Saving Fish from Drowning - Heal Burma

AMY TAN
have thought of it, so I am not suggesting that I be accorded credit
for what followed, not in the slightest, or at least, not all of it. I sim­
ply wanted the tyrants to feel that it was a good thing to safeguard
the tourists and also those harboring them. Garrett had put it best:
The world is watching.
Suffice it to say that several Myanmar ministers suddenly came up
with the same, rather startling suggestion, one that was highly un­
orthodox to their usual way of doing things: Why not use this free
media attention to showcase our country’s beauty, its wonders, and
its friendly people—yes, even its caring and friendly government?
The generals were taken aback, but ten seconds later, each in turn
said, Why indeed not!
Now that the concept was enthusiastically embraced, a little prep­
aration would be needed, of course, to spruce up and make sure the
image was carried off with perfection. For one thing, as the ASEAN
leaders had suggested, they might release a few hundred prisoners—
or even a thousand, one general said, why not be magnanimous?—
to emphasize that no people were jailed for political reasons, only
detained for their own good. The Lady, for instance—let us speak
openly of her—though she may be popular with a small and senti­
mental portion of our people, she is clearly not in favor with most of
our happy citizens, who praise the tremendous progress we have
made in the last decade. We fear for the safety of our little sister—
yes, that’s excellent, call her “sister”—for we know there are those
who disapprove of her, and sad to say, they might wish to cause her
harm. Better that she remain in the comfort of her own home than
risk assassination, like her father. And perhaps a daily delivery of
fresh fruit and flowers would further underscore the concern for her
health? Oh, didn’t everyone know she had been ailing? Wasn’t this
the very reason she was not roaming freely and creating her usual
ruckus? Not that they minded if people made a little ruckus—
children did it all the time—but it should not cause unrest. It should
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