I find most current political crises to have huge swaths of gray area. The wars and Iraq and Afghanistan, the economic policies towards S. America, the low simmer with Russia – they have complicated histories and ethics that, when compared to the realpolitiks of our century, may not spur many to action.
The recent events in Burma, however, are morally unambiguous.
On the one hand you have a starving, impoverished and victimized population marching against tyranny. They are marching peacefully. They are un-armed, they march in their grand spiritual tradition, and they seek .. of all things, the ability to purchase food, fuel and supplies at sustainable prices.
They have risen against thugs and brutes for basic physical human needs. These are the images you'll see: barefoot monks, surrounded by columns of farmers and townsfolk and children, walking in a huge sea of red towards the symbols of their culture, their pagodas and temples.
On the other hand, you have a military junta ruled by fear and a thirst for power. They have destroyed Burma's economic, intellectual and spiritual capacity for over 45 years of brutality and mismanagement. There is no freedom of speech, of assembly and other liberties we take for granted. They have resorted to violence: raiding monasteries at night, beating civilians, firing on crowds – torturing activists, jailing monks and killing indiscriminately.
They have cut off Internet and communications access to the outside world, hoping that by shielding their actions, they can escape justice.
They are helped by countries that seek to gain from the Burmese misery: China, Russia and India. These three countries remain the top resources for the military junta, providing an economic platform through their exchange of cash for the country's natural resources. By their inaction to condemn, their silence has been deafening.
So what can we do?
Please support Burma by:
- Keeping up on the latest news of the humanitarian crisis
- Contact organizations in your country that may need support, hopefully through public outcry, the world's governments can apply political pressure and cause change for Burma
- Vote for your ideas with your pocketbook – know where your money goes, whether that is to companies or countries that do business with the current Burmese government
The issue has clear victims and tyrants. Let's then make our voices clear.