While Palin Rattles A Saber She Should Not Been Given; Aung San Suu Kyi Quietly, Peacefully Delivers Another Blow to the Burmese Thugocracy
By Richard Power
Ah, if only Hunter S. Thompson were alive to write the definitive screed on the phenomena of Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK). She would be a perfect foil for his genius.
Indeed, she is so dangerous that even Charlie Gibson couldn't help gift-wrap her.
There she was -- less than one month after she was thrust on to the national scene -- making a bad situation worse, ratcheting up tensions with Russia on network TV, and cavalierly affirming her willingness to commit to war with Russia, which means, of course, WWW III, nuclear war, mutual annihilation, etc. (Click here to view it for yourself.)
Two weeks ago, when Palin was named as the Republican VP nominee, I asked you to ponder the disturbing contrast between the US mainstream news media's extensive coverage of her ascension to prominence, on the one hand, and its utter silence about the hunger strike of world-renowned Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, on the other. (See Weigh the Coverage of Sarah Palin's Ascension Against the Coverage of Aung San Suu Kyi's Hunger Strike & Ask Yourself What Happened to Your Culture?)
Well, now, rather than channeling Hunter, I choose instead to report some rare encouraging news from Burma -- Aung San Suu Kyi's hunger strike was victorious.
She has won some poignantly humble concessions from the Burmese Thugocracy that has held her under house arrest for more han 13 of the last 19 years; they have agreed to allow her to receive magazines and newspapers, and personal mail, and a monthly visit from her doctor.
Aung San Suu Kyi is a woman of true power and true freedom.
Whenever the nightmare of Palin answering the red phone seeps into my conscious mind, I block it out with the image of Aung San Suu Kyi.
I suggest you too can draw strength from Aung San Suu Kyi's example, as you campaign against the thuggery that threatens this Republic.
Remember what Aung San Suu Kyi stands against (e.g., violence, oppression, corruption), remember what she stands for (e.g., peace, democracy, integrity).
Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has won some concessions from the military regime, including future deliveries of international magazines and personal mail, according to her lawyer, Kyi Win.
Kyi Win visited Suu Kyi on Thursday, and on Friday he told The Irrawaddy that in return for the government concessions she agreed to accept deliveries again of food and household supplies.
“She was aware that people are worried about her health,” said Kyi Win “But she said that she knows well how to take care of herself.”
Suu Kyi’s doctor, Tin Myo Win, would visit her on Sunday and then report on her health and on the reports that she had been on a hunger strike, Kyi Win said.
Suu Kyi would again accept outside supplies after the Sunday meeting with her doctor, who would bring her letters from her two sons, who live abroad.
Kyi Win said she would also be allowed to receive international magazines such as Time and Newsweek and local newspapers.
He told The Irrawaddy: “She is very happy. I’m very happy too. It is positive for both the authorities and her.”
Suu Kyi had been demanding better conditions of her house arrest, including access to information, deliveries of private mail and monthly visits by her physician. SAW YAN NAING, Suu Kyi Wins Concessions from the Regime, Irrawaddy, 9-12-08
For a Words of Power Archive of Human Rights Updates on Burma and other crises, click here.
For an archive of Words of Power posts on Campaign '08, click here.
For Words of Power's archive of posts on Corporate News Media Complicity, Power of Alternative Media, Propaganda & Freedom, click here.
Richard Power's Left-Handed Security: Overcoming Fear, Greed & Ignorance in This Era of Global Crisis is available now! Click here for more information.
Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi,Hunter Thompson, Sarah Palin, Human Rights
