(bumped @ 9ET ….peace – promoted by buhdydharma )
Today there are many bloggers joining together to support those in Burma who have risked their lives to spread the truth. This article gives some details about what bloggers in Burma have had to subject themselves to just to tell their stories. As a sign of solidarity, thousands of people across the globe are dedicating their stories today to the freedom of Burma. I am one of them.
Also, for any of you Penn State students or Alumni, Chevron has made a deal with the school for $17.5 million for researching coal. I wrote the Collegian (the student paper) about the importance of not supporting Chevron if they support freedom in Burma. I think it will be published tomorrow. I hope my fellow Penn Stater’s will let them know we don’t support Chevron, and we don’t support Penn State accepting their money. Every little bit that we all do adds to the collective and once it’s large enough we can bring about change.
I wrote an in depth analysis that I posted here about the influence and importance the internet has played in the recent events in Burma. I would recommend you read it, not because I want more people to read my stuff, but because there are excerpts of the direct line of communications first coming out of Burma this past Friday. I have never seen something so inspiring, frustrating, and urgent in my life. Never before has anyone with an internet connection been able to have direct access to communication like this and I think it is important to see for yourself.
As soon as the world took notice, they shut down the internet. It was powerful enough to seriously threaten their government. The internet created a people powered movement that came very close to overthrowing a brutal dictatorship, and still may. That’s pretty impressive in the grand scheme of things.
There are those who say there is no hope, and those who criticize for not taking similar action for other atrocities across the world. But this is the situation we’re in now, and this is how we’re trying to help. The internet has played a very important role in getting out the individual stories and to spread the truth before it was filtered out by the main stream media and politicians. This is an opportunity to start a change in the way the world reacts to injustice. And I for one, and proud to be a part of that, no matter how small you may think it is.
It is a sign of rare times when Buddhist monks are subjected to the horrors of oppression and violence while the whole world watches.
We do need to start somewhere. And the people of Burma can use all the help they can get. They are unarmed, the monks are being arrested, beaten and killed, and the lines of communication are shut down. I can’t arm the people, I can’t save the monk’s from prison, I don’t hold the influence or power to overthrow their government, but I can be a line of communication. I can make sure that their voices are not lost. And that is what today is about. Making their voices heard, and working together to bring hope to those who desperately need it.
Because sometimes that is all we have, and all we need.
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I was irate and frustrated with some of the bigger blogs not doing more this day. I’ve cried for what is happening in Burma, and I’ve gotten teary at other times, to see the love and support from bloggers that do care.
I hope everyone that can goes over to the orange place to support your diary there.
Victory Coffee in orange
thank you
Great Essay, I m going to move it over to the Front Page.
Buddha: “What is the appropriate behavior for a man or a woman in the midst of this world, where each person is clinging to his piece of debris? What’s the proper salutation between people as they pass each other in this flood?”
“Hi. Let’s help each other.” That would be an appropriate salutation, IMO.
Thank you to everyone everywhere who has spoken out and taken action for Burma today, it’s been a privilege to be a part of it.