The violence in Egypt and Libya can be contrasted with an event that occurred today in Washington D.C.: Aung San Suu Kyi received her Congressional Gold Medal, awarded to her in 2008. Suu Kyi had spent roughly fifteen years under house arrest in Burma for her activities in support of democracy. Her courage in the face of confinement and threats is an inspiration to us all.
It also should cause us to reflect on the fate of all political prisoners in the world, from the US to North Korea. Organizations such as Amnesty International are to be commended for their work in keeping these prisoners in the public's eye.
And, on a positive note, Suu Kyi's resistance shows us that sometimes even brutal political systems can be resisted and overcome through an act of individual will.
No comments:
Post a Comment