AFP reports
The United States said Thursday it was mulling dropping food and aid into cyclone-ravaged parts of Myanmar and did not rule out doing so without approval from the country’s military rulers.
Is this the proper thing to do? Honestly, part of me thinks it is; but part of me knows by experience that help forced is soundly repudiated. “Do not cast your pearls to the swine or they will turn and rend you for it” is absolutely true in many respects and at a number of levels. The alcoholic who needs help won’t change her behavior until she decides she wants help; and if you attempt to force change the result will be disastrous. Similarly, it seems to me, that attempts to force the government of Myanmar to accept aid without their consent will end badly- both for those giving it and for those getting it. That government has proven itself to be brutal and unconcerned for its populace before; should villagers find manna dropped from heaven, what will the government do to them in retaliation?
On the other hand, if help is withheld, the results will be certain death for thousands more. This situation really is critical and decisions must be made quickly. We should all urge the government of Myanmar to receive help freely given now. You can contact them here. Please do, it won’t take a minute. And it may well save lives.
6 Comments
if they do drop food then I guess they better not complain if planes get shot down?
Better to bomb them with food than with bombs, especially if you have any interest in winning friends and influencing people rather than making enemies and obliterating them.
I knew this comment would come across wrong. All I was meaning was that if Burma (I mean Myanmar) does want help and we fly planes over Burma (Myanmar) to drop food (to win friends and influence people) would it be surprising if a few planes came back with holes in them? If they don’t want help, should we force it? I am sure the people want help, the government doesn’t for fear it will loose control. No?
The Burmese people (and people of all the other ethnic groups affected) want help pretty desperately. The military dictators who since 1962 have been the “government” are obstructing this humanitarian effort because they fear foreigners being around when their referendum takes place on Saturday and in the worst hit areas on 24th as they might notice the soldiers whose job will be to ensure that the population do not make a mistake and vote against their masters.
Under those circumstances what do you think other governments should do?
If it were me- I would organize flights to drop via parachute everything needed in the remote areas not now being helped and the government be cursed. Lives are more important than politics- or political consequences. At this point it’s almost too late…
But Jim, then you would be interfering in the sovereignty and indepedence of another country. You would be doing, in humanitarian terms, the same thing the CIA used to do with guns and money.
Bad Jim, bad….
Yeah, I wouldn’t hesitate to do it either. Of course, me and Attila are like that.
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