Help Burma!
As you probably know by now, I often listen to talk radio on my afternoon commute. Usually I hear nothing very enlightening, just some rants about this or that.
This afternoon was quite the exception. I turned to a Christian broadcast station (90.5 FM "The Light," if you're in the greater North Country) and heard the most horrifying thing: Burmese Christians - persecuted by their nation's foul tyranny for decades - are being preventing from entering the U.S. because the Patriot Act would classify them as terrorists (to read more commentary on the details of this classification, click here).
In short, anyone who opposes the Burmese (Myanmarian? Eh?) dictatorship in any serious way risks being classified as a terrorist by the United States. Let me repeat that: anyone in-country who opposes a dictatorship that the U.S. itself distrusts may be classified as a terrorist by the U.S. and not allowed to enter our country!
I did some research for this blog post, and discovered that it's not just Christians who are being persecuted. Hardly a surprise, of course; tyrannies may begin by persecuting the weakest, but that's merely a means to power.
In the spirit of Prometheus's calls for action on Darfur, I urge you to take a look at the Free Burma Coalition for ways you can help. To help get the word out to the blogosphere, I'd ask everyone to e-mail links to this post and the links herein to everyone and every blog they know. Let's get this out in the mainstream media and let's get this ridiculous provision changed!
Update:As I said in comments below, here's a petition to allow refugee status to the Burmese nationals in question.
Update Update: Let me clarify my remarks about changing the Patriot Act. My intent is not to repeal the law, much of which has served us effectively in fighting terrorism, but rather to amend the definition of "material support"so that the U.S. isn't placed in the regrettable position of having to reject refugees because they stood against a repressive regime. Naturally this will take some hair-splitting work in defining "material support" and perhaps even "terrorist," but I just think it's a better alternative than lumping all anti-regime forces together and refusing them entry into the country. That's all.
This afternoon was quite the exception. I turned to a Christian broadcast station (90.5 FM "The Light," if you're in the greater North Country) and heard the most horrifying thing: Burmese Christians - persecuted by their nation's foul tyranny for decades - are being preventing from entering the U.S. because the Patriot Act would classify them as terrorists (to read more commentary on the details of this classification, click here).
In short, anyone who opposes the Burmese (Myanmarian? Eh?) dictatorship in any serious way risks being classified as a terrorist by the United States. Let me repeat that: anyone in-country who opposes a dictatorship that the U.S. itself distrusts may be classified as a terrorist by the U.S. and not allowed to enter our country!
I did some research for this blog post, and discovered that it's not just Christians who are being persecuted. Hardly a surprise, of course; tyrannies may begin by persecuting the weakest, but that's merely a means to power.
In the spirit of Prometheus's calls for action on Darfur, I urge you to take a look at the Free Burma Coalition for ways you can help. To help get the word out to the blogosphere, I'd ask everyone to e-mail links to this post and the links herein to everyone and every blog they know. Let's get this out in the mainstream media and let's get this ridiculous provision changed!
Update:As I said in comments below, here's a petition to allow refugee status to the Burmese nationals in question.
Update Update: Let me clarify my remarks about changing the Patriot Act. My intent is not to repeal the law, much of which has served us effectively in fighting terrorism, but rather to amend the definition of "material support"so that the U.S. isn't placed in the regrettable position of having to reject refugees because they stood against a repressive regime. Naturally this will take some hair-splitting work in defining "material support" and perhaps even "terrorist," but I just think it's a better alternative than lumping all anti-regime forces together and refusing them entry into the country. That's all.
posted by Joshua @ 6:31 PM
4 Comments:
Here's a petition to allow refugee status to the Burmese nationals in question.
I agree with you entirely.
"I just think it's a better alternative than lumping all anti-regime forces together and refusing them entry into the country. That's all."
It is in fact what government is for: to split hairs. It's worth spending time on. Or maybe we should be concerned that our government is not letting resisiters in the country? Should resisters be worried?
Thanks, Susie! If you could spread this message (as well as the message of the Darfur rally seen below) to your friends and acquaintances, it would be greatly appreciated.
All the better if you and they would consider signing the petition at the link given above!
For those interested in getting word out to the wider blogosphere, here is a list of blogs I've e-mailed about the Burmese issue. Please consider e-mailing them yourself to raise their awareness!
Those e-mails are:
Volokh Conspiracy (Libertarian Lawyers!)
VOLOKH@law.ucla.edu
okerr@law.gwu.edu
Talking Points (Liberal Journalist)
talk@talkingpointsmemo.com
Oxblog (Oxford Grad Students)
oxblog@yahoo.com
patrick@patrickbelton.com theredmisty@hotmail.com
Instapundit (Libertarian-Jacksonian)
pundit@instapundit.com
Washington Monthly (Left-of-Center Policy Wonk)
calpundit@cox.net
Andrew Sullivan (Sullyworld!)
andrewmsullivan@aol.com
Please consider e-mailing all of these fine blogs, making the case clearly, and offering links back to relevant posts on Optimates. It's called "flooding the zone," and we can do it!
Seriously, everyone. Consider signing the petition.
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