We have heard many stories of many repressive rulers from 70s-80s and even a bit in to 90s across the world.
Africa, where scores of asylum seekers landed up in USA during Idi Amin, Gadaffi rules. Pakistan - during ever running proxy ruling by military, Afganistan during taliban ruling.
Mostly religious extremists, or power crazed politicians with military authority has driven these sad stories across countries. And clearly in last two decades, there is a decrease in the count of such countries.
However, I never heard, a personal, heartfelt story of immigrants from Burma to USA during late 80s.
This gentleman, who is a colleague settled in USA for last 20 yrs, was a student of medicine in Burma - during 80s. A country which is Buddhist in religion - the most peaceful religion ever practiced has one of the longest running military rule. What an irony !!!
During the 80s, the colleges naturally became the center of unrest, and rebel against soldier rule ! The epicenter of the desire to live fearlessly as a normal society.
The soldiers closed all the schools, Kindergarten to University, for 8 years to suppress this !!! Taking away fundamental education for 8 complete years from an entire civilization is actually a huge blow to the society. Most poor countries use education as the only currency to thrive and grow ! And that only thing was taken away for so long.
My colleague becomes almost meditative narrating those days. He somehow made it to the shores of USA, did an engineering degree (switched from medicine) and landed up in the thriving tech industry of Bay Area.
It was a very touching story for me.. and shocking too coming from a peace loving Buddhist civilization.
Africa, where scores of asylum seekers landed up in USA during Idi Amin, Gadaffi rules. Pakistan - during ever running proxy ruling by military, Afganistan during taliban ruling.
Mostly religious extremists, or power crazed politicians with military authority has driven these sad stories across countries. And clearly in last two decades, there is a decrease in the count of such countries.
However, I never heard, a personal, heartfelt story of immigrants from Burma to USA during late 80s.
This gentleman, who is a colleague settled in USA for last 20 yrs, was a student of medicine in Burma - during 80s. A country which is Buddhist in religion - the most peaceful religion ever practiced has one of the longest running military rule. What an irony !!!
During the 80s, the colleges naturally became the center of unrest, and rebel against soldier rule ! The epicenter of the desire to live fearlessly as a normal society.
The soldiers closed all the schools, Kindergarten to University, for 8 years to suppress this !!! Taking away fundamental education for 8 complete years from an entire civilization is actually a huge blow to the society. Most poor countries use education as the only currency to thrive and grow ! And that only thing was taken away for so long.
My colleague becomes almost meditative narrating those days. He somehow made it to the shores of USA, did an engineering degree (switched from medicine) and landed up in the thriving tech industry of Bay Area.
It was a very touching story for me.. and shocking too coming from a peace loving Buddhist civilization.
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