HIGHLAND, UT | 22 May 2008 | Is it good to send foreign aid? Who should send it? What if those to whose aid a person is coming does not accept the aid? What should the world do about governments that exercise too much control over its citizens? The topic of force brings up many curious questions.

The recent cyclone in Southeast Asia and its resultant opportunity for aid has presented quite a stir among nations. Myanmar, once known as Burma and still insisted as such by human rights groups, has been ruled by a military junta for over 40 years. It was hit by Cyclone Nargis nearly three weeks ago. Entire towns have been leveled; the body count is in the six digits; and many fear more people will starve to death in the coming days and weeks. The U.S. and France both have naval ships loaded with aid packages waiting off the coast. The U.N. wishes to send aid as well. As do many other nations around the world. Only…the military dictators do not want foreigners to enter the country. Leaders in both the U.N. and the U.S. are upset at the country’s resistance. Recently, however, the junta has loosened their restrictions as they face the deaths of many more thousands.  

Key Points

• The military coup in 1962 has been the cause of many atrocities in Burma, robbing the country of its freedom and its prosperity, thus making it one of the poorest nations on earth.
• Do-gooders often use force to get their way. The UN and many individual countries have used emotional tyranny against the tyrannical junta to force their way, though limited, into the country with aid packages.
• What might have happened if the junta stuck to their guns (so to speak) and utterly refused aid workers to enter the country? More people would have died.
• What might have happened if the do-gooders would have still demanded to enter the country with their aid? The ultimate result is war where even more people would die.
• Both the junta and the aid workers practice tyrannical behavior, though simply on different levels and intensities.

Conclusion

The conflict in Myanmar since cyclone Nargis is only one of a larger scale that occurs in individuals, since the collective actions of both the junta and the aid organizations have no unique moral authority in themselves. We as individuals also struggle to overcome the effects of tyranny in our lives, both the tyrannies acted upon us and those we inflict upon people around us. Many times, individuals try to help others where the person is in desperate need of that help. When that help is refused, the helper begins to throw a tantrum, much like the U.N. and the U.S. and other countries displayed when refused access into the hard hit area of Burma.

The economic condition of the Burmese people was already strained when this cyclone hit their coasts, a perfect example of how force destroys freedom and prosperity. This strain has been exacerbated as the dictatorship refuses aid and is ill-equipped to provide its own aid. Though difficult to accomplish, the Burmese people have the right and the duty to throw off this junta and to provide new guards for their future safety and happiness. This is difficult because a military government generally has a monopoly on arms.

Action Items

1. Learn the art of gentle persuasion that does not use the tyranny of emotionalism to get your way.
2. Recognize that if you are in a position to help, you can only do so if the other person you intend to help accepts it. Resolve to help only when it is accepted.

MRFC Principles:  (4, 11, 12)

Resources

Associated Press, “Myanmar police block aid workers, food piles up.” Yahoo! News, May 13, 2008.

AFP, “Southeast Asian neighbors to lead Cyclone relief efforts,” Yahoo! News, May 19, 2008.

Patrick Barta and Krishna, “U.S. Support for Myanmar Dissedents Hinders Aid,” Wall Street Journal, May 15, 2008.

Associated Press, “U.N. urges Burma to allow in more foreign aid,” USA Today, May 20, 2008.

Associated Press, “UN chief goes to Myanmar to cajole junta over aid,” Yahoo! News, May 21, 2008.

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