Gadget

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

What Is Worth Fighting For

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Freedom of speech is the ability for one to speak his voice without fear of any persecution or repercussions. In most countries around the world, such freedom is not evident as there are limitations to what you can say, where you say it and when. Government officials are not allowed to say much at all about how a government is run, or be critical of the government, in most countries around the world including the ones where freedom of speech is a way of life.

If one visits London, one parks in that city is the home of the 'soap-box orator' - or where you can watch orators stand on their soap-boxes speak freely to the people gathered there. It is an interesting experience to watch and listen to these speakers talk on a wide range of topics - from asking you to repent as the world is ending to how governments are constantly spying on you!

These speakers rarely, or almost never, are picked up by the authorities because they talk on subject stat the governments feels is not dangerous to its security.

However, I am sure that these orators would not say something that can cause wide-spread panic and that their audience knows that most of these speakers are out there just letting go of some frustration. Also, they would not say anything harmful against any private individual without facing a lawsuit later on.

Most citizens of countries around the world allow a limited amount of freedom of speech - as long as it is within the limits of the laws of that country. There are some countries, however, like Myanmar, North Korea, Cuba, China, etc... where freedom of speech is a dream. Myanmar and North Korea, and even China label people who talk against the government as "dissidents" and jails them. Sometimes, such people just 'disappear' and never return.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

What Is Worth Fighting For

AUNG SAN SUU KYI

Aung San Suu Kyi


Aung San Suu Kyi is the world famous icon for freedom and democracy in Burma (now called Myanmar). No one else from Burma can say that they have done more for democracy there than Suu Kyi. Her father was one of the people who negotiated for independence of Burma from the British and also the founder of the Burmese Independence Army. Her mother was appointed as the Ambassador to India in 1960.



She went to work in the UN till 1971. The following year she went to work in Bhutan and that is where she met her husband, Michael Aris. They got married in 1972 and had two sons - Alexander Aris in 1973 and Kim in 1977. Both sons are British citizens. In 1997, her husband was diagnosed with prostrate cancer and died two years later on his 53rd birthday on March 27. The military government of Burma refused to let him visit his wife during the last four years of his life. Instead, they allowed Suu Kyi to leave, but she did not because she was afraid that if she left they would not let her return. This is one of the thing that made her fight for democracy because they did not let him visit her during the last four years.


On August 8, 1988, or 8888 as it is known in Burma, students let a big protest for democracy. They were shot at by the soldiers and thousands were killed. After this is when the National League for Democracy was formed in Rangoon. Aung San Suu Kyi is the General Secretary of the party.


Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for more than 15 of the 21 years she has been back in Burma. She was released from house arrest on 13 November 2010. After her mother died in December 1998, she told the people of Burma that she would continue to fight for democracy in that country till she died just as her parents had.


For her fight for democracy, Aung San Suu kyi has won many international awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, a Congressional Gold Medal in 2008, the Mahatma Gandhi Award for Peace and Reconciliation in 2009, etc... Aung San Suu Kyi believed, like Gandhi that Peace could be achieved without violence.



Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aung_San_Suu_Kyi&printable=yes , http://www.burmacampaigan.org.uk/index.php/burma/about-burma/about-burma/a-biography-of-aung-san-suu-kyi , http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1991/kiy-bio.html