(no subject)

[sophiaserpentia]

I didn't think they'd have the guts to actually do it... to gun down unarmed, unarmored, pacifist, vegetarian Buddhist monks in the street. To break into monasteries and beat them bloody and then cart them off to prison and torture.

But then, i am eternally an optimist. I am the sort of person who holds out hope that even a jackbooted thug is capable of retaining some semblance of their humanity, in looking upon the clergy they probably once revered as much as everyone else around them and questioning, at least the slightest little bit, the order to fire upon them.

Considering that the Burmese military junta killed 3,000 people the last time around (during their crackdowns on student protests 19 years ago), maybe the prominence of monks in this round of protests has encouraged them to show a little restraint.

To know that someone, somewhere, can find the courage to go into the streets and look upon a line of troops in riot gear, and bear witness to injustice in spite of fear and violence... it gives me hope and faith. Faced with the same danger, would i do the same? I like to think i would, but i won't know for certain until i find myself in the same position.

Comments

[nationelectric.livejournal.com]

Amen.

[lightvortex.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean.

I wish I knew what was going through their minds when they decided to shoot / sent out the orders to shoot, but obviously I don't.

[usha93.livejournal.com]

The way I understand it, they were ready to give the order to shoot immediately, but held off due to pressure from China, their largest trade partner, who feared negative publicity this close to the Beijing Olympics.

I guess they got tired of waiting. The reason the military coup-members have been able to retain power for so long is everyone knows it's a brutal regime, with no compunctions about suppressing any and all protests, by any means possible.

To be honest, I'm a little surprised they held off as long as they did! :{

[dorisp.livejournal.com]

I think you've already shown a massive amount of courage.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

Nah, what i've done is survival, stuff i didn't really have any choice about. But thank you.

[dorisp.livejournal.com]

Why are those of us that are self-deprecating (myself included) so prone not to see our own courage?

Your transition is not simply survival. Survival is the basest form of existence. You had food and shelter and you've said less debt before you started your transition. You were surviving. Instead, you had the courage to risk your own survival for a chance at happiness.

Accept the fact that you are courageous IMO. :)