I Won't Give Up Hope on Burma

Read this and tell me you can imagine living like this. The title of the article says it all, "Where traitors soon meet their tragic ends." Herein lies the problem. Who defines what a traitor is? Let us not forget that this country was founded on by "traitors" to the Crown of England, was it not?

Let's take a look at our Declaration of Independence as it is a very fine and wonderful document.

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.

This is not the whole document. But, let us look what we have before us in relation to Burma. By marching and demonstrating, the people of Burma have been clearly stating that they want the democratic government that they voted for installed and governing them, not this junta that is in place now. The people have made their statement. The reason for the separation from the ruling junta is quite obvious to anyone. The people of Burma live in fear, poverty and without basic freedoms.

Moving to the second paragraph, we do hold these truths to be self-evident, all men are created equal. We all have the right to the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. The people in Burma have these rights as well.

The founding fathers of our country set the bar rather high, which is why I love the United States, even if my county is no longer acting the way I wish she would.

In principle (and even in action), the United States, although messy and loud, has freedom. I can criticize, opine to my heart's desire and no one will bother me, come to get me, etc. Allegedly, we think that this is truth is self-evident. Why don't we do more to push China to allow those people who think just as we do and did back in 1776 their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of freedom?

Bad Kitty wants to know.