Nargis was fate!
May 9, 2008
With a gaping look of angst similar to what played out during the Katrina catastrophe in this country, the heads of state around the world are trying to “help” Myanmar’s military ruler, Than Shwe, respond to Cyclone Nargis.
Problems abound.
- Over 100,000 people are dead; millions homeless and starving
- Than Shwe is a military dictator that didn’t get complete control of the idyllic former Burma by trusting carpet baggers.
- They have one of the more superstitious cultures on Earth
- Cities are cut off from food, water, communication and shelter
- As a country they compare well with Cuba as repressive and reclusive
President Bush said that “We’re prepared to move US Navy assets to help find those people who need help” but I am sure he meant the Seabees and not the military part of the Navy. But, as usual, the 3rd item above may be the most critical for NOT being able to help than the others but, of course, there are always multiple causes for behavior, political or individual.
Everyone in Myanmar relies on soothsayers, fortunetellers and spiritualism to make their decisions at every level of the society. It is all the rage. So, not just the generals and the government bureaucrats don’t want the help, the people themselves have a conflict in that they need to eat today but they believe in fate as a way of life; Nargis was their fate! That means they have to consult their spiritual leaders mentioned above.
There is a separate layer of logic or influence that controls the behavior of the leaders and the citizens that has a bigger influence than the life and death struggle they are waging right now. It is almost like an organized ‘thing’ they do. What this means in a bigger sense, those that want to help better be sensitive to the belief systems of the leaders or they won’t get anything done. Sound familiar?
The consequences of all this are bountiful for those trying to figure it out. Bottom line for the people in Myanmar:
- What I value may conflict with what you value
- What I believe is of value to me more than what you believe
- I value going to the advisor, soothsayer, fortuneteller to get direction
- I am subject to my fate
We’re lucky – knock on wood – that we live in a democracy where we exercise free choice to go to church and exercise our free will by voting that prevents dictators from overstepping the bounds of our government – except in Michigan and Florida – and for having institutions that take care of us without strings attached and provide for us during times of need. We should all go and pray that Myanmar’s kind autocratic bullying and superstition never takes root on American soil.
Now if I just had enough money for gas I’d go light a candle in the darkness at my church. I’ll have to walk even though it is raining. Better not open my umbrella in the house. It might catch that ladder over the doorway and scare Chester my black cat across my path.
After a Bloomberg.com article By En-Lai Yeoh
“What this means in a bigger sense, those that want to help better be sensitive to the belief systems of the leaders or they won’t get anything done. ”
man, that’s hard. To be sensitive to the belief systems you have to have some understanding and first hand knowledge.
When talking about values, often it’s tough to be sensitive to other’s values when you don’t value you those same things. You almost have to come to value you similar things to be credibly sensitive.
no?
OR…
you have to trust that you know they got the way they are – same processes applied differnetly, – as you got the way you were.
What is hard is not knowing how it all works. What’s hard is praying for someone to live or get better while someone dies due to no treatment. That is frought with waste of time and resources. So, this isn’t hard, it is what happens…
…you want to help a friend get through a death in the family you don’t mock your friends funeral service. You want to celebrate a friends wedding you don’t refuse to attend just because it is a same-sex marriage.
You either have empathy for your friend or you don’t…
You either want to celebrate it or you don’t…
It all goes back to the Jack Nicholson lines in “A Few Good Men” while he was on the stand…
YOU DIDNT ANSWER MY QUESTION!!! THIS SITE SUCKS
what was the question again?
Awesomeness we are sorry.
You are entitled of course. Any oversight to prevent you from getting your way will be dealt with in the harshest of manner possible and in a way to prevent it ever from happening again.
Now, to reiterate, what was your question? What was the sinew of what you asked that we fell short on? What can this web site, devoted to social mode exchange, possible tell you that would relieve you contempt for the site and the people that work to exchange content perspective. Please, oh please help us correct our ways.
You don’t own a gun do you?
I personally await your response…
Mason Jar