In Myanmar, a new kind of nationalism
Although this interview took place over a year and a half ago, the powerful words of the young activist, May, still ring profoundly. Aired just weeks after the military coup in Myanmar, she is still finding her footing as she expresses her ardent determination to make whatever sacrifice is necessary to restore her country to freedom. A very emotional reminder of just how much those in Myanmar are risking to regain their freedom and democracy. May her words reach far corners of the world, and may the Golden Land shine again.
“As the younger generation we’ve spent half of our life under the dictatorship and the other half in a pseudo-democracy.”
“It's been really exhausting. I guess that's the only valid word that I could use to describe how I've been feeling. There's this sort of well inside me to just go out and scream and just dispose the military! It's very hard to describe, but this feeling inside me arose that I didn't know existed. Perhaps it's called nationalism, perhaps it's patriotism. I do not know what it is, but I've been ignited inside. When I say ignited, I mean that feeling that this cannot happen and that I would do anything for this country.
I never viewed myself as nationalistic or as a patriot but I wouldn't want to see my country in shackles again. And if I would have to die tomorrow to achieve that, if I knew for certain that it's going to happen I would not be afraid to die. But I also know that this is not just my personal feelings. I know that a lot of people feel the same way.
We've seen how we've been pulled back from society. We've been economically damaged. We've been put into shackles. As the younger generation we've spent half of our life under the dictatorship and the other half in a pseudo-democracy. So I think the contrast for us was very stark. And that ignites a lot of extreme feelings inside of us.”