I was in Burma last summer. Our guide May, was a woman in her late 40′s who’s father had been kidnapped by whichever Junta took over in the mid sixties.
He was imprisoned for about five years before dying there. She never saw him again.
May, a devote Buddhist, said that Buddhism is the blessing and curse of Burma. It gives the hope that all true religions do. It also locks people into a fatalistic mode that this is their lot in life. I was amazed there fore to see the monks rising up to defy the regime. They never stood a chance.
Burma is a beautiful country, with wonderful people. I am terribly saddened by their fate, I don’t feel any people deserves this. But I am glad I went, in my small way, I supported a handful of people. And having been there, I feel for the people. Not enough to think the US should invade. But enough to know how blessed I am to be an American, and to hopefully be able to send money to someone reasonable one of these days who will do good for those suffering. people.
