An Enduring Symbol of Peace During Recent Unrest in Myanmar – Humanitarian Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

In a famous speech given to the National League for Democracy Suu Kyi brought the concepts of Mahatma Gandhi into clear focus when she said:
“It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it… Fearlessness may be a gift but perhaps more precious is the courage acquired through endeavor, courage that comes from cultivating the habit of refusing to let fear dictate one’s actions, courage that could be described as ‘grace under pressure’ – grace which is renewed repeatedly in the face of harsh, unremitting pressure….

Within a system which denies the existence of basic human rights, fear tends to be the order of the day. Fear of imprisonment, fear of torture, fear of death, fear of losing friends, family, property or means of livelihood, fear of poverty, fear of isolation, fear of failure. Fear of imprisonment, fear of torture, fear of death, fear of losing friends, family, property or means of livelihood, fear of poverty, fear of isolation, fear of failure.

A most insidious form of fear is that which masquerades as common sense or even wisdom, condemning as foolish, reckless, insignificant or futile the small, daily acts of courage which help to preserve man’s self-respect and inherent human dignity. A most insidious form of fear is that which masquerades as common sense or even wisdom, condemning as foolish, reckless, insignificant or futile the small, daily acts of courage which help to preserve man’s self-respect and inherent human dignity.

It is not easy for a people conditioned by fear under the iron rule of the principle that might is right to free themselves from the enervating miasma of fear. It is not easy for a people conditioned by fear under the iron rule of the principle that might is right to free themselves from the enervating miasma of fear. Yet even under the most crushing state machinery courage rises up again and again, for fear is not the natural state of civilized man.

The wellspring of courage and endurance in the face of unbridled power is generally a firm belief in the sanctity of ethical principles combined with a historical sense that despite all the setbacks condition of man is set on an ultimate course for both spiritual and material advancement. It is his capacity for self-improvement and self-redemption which most distinguishes man from the mere brute.

At the root of human responsibility is the concept of perfection, the urge to achieve it, the intelligence to find a path towards it, and the will to follow that path if not to the end at least the distance needed to rise above individual limitations and environmental impediments.

It is man’s vision of a world fit for rational, civilized humanity which leads him to dare and to suffer to build societies free from want and fear. It is man’s vision of a world fit for rational, civilized humanity which leads him to dare and to suffer to build societies free from want and fear.

Concepts such as truth, justice and compassion cannot be dismissed as trite when these are often the only bulwarks which stand against ruthless power.”

“I always pray for Aung San Suu Kyi and hope that she will be released soon,” said the Dalai Lama to the press in 2006. The Dalai Lama has corresponded regularly with Suu Kyi up until the last three years when Suu Kyi’s contact with the outside world was discontinued. “Aung San Suu Kyi is a person I admire a lot, both for her courage and her sacrifice,” added fellow Nobel Peace Laureate H.H. Dalai Lama.

Today the words of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi ring clear, even through the rising conflict inside the Union of Myanmar today. For many of the citizens of Myanmar Suu Kyi still represents a new world and a greater possibility for peace.
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Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi speaks on the philosophy of Non-Violence

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Sources for this article include The Permanent Mission of the Union of Myanmar to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations – Geneva, Mainichi Daily News, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Pages, Associated Press, CBC news, Reuters news, Wikipedia, ?????????? ????? 1998-2007(Russia Buddhist Forum), The Burma Campaign UK, VOA news, Nobelprize.org, UN News Centre, Human Rights House Network and the Daily Yomiuri Online.

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©2007 WNN – Women News Network

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