Reuters reports that the Burmese junta's controlled courts have been handing down long sentences to people associated with the democratic opposition, including an 85-year old man given 7 1/2 years.
The Bush administration has been firm on Burma; the problem has been the Chinese who sell the Burmese oil and have refused to put any real pressure on the regime.
I fear that the only course for change now would be for thousands of Burmese to be willing to face down the army, hoping that at some point the soldiers will refuse orders to shoot.
Would you stand in the front rank of that crowd? I like to think I would, but I seriously doubt that I have that kind of courage.
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When one thinks about having that kind of courage one is at least skeptical, uncertain and given to wanderings about how one would react. The key word here is "react", in contrast to "think".
In confrontations our human nature is more likely to prompt us to react in different ways than we might when given sufficient to think.
Give yourself a break. History is replete with stories of extraordinary responses which, ordinarily would not be expected from homo sapien, sapien.
Many philosophers and novelists have speculated and written about those elements of human nature.
Anecdotal offerings in the long history of our species, suggest that a living, breathing life form is capable of extraordinary actions of physical, emotional and instinctual responses.
It's important to support, admire, commend and speak up for those who stand up to abuse and cruelty.
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