10 May 2008
One of the great things about being an American is the fact that I
live in a country where the people are genuinely compassionate.
Sure, we=92re not very compassionate with each other about political
issues. But that=92s mostly because in our hearts, we all know we=92re
powerless over the big things that shape our lives. Things like
government, taxes, skin color, affirmative action, someone=92s ***ual
orientation, or the right to turn our homes into mini armories.
Some people accept that they really can=92t change much other than the
way they live their personal lives. Other people are scared of how
powerless the really are. They hoot, holler, and wor****p false Gods
such as radio talk show hosts, both liberal and conservative.
But, when the chips are down we all seem to pull together.
That=92s why so many Americans are frustrated over the fact that they
can do nothing to help the people of Burma after a tropical cyclone
killed 100,000 people when it made land this week.
The reason we cannot express our compassion is because Burma=92s ultra
repressive government =96 a Military Junta =96 doesn=92t want outsiders
roaming its West Coast. It fears that accepting efficient on-the-
ground help from Westerners could show up the government as slow and
unprepared, and that those aid workers would seek to supply dissidents
who oppose the strict, suspicious military rule.
The contrast would also infect other non-political Burmese with
political dissatisfaction=85 as if hunger, food riots and a million more
dead from post-cyclone diseases won=92t.
Now, that=92s really powerless.
By Andy Carpenter
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