We all know that the World Cup has ended, but the controversy on Burma’s celebrity, Kae Me Ko’s has not. Once the video leaked on Kae Me Ko’s attire in her music video, people have insinuated her character from the way she danced to the clothing she wears.
What do you think?
Waka Waka Remake Song in Burmese by Kae Me Ko:
Waka Waka Original Song by Shakira:
China’s one-child population control policy has led to the preference of boys over girls. Every year, thousands of couples abort female fetuses. The shortage of women in China has led Chinese families to turn to human traffickers to get brides for their sons and nephews. The traffickers buy or kidnap girls from nearby countries such as Burma, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos and North Korea.
In English:
In Burmese:
The Smithsonian museums in DC are among the top museums in the world and they are free. Tourists come to the Smithsonian museums and look and experience at the different exhibits on history and diverse cultures. This month they are focusing on the Asian Pacific American Culture. As the Smithsonian helps different cultures preserve their traditions, the Freer museum helps explore the Burmese diaspora through the preview of the movie Chinlone.
English Version:
Burmese Version:
– Kaye Lin
AP Photo: Traditional Burmese Attire
Modern Model in Myanmar/ Burma
Girls are scrutinized in the Burmese culture, and a girl is to dress modestly as she is a representation of her family. Well, you can imagine what the model, Honey Oo had to deal with when pictures of her modeling in a bikini came to display. Burmese people complained and criticized her for her attire.
Honey Oo had an interview with the Irrawaddy, and she stated, “I have received many e-mails criticizing me for wearing them. I just want people to consider that I am creating art and doing a job.” Oo says that she wants people to realize that in Burma, models do not have the same opportunities as models from other countries.
Fashion in Burma is its own politics: controversial. A woman is considered immoral for keeping up with the ” modern fashion” while modern fashion does not affect men. A woman is called unworthy, disrespectful and unpatriotic while these adjectives do not adhere to men in terms of fashion.
It’s a shame that women are still criticized today for wearing modern clothing and when they are a part of the modern fashion. However, the controversy of Honey Oo, brings up a very important point. Is it necessarily a good thing when Burmese women are changing their traditional ways to become part of the modern Westernized culture?
Women’s fashion in Burma remain very much the same. The traditional dresses are still worn, but some girls are following the Western fashion and media. Take a look:
– Kaye Lin
AP photo: Four of Burma's Military Leaders
The Australian government has forced the daughter of a senior Burmese general, Zin Mon Aye to leave the country. Australia has a policy against the country of Burma which sanctions the country in order to target the top military members of Burma. Zin Mon Aye was studying at a university in Australia, and she was forced to leave Australia after the government found out her familial ties to the Burmese military regime.
People say that the Burmese general’s daughter’s presence in the country opposes Australia’s aims at promoting democracy in Burma. Therefore, as the country targets the Burmese military regime, the policy is also targeting the families of the regime.
Zin Mon Aye is fighting to remain in Australia. Her lawyer has said that Aye is the victim in this policy- she is innocent. Zin Mon Aye has said that she does not rely on her parents financially to attend the university. She does not see why she is being punished for her father’s association with the Burmese regime. She has said that she wanted to obtain citizenship in Australia and planned to live there after she had gotten her accounting degree at the university.
Is it moral to kick the General’s daughter out of the country?
There is a lot of controversy circling this situation. Is it moral or ethical to target a woman because of her father’s association with the military? Even in the office, we are debating over that matter and have had quarrels with the story.
Many of the people in the office believe that it is the Australian government’s right to stand by their beliefs and sanctions. If Australia is adamant about their values on democracy, they should implement it, they say. Since the Burmese military leaders are corrupt, they are using blood money, and this blood money is being deposited to democratic countries, like Australia.
I understand this side, but I still think to kick a woman out of the country is unjust. She is innocent, and she is being punished for her father’s actions. I think that as a democratic country, they should be willing to take her in and make her aware of what a “ free democracy” truly means. The girl is trying to get an education, and the country has a great opportunity to educate her well of democratic and moral principles. I think they could have used that to their advantage instead of shunning the poor girl.
If we shun our enemies or the families of enemies, we are not winning. We are not opening up engagement or opening our understanding or theirs. Simply, we are just going on with the ongoing circle of bloodshed and war. Furthermore, I think Australia will be crippled by this case. Zin Mon Aye will have resentment of Australia and how they had given her unjust treatment when all she wanted was to be given the right to study and to be treated equally.
What do you think of this case?
I also wanted to ask if you think it is ironic that the Burmese military leaders with so much money and power send their children to study in rich democratic countries. The children of the leaders, either live abroad and live rich lives, or go back to their countries with the education they have achieved, and still continue to work under their parents. Did their education pay off ?
Let me know your thoughts.
VOA Burmese Blog 