Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Aung San Suu Kyi Of Myanmar: Free, Visiting America, Receiving Awards

If you are inclined to visit this site, you probably need no introduction to Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's indefatigable democracy and human rights advocate, who struggled for decades with her country's heretofore authoritarian government, frequently imprisoned (usually house arrest) for her activities.

At long last, Myanmar (a.k.a. Burma) is taking some steps toward a freer society and a more representative government... not in a big hurry, but after decades of uncompromising totalitarian rule, the steps they have taken are welcome. Ms. Suu Kyi is a member of the new Parliament. Best of all, this icon of democracy and freedom is now permitted to travel (though I am uncertain what degree of freedom she enjoys). At present, she is in the United States, accepting a Congressional Gold Medal, and meeting informally with President Obama... I'm sure the two Nobel Peace Prize winners had a lot to talk about.

This has been your daily dose of hope and optimism. I wish it were actually daily, but even the struggle, especially with the occasional victory, can inspire the best in us.

9 comments:

  1. House arrested Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar (Burma), winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, by Steve McCurry

    http://stevemccurry.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/burma-10032nf51.jpg

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  2. Enfant, perhaps we should make it clear that Suu Kyi is not currently under house arrest; the picture is probably from a few years ago.

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  3. (Nice house, but arrest is arrest. If you can't leave, you are not a free person, no matter what privileges you may have as you sit in your gilded cage.)

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  4. Oops... the photo was put up earlier this year. Maybe it is more recent. If so, I stand corrected.

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  5. Again oops... we were apparently posting at the same time. Nov. 2010 is when she was released, right?

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  6. Suu Kyi is a woman and heroine of world wide renown. When she meets Obama, only one of them is richly deserving of the Noble Peace Prize and it ain't Barack.

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  7. karmanot, I agree. Obama's nomination to the Nobel was event-driven, and I can't remember the event at the moment. It was also rather a sharp stick in the eye of our GOP, who if you recall had been behaving badly in human rights matters at least since GeeDubya was inaugurated.

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