Saving Fish from Drowning - Heal Burma

SAVING FISH FROM DROWNING
not lead to insurrection, violence, and widespread disrespect of lead­
ers. After all, no government could tolerate that.
A good government had to guide its people, sometimes gently,
sometimes strictly, just as parents did. It could allow certain free­
doms, but in a style that suited the country. Only the leaders knew
what that style should be. It was like fashion. In some countries, the
women wore practically nothing, exposing their breasts, their bel­
lies, the ugly creases of their buttocks. They were not critical of that
style. But in their country, it was more beautiful to wear a longyi. It
was a matter of cultural difference. For that reason, a country had
to handle its own affairs. China handled its affairs. Why shouldn’t
Myanmar? China governed with its own style. Why should Myan­
mar be singled out for criticism for doing exactly the same?
This new campaign would work very well, the generals and the
ministers agreed. Most important to its success was the demonstra­
tion that every effort was being made to find the missing people. The
tourism office would be in touch with the military police to create a
methodical plan. The world would be shown how hard the warm­
hearted people of Myanmar were seeking the group’s whereabouts—
searching high and low among the two thousand two hundred sacred
temples and beautiful stupas of Bagan; in the intriguing monastery
outside Mandalay, with its world-astounding collection of Buddhist
statues; on a jetty taking in the most scenic part of the Ayeyarwaddy.
When the cameras were turned on southern Shan State, where the
tourists had last been seen, they would zoom in on photogenic
“giraffe-necked” Padaung women in native costume, a dozen choker
rings pushing down on their shoulders and giving them that elon­
gated look—all tourists marveled at this. And the ladies, who would
have been rehearsed in expressing concern for their foreign friends,
would bob their heads gracefully above their ornamented throats as
they waved, or rather, wept.
And if the tourists were found to be dead—not that this was
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