Deprogramming the Soldier's Mind
The following was written by Htet Myat translated to English by KZH.The story is made possible from the team behind Breaking Brainwashed.
“I feel like we need to try harder to deprogram the brainwashing of the military.”
Some people loathe me and others approve of me when I post on social media. Some readers include former soldiers. Some of these can differentiate between right and wrong. But some of them are still trapped in the propaganda of the military. I speak to them sometimes. It feels good to talk with real soldiers. They feel disheartened by the military tormenting our people. They tell me that what the military is doing tarnishes the honor of true soldiers. In fact, they are full of hatred toward the military that they still serve! I feel alive listening to them. One even told me that he would take part when the time comes, even if he is disabled. People who have their hearts in the right place only say meaningful things. What SAC is doing was intolerable for them, according to their experience throughout their military career. It was distressing and heartbreaking to them. A certain one didn’t know joined CDM, and commented he is now so irritated. He said he is proud of me and encouraged me to keep writing my feelings and stories. I feel warm knowing these kinds of people exist.
But there still exist those who don’t know who their true benefactor is. Former soldiers and military supporters who are misinformed keep cursing at me in the comments of my essays. They don’t think I am telling the truth. “Aba”, or their military father, continues to be absolute to them. Whatever Aba does is right! Even after leaving the army, they think the army is never wrong. What is worse is, they think the people and the country should be thankful for the army! They think they are the savior. They still feel grateful to the army for feeding them, and have no sense of duty to the people and government. They call us ungrateful traitors!
They think we are in the wrong. I didn’t feel angry when they call us names. I just felt sorry. They will forever be trapped in the military’s indoctrination.
I always try to acknowledge and reply to every comment under my post because I know everyone who commented is friendly and has constructive criticisms.
Even if I’m not free, I always try my best to give some kind of discussion to their comments. I always treat everyone respectfully, but I will skip any comment from junta supporters who have bad intentions.
I welcome healthy and civil discussions but one-sided arguments are better left neglected. I’m sure everyone who is my acquaintance also agrees with me on this topic.
They would simply ignore any kind of non-constructive comments without keeping those in mind. That’s how I like to deal with negative comments.
Thinking back, these soldiers and military supporters have such miserable lives that no one would take their words seriously. I pity them. They become distant from being a human, even. They only believe in the dictator’s propaganda. No outside information can reach them easily, and that is also why I try to write what I do, to share the real truth. But it is exactly what their leaders want: misinformation to blind them. They take those little salaries and show gratitude to the military. They don’t know that soldiers from other countries have more rights and privileges. They don’t know that the military could treat them better. With what soldiers in other countries get for their duty, they could afford better education for their children. But instead, they could only enroll their children in schools provided by the military. They don’t know they are being ripped off. They don’t know that and instead of protecting their true benefactor, the people, they are loyal to their dictator leaders. These lives will only lead to worse conditions.
That’s why I help anyone that can still be safe from the grasp of the dictatorship. But I will have to turn a blind eye to those who are far beyond saving. They would only attack me and think I am lying to them. Moreover, I was kind of shocked by how strong the propaganda of the military was. These soldiers don’t know their lives are being ruined and can’t see who is doing that. I feel like we need to try harder to deprogram the brainwashing of the military.