Saving Fish from Drowning - Heal Burma

SAVING FISH FROM DROWNING
promulgate the idea that “Myanma” had been the first name and a
more egalitarian one, whereas “Burma” referred to the Bamar ruling
class. Damn those people who said “Myanma” and “Bama” were
merely variants of the same word! And it was a lie that most Bur­
mese considered “Myanma” to be associated with the old ruling
class. Where were those Burmese liars who said so?
“The research doesn’t lie when it comes to public perception,” the
young man said. “That is why I suggest a bold strategy—and that is
to go backward to keep step with the backward world perception,
and in this way, you can then lead the world forward into the new
Myanmar. Start with the tagline: ‘The new Burma is Myanmar.’”
This proposal was met with silence. Everyone glanced about to see
how to answer.
But then the senior man who oversaw propaganda nodded with a
bland face and said, “It’s unorthodox, yet well reasoned, forward-
thinking even. The world is backward, and we must get them to follow
us. The new Burma is Myanmar. That is the message. I like it.” Loud
bursts of acclaim sounded in the meeting hall. “The new Burma!”
The senior man fell into further contemplation and scratched his
chin. “Or did you say, ‘The old Burma is the new Myanmar’?”
Everyone grew silent as the boss thought about this. He nodded.
“Yes, that was more the idea.” And the room burst into fervent ac­
cord. “The old Burma is the new Myanmar! Excellent! A very wise
refinement, sir.”
And thus began a campaign by the military regime to recruit
Harry as their spokesman for tourism. And of course, the visas for
Mary Ellen and other members of the search party were granted
forthright. But you already knew that.
H IGH IN THE RAINFOREST, Marlena, Vera, Heidi, and Moff
tended to the sick. Marlena and Vera were in charge of Esmé, Bennie,
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