognize easily enough in which direction my morality guides me, yet my own course is as yet unclear.
Lawson
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