Friday, September 28, 2007

The View Beyond

16 Ramadhan

Just over halfway through the fast and it's become a familiar place to be. Not easy, but familiar, almost friendly. It's easy to lose oneself at such a time looking inward, but there's a world beyond, always, and dark places therein.

The news from Burma is not good. Brian Ng remarked to me today on the feeling of powerlessness that watching and listening to the reports from Rangoon engenders. The BBC World Service ran a brief report on an unsubstantiated e-mail they'd received (at this point I think the Internet there is pretty much closed down) which suggested the death toll was a lot higher yesterday than the nine the military government had admitted to. It talked of trucks being driven deliberately into crowds.

I've taught a few Burmese students over the years and they've been memorably good-natured, sweet individuals. There are times when you just can't make things connect. I suspect the generals who are pulling the strings there are simple, stupid, greedy thugs. Always dangerous people to have around; deadly if they get their hands on power.

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