Sann Myint is correct to criticize the sensationalism inherent in the books attention to “warrior monks”. And his comments on the “nationalization” of Buddhism are likewise on the mark. Perhaps he could write more about the relative importance of monks’ participation in Burma’s anti-colonial movement on the one hand and of the dictatorship’s politicization of Buddhism in explaining recent developments in Myanmar.
Anytime ANY so called HR related info on ANY country is quoted as ANY evidence of ANY related situations, it can be ascertain that blatant bias and outright inaccuracy will be involved.
Rosalie, obviously an American should first experience Myanmar Education, with an average green uniform clad grade school student, for just a week in each season in ANY rural (better) or urban settings.
Might then realize that the quagmire of Education is dictated not only by available mode of transportation, roads, health care and Economic realities, all intertwine in a quagmire that has more to do with useless careless west policy since Ne Win era.
Unlike USA having the stupendously highest per student funding yet ranking behind ALL industrialized country the tripartite parent-teacher-students love for education is doing well in Myanmar.
Just wait a few more years and see much better one can do with how little/a fraction of USA one can do with all the consequences of burden imposed by useless careless west such as this one that impact nothing positive to present advancement of Education.
Mean while throwing stone is at best impolite at worst an unconscionable continuation of useleSS careleSS policy.
Thailand and many so-called Buddhist nations are smearing the otherwise racially and politically neutral religion by politicisation and nationalisation. Political ambitions of demagogues as well as the long-entrenched dictators who want to have a say in the new democratisation process of a fledgling, quasi-democracy like Burma certainly have a role in demonising religion.
Religions, when taken at face value, are just like food choices we make at a restaurant table. You eat what you like and I eat what I like. There are different flavours and there is nothing wrong with people preferences of one flavour over another.
Problems arise when people start manipulating opinions and have their own hidden agendas.
And so-called experts need to realise that there are nominal Buddhists who merely assume the religious identity and not practise its teachings, in the case of
Buddhism, contrary to the Buddha’s teaching. We should never confuse them with devout Buddhists who, when they turn fundamental, would never harm any living thing and just retreat peacefully into solitude. And there is that sensationalism behind the term “warrior monk”. Warrior monks? I think NOT. We have yet to see any evidence of a legitimate monk (exception: soldiers assuming the guise of a monk trying to drive a wedge between religions)holding weapons actively engaging in acts of war against people of other religions.
New Mandala is bold and correct to post this protagonist’s view.
By your post #3
If preschool is grade #1 then 10th standard must be 11th grade. Thus 3rd standard is 4th grade.
‘Accuracy of Rosalie present claim might be challenged’ meanwhile any comment here @ New Mandala on Myanmar present Government fault having a continuing ‘NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE SUFFERING CITIZENRY’ will be contested in an unabashed manner.
If ‘the shoes fit’, then WALK with them and hope you understand the plights of the most vulnerable, voiceless in the ongoing quagmire created by useless careless west.
Hardly ever say a negative word eh? Hardly likely to get to grips with the issues then. I am outspoken, but because this is done in Thai and not with the powerful, I find where the ‘edge’ of reality is. Come on Frank, just because you’re an old hand doesn’t mean you have to be an old fart.
When I was in “Grade 4” in Burma in 1956, it was called “third standard” in English and “thone tan:” in Burmese. A lot of stupid things have happened in the country since then but most Burmese don’t have a good explanation of why.
About comments policy: New Mandela censored some of my comments about the ubiquitous Chinese influence in Burma (as if Chinese need protection as visible minorities lol)
Education in general has been so bastardised everywhere, one would never know which way the North Pole is.
If the kindly Burmese are not trying to indoctrinate the Bamar Superiority at all, the situation even more dire. Already those “venerated” leaders, who ransacked Thaton, a thriving cosmopolitan metropolis to smithereening, and savagely treated the Thai’s and people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts where even now the bogey man for scaring the children is still the Burmese Sit-thars, are treated as Great Men simply becuase people have lost their compass altogether.
And it is that sort of “Superiority Complex” that makes general populace of the country Burma, how much later advanced professional or other education they have or whereever they live, have so little sympathy for the atrocious, atrocious, atrocious and endless sufferings of all the “National tribes” and the currently on-going pogrom without as much a murmur of dissent.
Such disregard for sufferings of other human because they are “inferior beings” as drummed up daily by the educational system and daily propaganda is not only fascist, but pure evil. Evil by commission and evil by omission.
Returning to Jory’s original post – it does seem to me that there’s a question mark over his idea of the current conflict being yet another acting out of South-East Asian “theatre state”.
Regional secession, for example, has grown from being marginal six years ago – to now very much mainstream discourse : eg.http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/398048/division-talk-is-a-new-low-for-thailand
As one of the people who raised the question of the seeming inconsistency in the third standard/grade-4 labelling, I assume that your remark of “ignorant yahoos” is directed at me.
First, New Mandala (used to?) have a policy according to which comments with personal insults would not be tolerated.
Second, you have clearly misread what I wrote. In no way did I “throw stones” at the plight of the “Myanmar citizenry” or at the education system in the country. I assumed there was a reason for labelling the book differently in Burmese and English and I was curious as to what this reason might be. I had hoped that a more informed person might (politely) explain it to me.
These are very good questions, and we have to hope that Dr Platt will chime in to answer them. There is, yes, a well developed school of writing in Nakhon Si Thammarat in the South. But it also seems incontestable that the “difference” that has marked Isan’s relationship with Bangkok, the experience of migration from the former to the latter, and the determination of natives of the Northeast to write about it have give literature by Isan writers a position of particular significance in modern Thailand. And, all this aside, I urge John G. to read the book. He will not regret it.
be careful of attaching the “fascist indoctrination” label to Myanmar education. I’ve read the HS history texts and there’s lots less indoctrination there than in the Texas (USA) texts. Teaching Myanmar kids about Rabindanath Tagore, the classical Bengali poet, and about Gandhi and Lenin does broaden their world view so they know there’s a world beyond Myanmar’s borders. That’s what the MinEd texts do as well as to venerate the real Myanmar heroes I cited in my previous posts. Fact of the matter is, they don’t demonize the Shan, Karen etc; treatment of those ethnics is dealt with straightforwardly. In case you didn’t get this, the USA still vilifies the Vietnamese for beating us in that war. While lionizing murderers like Andy Jackson for exterminating “savage Indians.” The Myanmar military has lots to answer for; fascist indoctrination isn’t one of those sins.
Issan is a distinct cradle of writers? There are Bangkok writers; there are Issan writers. Are there Northern writers? Southern writers? Does Issan produce a disproportionate share of Thai writers? What’s up with that?
If you keep blaming the incompetence and uncaring government of Myanmar Government, one might just forget how this government come to this dictatorial “7th Step to Discipline Democracy”.
Despite the obfuscation of Rosalie, there are many local members including her beloved DASSK and at various level of government trying very hard to do well with very little for education.
If Rosalie believe the dire nature of Myanmar education where is her etiology, present progress and future suggestions.
Surely that will entail reckoning the 25 years of useless careless west, USA being the biggest culprit.
Then again does Rosalie care enough to take that poison pill?
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Review of Buddhist Fury
Sann Myint is correct to criticize the sensationalism inherent in the books attention to “warrior monks”. And his comments on the “nationalization” of Buddhism are likewise on the mark. Perhaps he could write more about the relative importance of monks’ participation in Burma’s anti-colonial movement on the one hand and of the dictatorship’s politicization of Buddhism in explaining recent developments in Myanmar.
Looks good on paper: Education reform in Burma
Anytime ANY so called HR related info on ANY country is quoted as ANY evidence of ANY related situations, it can be ascertain that blatant bias and outright inaccuracy will be involved.
Rosalie, obviously an American should first experience Myanmar Education, with an average green uniform clad grade school student, for just a week in each season in ANY rural (better) or urban settings.
Might then realize that the quagmire of Education is dictated not only by available mode of transportation, roads, health care and Economic realities, all intertwine in a quagmire that has more to do with useless careless west policy since Ne Win era.
Unlike USA having the stupendously highest per student funding yet ranking behind ALL industrialized country the tripartite parent-teacher-students love for education is doing well in Myanmar.
Just wait a few more years and see much better one can do with how little/a fraction of USA one can do with all the consequences of burden imposed by useless careless west such as this one that impact nothing positive to present advancement of Education.
Mean while throwing stone is at best impolite at worst an unconscionable continuation of useleSS careleSS policy.
Looks good on paper: Education reform in Burma
So does your reply even aim to alleviate any misery of a populace or just another XY and XX nonsense of Kalar vs Tayoke ?
Review of Buddhist Fury
Thailand and many so-called Buddhist nations are smearing the otherwise racially and politically neutral religion by politicisation and nationalisation. Political ambitions of demagogues as well as the long-entrenched dictators who want to have a say in the new democratisation process of a fledgling, quasi-democracy like Burma certainly have a role in demonising religion.
Religions, when taken at face value, are just like food choices we make at a restaurant table. You eat what you like and I eat what I like. There are different flavours and there is nothing wrong with people preferences of one flavour over another.
Problems arise when people start manipulating opinions and have their own hidden agendas.
And so-called experts need to realise that there are nominal Buddhists who merely assume the religious identity and not practise its teachings, in the case of
Buddhism, contrary to the Buddha’s teaching. We should never confuse them with devout Buddhists who, when they turn fundamental, would never harm any living thing and just retreat peacefully into solitude. And there is that sensationalism behind the term “warrior monk”. Warrior monks? I think NOT. We have yet to see any evidence of a legitimate monk (exception: soldiers assuming the guise of a monk trying to drive a wedge between religions)holding weapons actively engaging in acts of war against people of other religions.
Looks good on paper: Education reform in Burma
Stephen
New Mandala is bold and correct to post this protagonist’s view.
By your post #3
If preschool is grade #1 then 10th standard must be 11th grade. Thus 3rd standard is 4th grade.
‘Accuracy of Rosalie present claim might be challenged’ meanwhile any comment here @ New Mandala on Myanmar present Government fault having a continuing ‘NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE SUFFERING CITIZENRY’ will be contested in an unabashed manner.
If ‘the shoes fit’, then WALK with them and hope you understand the plights of the most vulnerable, voiceless in the ongoing quagmire created by useless careless west.
Review of A Life’s Work
Hardly ever say a negative word eh? Hardly likely to get to grips with the issues then. I am outspoken, but because this is done in Thai and not with the powerful, I find where the ‘edge’ of reality is. Come on Frank, just because you’re an old hand doesn’t mean you have to be an old fart.
Looks good on paper: Education reform in Burma
When I was in “Grade 4” in Burma in 1956, it was called “third standard” in English and “thone tan:” in Burmese. A lot of stupid things have happened in the country since then but most Burmese don’t have a good explanation of why.
About comments policy: New Mandela censored some of my comments about the ubiquitous Chinese influence in Burma (as if Chinese need protection as visible minorities lol)
Looks good on paper: Education reform in Burma
Education in general has been so bastardised everywhere, one would never know which way the North Pole is.
If the kindly Burmese are not trying to indoctrinate the Bamar Superiority at all, the situation even more dire. Already those “venerated” leaders, who ransacked Thaton, a thriving cosmopolitan metropolis to smithereening, and savagely treated the Thai’s and people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts where even now the bogey man for scaring the children is still the Burmese Sit-thars, are treated as Great Men simply becuase people have lost their compass altogether.
And it is that sort of “Superiority Complex” that makes general populace of the country Burma, how much later advanced professional or other education they have or whereever they live, have so little sympathy for the atrocious, atrocious, atrocious and endless sufferings of all the “National tribes” and the currently on-going pogrom without as much a murmur of dissent.
Such disregard for sufferings of other human because they are “inferior beings” as drummed up daily by the educational system and daily propaganda is not only fascist, but pure evil. Evil by commission and evil by omission.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/We-favour-a-democratic-Lanna-republic-Chiang-Mai-g-30228154.html
The weakness of the Thai royalists
Returning to Jory’s original post – it does seem to me that there’s a question mark over his idea of the current conflict being yet another acting out of South-East Asian “theatre state”.
Regional secession, for example, has grown from being marginal six years ago – to now very much mainstream discourse : eg.http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/398048/division-talk-is-a-new-low-for-thailand
Looks good on paper: Education reform in Burma
As one of the people who raised the question of the seeming inconsistency in the third standard/grade-4 labelling, I assume that your remark of “ignorant yahoos” is directed at me.
First, New Mandala (used to?) have a policy according to which comments with personal insults would not be tolerated.
Second, you have clearly misread what I wrote. In no way did I “throw stones” at the plight of the “Myanmar citizenry” or at the education system in the country. I assumed there was a reason for labelling the book differently in Burmese and English and I was curious as to what this reason might be. I had hoped that a more informed person might (politely) explain it to me.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
This was mentioned in a recent feature on Prachatai on “the Thai Lao question”.
http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/3863
Review of Isan Writers, Thai Literature
These are very good questions, and we have to hope that Dr Platt will chime in to answer them. There is, yes, a well developed school of writing in Nakhon Si Thammarat in the South. But it also seems incontestable that the “difference” that has marked Isan’s relationship with Bangkok, the experience of migration from the former to the latter, and the determination of natives of the Northeast to write about it have give literature by Isan writers a position of particular significance in modern Thailand. And, all this aside, I urge John G. to read the book. He will not regret it.
Malaysian elections, malapportionment, and redelineation
Pippa Norris, of the Electoral Integrity Project, provides some advice to the Malaysian government on how to improve its electoral system.
http://youtu.be/q4i4YBSXH_A
A response to Vanina Sucharitkul
[…] http://www.newmandala.org/2014/02/01/a-response-to-vanina-sucharitkul/?utm_source=rss… […]
Looks good on paper: Education reform in Burma
be careful of attaching the “fascist indoctrination” label to Myanmar education. I’ve read the HS history texts and there’s lots less indoctrination there than in the Texas (USA) texts. Teaching Myanmar kids about Rabindanath Tagore, the classical Bengali poet, and about Gandhi and Lenin does broaden their world view so they know there’s a world beyond Myanmar’s borders. That’s what the MinEd texts do as well as to venerate the real Myanmar heroes I cited in my previous posts. Fact of the matter is, they don’t demonize the Shan, Karen etc; treatment of those ethnics is dealt with straightforwardly. In case you didn’t get this, the USA still vilifies the Vietnamese for beating us in that war. While lionizing murderers like Andy Jackson for exterminating “savage Indians.” The Myanmar military has lots to answer for; fascist indoctrination isn’t one of those sins.
Review of Isan Writers, Thai Literature
Issan is a distinct cradle of writers? There are Bangkok writers; there are Issan writers. Are there Northern writers? Southern writers? Does Issan produce a disproportionate share of Thai writers? What’s up with that?
Looks good on paper: Education reform in Burma
Great teleological reasoning consistent with the useless careless west theory.
Looks good on paper: Education reform in Burma
Never under estimate the resiliency of the Citizenry. Sooner rather than later a digital copy will be available.
Will Rosalie of USA be the first or will it be the so called cronies like Tay Za et al who is entrusted with infrastructure improvement.
Looks good on paper: Education reform in Burma
If you keep blaming the incompetence and uncaring government of Myanmar Government, one might just forget how this government come to this dictatorial “7th Step to Discipline Democracy”.
Despite the obfuscation of Rosalie, there are many local members including her beloved DASSK and at various level of government trying very hard to do well with very little for education.
If Rosalie believe the dire nature of Myanmar education where is her etiology, present progress and future suggestions.
Surely that will entail reckoning the 25 years of useless careless west, USA being the biggest culprit.
Then again does Rosalie care enough to take that poison pill?