FOR MORE THAN A week, monks in Burma have been protesting the reign of military dictators in the small Asian country.Things turned violent yesterday when the military opened fire on protesters. Nine people were killed including a Japanese journalist who was covering the protests.
There is a real lack of appreciation in America for foreign news, but this story represents why you should care. These monks were protesting for their rights. This is about freedom of speech, as well as other basic Democratic and human rights.
This story, from the Times of London, is a fascinating personal account of what one journalist witnessed during the bloody day.
5 comments:
as 'too simple' as it sounds, this makes me really sad. I hear people on campus everyday saying how much they hate America, but I think even they could appreciate their country if they saw this...
:(
I am really glad to see this on our class blog. The BBC has people reporting first hand accounts from inside Burma. There are a few who still have Internet conections who work at an embassy, or a large company.
Here is the link.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7011884.stm
MJ
This is horrible. I hate when I don't even HEAR things like this because it makes me feel like such a self-involved American...like I don't even care enough to find out what's going on in the world.
People always go around saying how much they hate America and hate being here. Sure, I might not agree with everything that goes on here (who does??) but you'll never hear me say I hate America. What other country can you live in that even GIVES you the freedom to say that? I don't support the war in Iraq...I want our soldiers back... I'm not Bush's #1 fan...but at the end of the day, I'm so so so happy to be growing up in America. I can wear what I want, think what I think, and say what I feel. So many people in so many countries don't have that freedom.
Well, according to some comments I hear from others in our class, a lot of my classmates hate Democracy and Free Speech, so why should we care about people fighting for it in other countries?
People hate Democracy and free speech? Heretics! Point them out ... we'll have to rough them up after class.
- George (the teacher and joke-maker)
Post a Comment