A Dysfunctional Society; Burma

Blogger’s thought

This blogger has a habit of watching a Burmese movie almost every night. This is the newly acquired habit after staying away from Burma for almost two decades.

After long day of hectic work, he will request his Madam to get ready for any of the Burmese movies available for the night after dinner before going to bed.

To be honest, during most of the times, he will be sleeping right in front of the TV, not long after the movie starts, as most of the Burmese movies themes are the same.

However he enjoys the Burmese language spoken by the actors, and also the beautiful sceneries of Burma, from the scenes of road side vendors of Rangoon to the grandiose Irrawaddy River that reminds him nostalgic memory of “Once Upon a Time in Burma”.

During the recent months, he noticed that the technical qualities (of sound and camera image) of Burmese movies are much better than before. There are some new movies departed from the traditional drama and love stories, and started showing the dysfunctional society of Burma. When there is an economic hardship which is due to the corrupt moral principals of the leaders, all strata of the society will become dysfunctional.

The movie that struck this blogger’s heart is about a poor family from Rangoon. While the parents were struggling to survive the onslaught of economic hardship, the teenage children decided to quit the school to get rich quick.

Finally the brother became a drug mule for the Rangoon night clubs and the sister who wanted to be a fashion model became in the Rangoon flesh trade that entertains the wealthy elderly men with young girls. The movie goes on to the extent that the brother finally willingly works as a pimp for his sister.

The movie touches the dysfunctional society characterized by gambling, cheating, immoral activities, drug and prostitution, and even HIV AIDS issues.

That is only the movie, however good movies are always based on the actual events around the contemporary society. This blogger was coincidently watching the Opening of Beijing Olympic, before watching the mentioned movie.

Last twenty years ago, Burma and China seems to be in the same boat as the Governments of both countries have mercilessly suppressed the activists and innocent people those who wanted the democratic reforms.

After twenty years Chinese Society has functioned almost normally except for the political freedom. China became the host of World Olympic. Chinese people are proud for their country, as it is also in the list of emerging super power nations. Standard of living of Chinese people jumped several steps ahead of other emerging Asian countries.

While this blogger is always against the selfish Chinese foreign policy towards Burma, he has to acknowledge the leadership ability of Chinese Communist party to bring up their country to the current status in twenty years.

At the same time this blogger could not find any suitable words for the Burmese Generals for being able to bring down the country into such a chaotic dysfunctional state which will be very difficult (but not impossible!) to rectify for the future generation of Burmese leaders.

Sit Mone