http://news.msn.com/world/myanmar-punks-bust-monks-bloody-attacks-on-muslims Punks in Myanmar, who know the pain of being outsiders, are standing up for Muslims, the targets of bloody beatings by radical Buddhist monks. YANGON, Myanmar — Punk rockers draw double-takes as they dart through traffic, but it's not just the pink hair, leather jackets or skull tattoos that make these 20-somethings rebels: It's their willingness to speak out against Buddhist monks instigating violence against Muslims while others in Myanmar are silent. "If they were real monks, I'd be quiet, but they aren't," says Kyaw Kyaw, lead singer of Rebel Riot, as his drummer knocks out the beat for a new song slamming religious hypocrisy and an anti-Muslim movement known as "969." ''They are nationalists, fascists. No one wants to hear it, but it's true." Related: Bomb during sermon by radical Myanmar monk wounds 5 Radical monks are at the forefront of a bloody campaign against Muslims, and few in this predominantly Buddhist nation of 60 million people are willing to speak against them. For many, being Buddhist is an important part of being Burmese, and monks, the most venerable members of society, are beyond reproach. Others are simply in denial, or buy into claims the Muslim "outsiders" pose a threat to their culture and traditions. The silence is as dangerous as the mobs razing mosques and cheering as Muslims are hunted down and beaten to death with chains and metal pipes, says Michael Salberg, director of international affairs at the U.S.-based Anti-Defamation League. "It's not perpetrators that are the problem here," he says, pointing to conditions that paved the way for the Holocaust in Germany and the genocide in Rwanda. "It's the bystanders." After half-century of harsh military rule, a quasi-civilian government installed two years ago has implemented sweeping reforms, releasing pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, relaxing restrictions against peaceful assembly, opening up the media and throwing away the censor's pen. The same freedoms have also given voice to monks like Wirathu, a charismatic speaker and supporter of 969. His following is growing as he crisscrosses the country calling for boycotts of Muslim-owned shops and a ban on marriages between Buddhist women and Muslim men, and warning that a higher birthrate could one day bring Muslims from 4 percent of the population to a majority. "All I can really say is, people should look at the teachings of Buddha and ask themselves, is this what he meant?" says Ye Ngwe Soe, the 27-year-old frontman of No U Turn, the country's most popular punk rock band. He wrote the song "Human Wars" after violence against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state started spilling into other regions. "When I go to some urban areas, I hear talking about 969, hating Muslims, being violent. It shouldn't be this way."
Is it all Buddhists, or just radical Buddhists? We don't want to condemn all Buddhists for the actions of a few extremists. Nice that some Buddhists are calling out the radicals. Go Blazers
Twitter breaking news says that U.S. military recruiters are offering the monks $50,000 bonuses to sign up. New branch, the U.S. Monk Force.
Obviously not all Buddhists.. That would be ridiculous. Just as ridiculous as comparing all Muslims to radical Muslims or all Christians to radical Christians.
This is a little off topic, but it's something I have thought a bit about lately. At what point SHOULD the radical element of any religion taint the entire religion? Example using football teams instead of different religions. Lets say: 1 in 10,000 Seahawk fans are violent 1 in 1000 Steeler fans are violent 1 in 100 Bronco fans are violent 1 in 10 Raider fans are violent Surly in this situation the actions of the radical element in the Raider fan group would taint the whole group. So where is the cuttoff? EDIT: damn, I missed breaking the 5000 post count. I wasn't paying attention. What happens now? Do my balls drop?
In honour of your 5000th post, Denny will be making a donation to The Human Fund. The Human Fund: Money for People.
