Violence, Resources and the Government

[fatherofcaitlyn]

Any thoughts on Myanmar?

The UN is trying to send aid needed by people affected by the cyclone, but the military junta would rather their own people starve.

 

[pittpizza]

FOC, from what I've heard they finally let the UN come in and accepted aid (thank G-d).

Still, the fact that they refused in the first place is entirely ed up. It's as if a natural disaster is an embarasment to them and treated as a military secret. Disgraceful. Asking for/accepting help is not shameful in the least.

 

[homeland]

believe I heard that they took the UN supplies and ripped off the UN logos and put the Myanmars leaders names on it. pretty'd up

 

[trq]

[quote name='pittpizza']FOC, from what I've heard they finally let the UN come in and accepted aid (thank G-d).

Still, the fact that they refused in the first place is entirely ed up. It's as if a natural disaster is an embarasment to them and treated as a military secret. Disgraceful. Asking for/accepting help is not shameful in the least.[/QUOTE]

Well, it's not about "shame" or even an inability to install an effectual government; Myanmar has been going through some ... let's politically call it "civil strife." The aid was resisted not because it was seen as a handout, but because it would help the very people the government didn't want helped. Same with Africa: it's not they can't run a government, it's that there will always be those who see misfortune as an opportunity to further their own ends, and Africa is no stranger to misfortune.

 

[jaykrue]

[quote name='fatherofcaitlyn']Any thoughts on Myanmar?

The UN is trying to send aid needed by people affected by the cyclone, but the military junta would rather their own people starve.[/quote]

I've already covered it.
[quote name='jaykrue']The thing about 3rd world countries is that the level of corruption is so high that it takes place in open view because the perpetrators have (what passes for) the governmental body in their pockets. You literally have to bribe someone to stay honest and it's difficult to do that for a long term because it's much easier to take the bribe and keep the money/aid anyway to do whatever they please. I've seen it firsthand in Thailand, Burma, Laos, Liberia, Russia, Cuba, Mexico, etc. and even in my own birthplace - the Philippines.[/quote]

In this case, the perpetrators are the government. Sometimes I hate it when I'm right. It's far too easy to suppress people than it is to help them out. And since the people have long endured such oppression, their collective will to fight back has essentially been squashed.