Someone needs to say it, "Most Americans don't have the first clue about what the Burmese monks did.

[Cronopio]

American consumer programming doesn't equip them with the ability.

Even if the MSM did give it the coverage it deserved, you'd hear a collective and detached "Oh, I *must* have one of those cute little robes!" or "Better those losers than U.S.!" from the nation before moving on to their next Britney newsbite.

[rudeboy666]

1. Ah, a good dose of elitism for the night.

[Cronopio]

4. My advantage is that I understand that I don't understand what the Burmese monks experienced ...

... while most Americans are trained to glibly judge based on n-th hand info. I know something historic and profound happened there this week that is being actively marginalized in the media, partially because they know that most people here are more interested in Britney than a bunch of dead monks.

If that makes me part of an "elite", so be it. No false modesty here. Feel free to provide evidence that I'm underestimating the majority of Americans though.

[wundermaus]

2. The Coroprations own the main stream media...

And it has never been any more evident than now that the information we Americans get from the corporate talking heads is meaningless, useless, irrelevant, diversionary, and entertainment / consumer centric. Major Corporations owns 99.99% of what your are fed... how's that diet coming along?

[Cronopio]

3. Very well, thanks. Better nourished on the diet than off it. nt

[kevinmc]

5. Bodies of them are starting to turn up ...

An image provided by the Democratic Voice of Burma, shows the body of a buddhist monk in a Yangon river
©AFP/DVB


YANGON (AFP) - UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari met Myanmar's junta leader Than Shwe in the nation's remote capital Tuesday, as the military regime insisted it was not to blame for a deadly crackdown on mass protests.

Gambari had been waiting since the weekend to see the reclusive general to express global outrage after security forces put down protests led by Buddhist monks, leaving at least 13 dead and hundreds -- possibly thousands -- behind bars.

The meeting in the capital Naypyidaw was expected to last for an hour, an information ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

It came as activists struggled to assess the scope of the crackdown and to locate hundreds of dissidents, monks and ordinary civilians who were arrested or went missing.

Diplomats have warned the death toll could be far higher than confirmed by the junta, which has ruled this nation with an iron fist for 45 years.....

http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/071002060951.2ix0i4wg.html

[ellisonz]

6. The verdict on "utmost restraint" is out until they release those arrested.

"As he waited to meet with the general, Gambari found himself in the town of Lashio, where Deputy Foreign Minister Kyaw Thu escorted him to a pro-government rally with tens of thousands of people in attendance.

Witnesses said many in the crowd were members of ethnic minority groups who could not understand the speeches given in the majority Myanmar language. Some appeared to be dozing off."

[WCGreen]

7. Sure they do...

The guy has won, like, ten Oscars or something...

He's funny,you know, that Monk guy...

[malaise]

8. MSM and Bushco can't risk that

Further all of Bushco's fundie base have been brainwashed into thinking they're heading for hell anyway...and they're 'Chinese' -double hell.
I'm surprised McCain hasn't come out and said no Buddhists for president either.

Bottom line - they have led their people and taken on the army and if MSM push this, people will see the parallels with the Iraqi resistance and may finally get the courage to 'get up stand up, stand up for their rights'.