Thailand's new PM scolds Western nations for picking on Myanmar's ruling junta
The Associated Press
Published: March 16, 2008
BANGKOK, Thailand: Thailand's new prime minister said Sunday Westerners were overly critical of Myanmar and that he had a newfound respect for the nation's military leaders after learning they meditate like good Buddhists.
"Westerners have a saying, 'Look at both sides of the coin,' but Westerners only look at one side," Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said in his weekly television talk show, two days after an official visit to Myanmar.
"Myanmar is a Buddhist country. Myanmar's leaders meditate. They say the country lives in peace," Samak said, noting that he has studied Myanmar for decades but just learned that members of the junta meditate.
(More on the International Herald Tribune: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/16/news/Myanmar.php)
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"I’d rather be ruled by a wise Muslim than a foolish Buddhist."
-Burmakin
9 comments:
Alas! At first I thought only Burmese interpret "war as peace".Now I realize there are also many non-Burmese who also interpret this arrogant militarism as peace. The term "bigot" is a very good match to these stupid ruling elites.
Teacher,
MG
Dear Ko Burmakin,
Just an imagination of subjectivity:
The elderly Tibetan woman picture in your blog with the cryptic wording of mindful fear sounds like the bad omen for the current Tibetan riot.The woman looked so accustomed to hardships in her life , so is the Tibetan people under the coarse weather,economic and political conditions.Yet,this cute innocent child is looking up his grandmother with those innocent eyes simply believing that his grandma was the most powerful in the world.For him,everything in the world is safe and warm if his grandma is holding his small hand firmly in hers.
Symbols often tell some abstruse secrets of the world.This picture is also one of the most mysterious symbols of life, suffering, restraints, powerlessness and most important,"HOPE" of the Tibetan and Burmese.
Thiri
Burmakin,
Beware of what you wish for!
Afghanistan was also a buddhist country long time ago.
Muslims more numerous than Catholics (19.2 percent of world population)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080330/ap_on_re_eu/vatican_muslims
Burmakin,
We don't have to look for other guys to fix our own problem. We have to fix by ourselves.
Sorry, the URL is
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080330/ap_on_re_eu/vatican_muslims
Burmakin is a charlatan!He talks too much about Buddhism and he is singing praises to Muslims!
I think Burmese are wishing for Christian King , not a muslim one both are organized religions where they control people.
For me I'd rather be a Buddhist since no one controls our minds. The King can stay on his throne as long as we do not need to pay tax. :)
I disgree with your words, Burmakin.
For me, sincerely I don't want to be ruled by wise muslim since muslim oppress your freedom of belief. They force you to become muslim.
I rather want to be ruled by a wise free thinker rather than tyrant buddhist. And for sure, I don't want buddhism to be taken over by other religions.
Ka Daung Nyin Thar
I stumble on this post and it is a surprise.Today is Martin Luther King Jr.'s day!
In SEA history, Thailand was smart enough and had never been under any colony.On the other hand,it is now evident that its people and leaders are still not mature enough to understand the primaries of democracy.Here, I might say "the sense of brotherhood" as a primary condition for " freedom of expression" from the lessons learned from the land of smiles. The democratic institutions can be effective for life, liberty and pursuit of happiness only when there is legacy of understanding,realizing,and affirmation of primaries in the foundation of democracy.
US people also had the similar situation of naive understanding of democracy before the rise of Dr King.The democratic institutions existing at that time unfairly marginalized the Black population from accessing to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness as Whites could enjoy.
"But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land",
Dr King said in his great American rhetoric, " I have a dream".
Currently,Burmese also find themselves in the lonely island of poverty in the midst of the vast ocean of material resources that their motherland has. Burmese find themselves exiles in their own land. Discrimination and oppression from "military meritocracy and military aristocracy" breaks down all the dreams of you Burmese, Burmakin.
Nevertheless, we hope that we all can still have a dream. As Dr King said,
"Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
Wishing one day the dream of freedom and equality will prevail in Burmese's land,
regards,
Jim
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