the painful stuff

Today requires a discussion of some tough stuff. My thoughts and prayers remain with Norway, as they weather one of the world's deadliest shooting sprees and a bombing ("Scores Killed in Norway Attacks"). The evil behind the extreme right wing efforts that led to this shooting breaks my heart. God help the victims.

Unfortunately, Norway has not been the only country to be in the news for very depressing reasons this week. As many of you know, I am going to be living and working among the Shan, an ethnic group on the Thai-Burma border. I will be teaching English to displaced youth and adults on the border. According to the Voice of America, Maj Gen Aung Than Tut, the man responsible for all Burmese military operations in the Shan state has given the command to kill all men and rape all women while in conflict with the Shans. I encourage you strongly to read "Burma Army's War against Shan: License to Rape plus License to Commit Genocide?".

The organization with whom I will be serving has also published a report ("Report on Shan IDP Situation") regarding the situation and their response, which may be of interest.

Before I finish, I must admit that I hesitate to publish these links. For all of us, it is so easy to become paralyzed in the face of unimaginable evil. We see the news about Norway, and we read about what is happening to the Shan and many other ethnic groups in Burma. It's all too much. If my words cause this emotion in you, then I will have done wrong in publishing today's links. The reality remains that evil acts occur in the world, and I believe we should remain educated on them so that we can see opportunities to make a difference when they come. However, for the vast majority of the world, on an individual basis, there is a minimal amount that can be done in response to repeatedly negative news coverage, and that can cause a level of callousness to distant pain to develop. However, I believe when we approach the news this way, we miss the opportunities that are in front of us. Many of us confront in a minor way at least the racism and/or messed up thinking that becomes the roots for the kind of attacks that happened in Norway. Do not be silent. When religion becomes an excuse for racism and fascism, confront it lovingly. When it comes to Burma, it may be harder to see action around, but an educated populace about a situation like that of the displaced persons is a very powerful thing. Talk about it. If refugees are in your community, reach out to them. Be educated, though, because unexpected doors occasionally open. Just do not become frozen in despair.

My prayers are with the victims of terror and brutality today and also with every person looking on the terror and brutality and trying to figure out how to respond.