08/08/08

Eight is considered a lucky number in China, so today, 08/08/08, is the opening day of the Olympics.

Today, 08/08/08, leaves just 88 days left before the presidential election in November.

But 08/08/08 is significant for another reason, one that I'm not hearing much of anything about. Today is the 20th anniversary of a massive uprising and massacre in Burma. It's known as the "8888 Uprising." On August 8, 1988, one million students, peasants, workers and monks united to overthrow the dictatorship that enslaved them. In response the military regime fired upon and killed an estimated 3,000 civilians over the course of the next month.

The uprising was successful in that one regime was ousted, but unfortunately another one filled the vacuum. In 1990 Aung San Suu Kyi was democratically elected as the new leader of Burma. Her landslide victory was never recognized by the junta and she remains under house arrest to this day.

U2 paid tribute to her cause in the beautiful and inspiring "Walk On." The song reflects on her decision to stay with her people even when she was offered the option of exile. It also honors her commitment to non-violent resistance in the face of brutal military oppression.

For a series of previous posts on Suu Kyi and the situation in Burma see that category link over there on the right labeled "Free Burma!"

Today, 08/08/08, China is the main supporter of the corrupt junta in Burma. Eight certainly was not a lucky number for the Burmese people. Not sure that I'm much interested in watching the Olympics this time around....

Comments

[Mike]

Powerful Tim... thanks for posting.

[wilsonian]

I didn't realize how the timing all lines up...
I'm with Mike. Thanks for the post.