Burma's Isolation
Melody Mociulski first came to Burma in 1974 as a backpacker on the Hippie Trail, and has been involved with the country since, as she discussed in our recent podcast conversation. As a world traveler who has been to dozens of countries, I asked her, “Why Burma?” In other words, what about the country and people stayed in her heart, after all these years and this distance, to continue to be as involved as she’s been. This is her answer.
“These young people possess the necessary tools and connections in their minds to organize and communicate, while minimizing their risk of being caught within the country. They are even willing to sacrifice their lives for progress.”
“I guess there are two factors that I keep pondering over. One is the country's prolonged isolation for at least 50 years. Generations have grown up knowing only one way of life, unaware of the positive aspects of the West. It's similar to what we've seen in Korea, where people only know what they hear and that becomes their world. They understand hunger and the absence of books, but they lack broader knowledge. However, the younger generation [in Myanmar], who have had more exposure and awareness in the last 12-15 years, are more informed. They have joined networks in other countries, learned how to communicate rapidly, and mobilized effectively. I truly believe that the civil disobedience movement today has gained momentum due to these young people who possess the necessary tools and connections in their minds to organize and communicate, while minimizing their risk of being caught within the country. They are even willing to sacrifice their lives for progress.
The other factor I see is the geography. As an American, I'm always surprised to learn how few Americans have traveled outside the US. Not everyone here cares about the rest of the world. They are often influenced by news, whether accurate or not, but they don't truly care. They are focused on their own lives. This attitude likely exists in many other countries as well. So, when it comes to Burma, surrounded by larger nations, people may have a vague awareness. They know about the Burma Road and its significance during the war with Japan, but they don't really know much about Burma, or Myanmar as it's now called. They might have heard the name Aung San Suu Kyi, but they lack a deep understanding of her story.”