Why do I care about Myanmar? Myanmar welcomed me like it was my home. Myanmar educated me. Myanmar nurtured me. Myanmar shaped me.
I want to give back to Myanmar to say thanks for all it gave to me. When the time comes, I want to help to rebuild Myanmar. It's my duty.
Remembering Myanmar before the coup. I could share obvious pics of pagodas or temples, but these photos of everyday scenes are just as meaningful to me. I took them from a bus between Meiktila & Taunggyi with my phone. I miss my Myanmar.
@GlennLoury
There is a stronger cultural identity that black and white Americans share with each other, than white Americans share with Europeans and black Americans share with Africans. Identity is about culture, not colour.
@billybragg
@suzanne_moore
I'm a lefty. There's none more cowardly than he who will not critique those within his own "ranks" when they are acting immorally
I have put out 2 tracks of Myanmar-inspired EDM to raise money for CDM. Please help Myanmar people protect themselves from the tyranny of the terrorist military.
All funds raised will go to organisations listed here:
@RichardDawkins
✝️✡️&☪️ are the same religion.
Same god
Same stories
Same characters
Same places
Same group of prophets
Same holy sites
And collectively they've plagued the earth with nonstop war for millennia over different interpretations.
The whole Abrahamic clan is abhorrent.
Fight me.
@billybragg
@HadleyFreeman
@ewendj
@suzanne_moore
Paraphrasing : "Puberty blockers on kids is fucked. Big Pharma & Private clinics are laughing their way to the bank" is exactly what she said.
But you read, "trans ppl don't deserve to exist. They're an abomination. They're pedos".
Read what people write, not what you infer.
@seerutkchawla
How many times must it be said? White men did not invent science, medicine and mathematics. These disciplines have always been a collaboration of great minds from every past and present civilization. If something has to change in education, it's teaching kids this fact.
If a journalist shares footage:
1) without verifying its authenticity
2) directly broadcast from a known propaganda machine & tyrannical junta
3) depicting tactics known to have been historically used by said propaganda machine..
.. can they really call themselves a journalist?
WATCH: This video, screened at a media conference organised by
#Myanmar
army, shows people crying in front of a burnt village in Sagaing
They are heard accusing People’s Defence Force fighters of burning their village and killing others
@pyaezone
As a child, Myanmar people were my teachers, my carers, my friends and my gracious, generous hosts. In Myanmar I feel at home. And I will always represent the truth about Myanmar to anyone who will listen. 🙏
@ivadixit
My family was moving from USA to Myanmar. We were due to fly via Tokyo, but I didn't know plans had changed & it was to be Seoul. On the flight the attendant asked me "what are you doing in Korea?". I thought she was saying "...in career". I thought to myself "I'm 8?!'. 😵💫
For every image coming out of Ukraine that "shocked the world", there's been comparable images from Myanmar for a year that were seen and/or ignored.
Compassion extends only as far as people can say, "that could have been me".
AP images of a pregnant woman being rushed to an ambulance after Russia bombed a maternity hospital in Mariupol where she was meant to give birth shocked the world.
@AP
has learned that the woman and her baby have died.
Understanding that mask wearing and vaccine getting is as much about protecting others as it is oneself requires a particular level of both intelligence & compassion for strangers. Only in the world's richest & freest nations have these issues become politically divisive.
@Darsam12_
I've lived in 6 countries, each with different socket types. UK's are by far the best (and I'm not a UK stan). They're secure; they feel the safest; they're durable; and it's easy to fix internal wiring or fuses.
@georgegriffiths
It's not exclusively about alt-right pipelines; it's about all ideological pipelines; it's about online discourse in general.
That you read into it that it must be uniquely about alt-right ideology is telling.
@meemalee
I remember spies following my family in Yangon. I remember curfew (1990). I remember my drunk father keeping us out after curfew & our terrified driver Chit-La escorting us all home in the car. I remember being stopped by military. I could feel Chit-La's terror. Thankfully...
THREAD
As Westerners, we're often bombarded with images of Dusty-Faraway-Land on the news, and it's always in conflict. We see men with guns, lots of people running in fear, injured bodies, etc.
1/
I think that it's fair to say that in 2017, the West was more concerned with the glee of tearing down a "disgraced" icon of democracy than it was concerned for the welfare of the Rohingya.
@ME_McCullough
Am I truly in the minority not to be surprised by this? Practiced religiosity, in my mind and observation, is less about compassion and social-mindedness, and more about cultural conformity.
This pride month, shout out to all the non-straight people who don't use their minority status to cynically bolster their professional or creative careers, and to those whose minority status doesn't act as a stand-in for a personality.
If you grew up like me, always anticipating the next barrage of abuse from caregivers, you might become an adult who feels that way too. You so anticipate being criticized or attacked that you see it when it is not there; your instinctive response might be to fight back.
1/4
@DominicRaab
@DominicRaab
You must make clear that you do not accept Chit Win as rightful ambassador to the UK. You must denounce the coup in no uncertain terms.
@Isaac_de_Tormes
From her stage play, 'As you like it', trans playwright Wilhelmina Shakespeare wrote the famous words,
"All the world's a stage
And all the transmen and transwomen and non-binaries and two-spirits are merely players"
@Ayishat_Akanbi
This is the nature of culture. One identifies with their tribe; their tribe stands for goodness, therefore those who don't mimic their culture must in turn be bad. If one lives a life counter to another's, it can be interpreted as an affront. It's exhibited the world over.
@clarissaward
Ignore the criticism from western critics and diaspora. They have unrealistic expectations of journalism. Your report was fair. I hope there is a follow-up upon leaving MM.
@JonathanShedler
I have overcome suicidal C-PTSD without meds, using talking therapies, much introspection, and making drastic changes to my lifestyle. I still have depressive episodes, but I haven't had a fight/flight, emotional flashback rage for 3+ yrs.
I haven't tweeted about Myanmar for a long time; I've simply run out of words to describe my regret about what's happening there. All I can do is hope that everyone I know IRL and online are ok.
Everything you believe to be true and right about the world would be different had you been born in another place or time. Can you really trust what you believe to be true and right in this place and time?
@The_Guy_in_237
@helenstaniland
Self-ID laws create too many opportunities for predators - whether they truly identify as trans or not - to abuse the system. And no one can contest those who claim to be trans. This will impact the safety of women in spaces previously reserved for them - for their safety!
What is it they proudly boast in Western politics? "We don't negotiate with terrorists".
Why do you think it's any different for Myanmar people?
We tried negotiation: it failed. The junta have shown their intentions.
There's only one path now.
@UN
Support MM people!
We call for the resignation of Dr. Noeleen Heyzer from the post of UN special envoy. Not only did she start her job from an ignorant patronizing defeatist position, but also doubled down on her mistake and lied it was “misrepresentation“ when she was given a chance to correct.
@seerutkchawla
So far today I've received Merry Christmas messages from friends in Myanmar, Pakistan, India and Egypt. This lady needs to meet some actual non-white people.
@cvdom2021
I didn't know this. I haven't liked using military or army, because these are supposed to be forces which protect its citizens. I'll only use junta from now on.
If how you feel pride of self is by association to other people - your tribe - then you are immediately making enemies of people you've never met. How pointless and cynical is that?
We don't learn to be compassionate by being told when and at whom to feel compassion, or else. We learn compassion through experiences; mistakes - and taking responsibility for our mistakes; and by pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones to create connection with others.
@angrynorfman
I've lived in 6 countries, each with different socket types. UK's are by far the best (and I'm not a UK stan). They're secure; they feel the safest; they're durable; and it's easy to fix internal wiring or fuses.
I've known the richest & the poorest.
I've known the freest & the most oppressed.
I've known the most educated & the least.
I've known the greediest & the most humble.
And I'm grateful to all of them for teaching me about humanity and myself.
I will never describe a person as a 'Person of colour". I don't categorise people by being either white or not white.
Could there be a example of 'centering whiteness' more clear than to do that?
@ThetHtarThet1
I understand you. I am living in France where there are a lot of antivax people and entitled people complaining about having to get vaccinated. All the while I'm watching the horror in Myanmar of people who would give up everything to get the vaccine. It's infuriating.
Whether you believe Israel or Palestine to be the true state, what is happening is a domestic conflict. But the world is gripped by this civil war.
There's far less interest in the oppression & terror inflicted by the murderous Myanmar junta every day
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
People who overcompensate and humour people from minority groups by cheering them on, regardless of their talent or personality, in a polite & exaggerated fashion are worse than actual bigots.
#rosiejones
I think I love the Olympics because it reminds me of international schools I attended as a kid. These athletes understand that difference or competition doesn't have to equal animosity. Twitter could learn a thing.
Forgiveness:
You can forgive people who aren't asking for it.
You can forgive people without telling them you've forgiven them.
You can forgive people without needing to continue/rekindle the relationship.
Forgiveness is for your own healing, not for the party who has hurt you.
@mhdksafa
It's the same in the UK. The Tory government is still blaming the state of the country on the previous government. Buy the Tory gvt has been in power for over 10 years.
@seerutkchawla
As a therapee, I don't use the notion of blame. Trauma took place in my life. My trauma was not my fault. But MY recovery is 100% MY responsibility. I will not allow my destructive coping mechanisms negatively affect the people I love. I will not pass on my trauma to others.
Next time you feel defensive: stop, take a breath, re-evaluate the situation, play back what has been said to you. Was the intent truly there to hurt you, or did you infer it?
4/4
#CPTSD
#PTSD
@meemalee
I'll never downplay the significance of someone breaking free from the grip of a toxic ideology. He has risked and given up a lot by breaking ranks and denouncing the coup. If he can break free, others may follow.
Today, the National Unity Government calls upon all citizens of Myanmar to revolt against the Tatmadaw. I'm not a citizen, but Myanmar is my country too. From 1000s miles away, all I can do is express my support and unity with MM people.
BREAKING: Acting President Duwa Lashi La of
#Myanmar
’s
@NUGMyanmar
gov announces that from today Sep 7, 2021 the defensive war against the military junta has been launched — urges the citizens to revolt against the junta in every corner of the country.
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
@millihill
I don't read it as an apology. To me it says,
I said what I said.
It hurt some of you - sorry.
I don't need to repeat myself.
I'm off to spend my time doing what I like doing.
TTFN.
I will never define who I am in relation to a group of people. No one represents me but myself. See me as me and I'll see you as you. I advise you to see yourself too, not who you think you should be according to the people around you.
At this point in my life, I think I'm only concerned with surrounding myself with people who are able to feel empathy with others across a cultural divide. Too many people rely solely on exchanging cultural call+response cues. That's not a deep enough connection for me.
Don't claim you care about all the babies and children killed in war if you're selective about which babies and children you care about.
The
#Myanmar
military junta has killed ~500 kids since the coup d'état in 2021.
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
#Israel
@DerekTonkinUK
SAC isn't a government. They are a terrorist organisation. They took control of the country by means of violence, not democracy. That is not a government.
Awful to watch those brave people getting arrested in Russia for protesting against their Government. Here, our Government has just pushed through laws which allow them to arrest us for protesting against ours.
A lot of people today are gladly waving goodbye to 2020. The virus had turned their normal lives upside down, they've been denied access to things they're accustomed to having or doing, and they've been torn from their usual relationships. For me however, it's been easy. Why?
1/
I've spent a couple of weeks on mental health TikTok. The glorification & fetishism of mental health conditions, self-diagnosis, stories of unlicensed therapists "diagnosing" teens with CPTSD, bi-polar, etc blaming all life's misery on "cApItAlIsM"... It's all as bad as they say.
@wil_da_beast630
My political standpoint has not changed. But the current left narrative has become authoritarian. I first objected to "cultural appropriation" because it denies me my right to my multicultural life experience. I reject authoritarianism wherever it lies on the political spectrum.
@pyaezone
It's a struggle every day for me, seeing the West invent ways in which they are "oppressed" or "living under dictatorship", whilst all the while watching what's happening in Myanmar and elsewhere.
There's a lot of tension surrounding CNN's first report from MM. Everyone is stressed & anxious. But let's not resort to creating division amongst us; let's not let fear & anger blind us to our common cause of achieving democracy for MM.
Very striking that I am being absolutely inundated with positive, heartfelt messages from people in Myanmar, while a handful of white male academics/ commentators (none of them in the country) write endless screeds about how offensive my trip is to the people of Myanmar 🤔