The Lincoln Log

A sea of monks storm through the angry streets of Myanmar; this has become a common sight for locals. These nonviolent protests started in mid-August and are still occurring. Protesters are mainly composed of political activists and students. Conflicts between their government and their civilians escalated when two thousand Buddhist monks marched through Yangon and then another 10,000 through Mandalay.

This issue also hits back home to Abraham Lincoln High School students formerly from Myanmar.

“In Myanmar common people are not allowed to have weapons at home and so the only ones with weapons are the military,” said Senior, Flora Ko, who has cousins in Myanmar. “I think it is a good idea for the monks to join the protest because monks are very sacred in Myanmar. It is even illegal to step on a monk’s shadow.”

Senior Alex Tay is worried about his dad’s side of the family. “It’s scary that the military is killing people,” Tay said. “I think it’s about time they [the civilians] protested. It’s good that they’re trying to get democracy. However, I don’t think it’s worth losing the lives of monks.”

“Burma is a socialist nation like Nazi Germany, but unlike Nazi Germany the people do not agree with their leader,” said Junior Alfred Si, who was born in Burma. “I have mixed feelings about this. Many of my relatives are part of the military government, especially my grand-uncle who runs the country alongside a general which puts my family and I on the side of the ruling territory. I personally support the Buddhist rebellion.”

“Burma is my homeland. I feel more comfortable there than I do in the U.S. Burma is a very adventurous place, like an ‘Indiana Jones’ movie. It is very hot there, with lows in the eighty’s and highs in the 100’s. Burma is a tropical paradise where everybody leads an easygoing carefree lifestyle,” said Si.