In chapter four of Anderson’s book, he draws the distinctions of motives between guerilla actions in Morocco, El Salvador, Afghanistan, Gaza, and Burma. While he describes how the FMLN have the time and space to patiently engage in the struggle to win “hearts and minds,” the Karen soldiers in Burma engage in day to day survival. As Anderson says, “Their war is aimed at killing the enemy, not winning him over.” Because of decades of enmity between the Burmans and the Karen, the Karen’s choice is either enslavement or fleeing the country. Their fight is similar to the Palestinians in that both are outnumbered, pretty much surrounded, and access to modern weaponry is limited.
However, it was recently announced that other several other ethnic groups in Burma (Mon, Kachin, Karenni, and Shan) have formed a military alliance with the Karen in resistance to the results of the “free” elections held last week in Burma. Elections have not been held in Burma for over 20 years, and it was widely reported that people were coerced and threatened into voting to retain the ruling military junta’s candidates. The country was virtually locked down last week, the border with Thailand sealed, no foreign journalists were allowed in (officially), and two days prior to the election on Nov. 7th internet service was mysteriously cut off.
Military actions by the Karen have increased along the border with Thailand as 10,000 people fled the country the day after the election. Will this new alliance among previously disparate ethnic groups have any effect against the Burmese government? For now, their effectiveness depends on their willingness to band together under the old saying of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” With the release of Aung San Suu Kyi this past Saturday, perhaps she can help bring all parties together to fight this repressive regime.
Name: Lauryn Gallagher Class: Anth. 366 Date: 15 November 2010
In chapters 3 and 4 in Anderson’s book it discusses “To make war one must confront death, and it is the routine prospect of killing and dying that makes a guerrilla´s life different from other people´s.” In war, human life becomes expendable, and respect for it is made contingent on many factors. The war’s objectives, the enemy’s behavior, the physical condition of the battleground and, perhaps most important, cultural traditions and beliefs. In the end, the value men place on human life determines how wars are waged. “You learn to live with death, you become intimate with it,” says Augustín, who works with Haroldo on Radio Farabundo Martí. “But the fear never goes away. If anything, you feel a stronger love for life. But, above everything else, there is a decision to surrender it at any moment for the cause.” The feeling Augustín describes is called mística, “mystique” but mística means much more. It is the fusion of emotion that push the guerrillas to continue fighting.
The thing I found most interesting in this week's reading was the fact that Palestinians had to travel into Israel for employment. I yet to fully understand all that goes into the conflict between the two and have been trying to learn more about it over the last few years, but this was something new to me. I couldn't imagine having to go into a country and work for people who I was completely against. The other shocking piece was that Palestinians quite often purchased their weapons from Israelis. Buying weapons (which will be most likely used in the conflict) from your enemies to use against your enemies is an odd concept to me, although I know it has happened many times throughout the world's history.
In Chapter 4 of Anderson, he is talking about the war campaigns in the 1980's. That when, "the governments sought to expand its influence by encouraging civilian candidates to run for political office in municipal elections, the FMLN responded by attacking town halls, abducting and sometimes killing prospective and newly installed mayors. As controversial as this campaign was, it achieved its desired objectives. Having wiped out the last vestiges of government rule, the guerrillas stood unchallenged by an competing political groups in may contested areas. Instead, sympathetic 'citizens committees' were set up as fronts for the FMLN. Exploiting their unarmed civilian status and the government belated desire to achieve international acceptance as a 'democracy,' these committees began operating more openly. Soon they took to the cities to demonstrate the return of refugees from camps in Honduras and elsewhere"(Anderson 136).
In response to Meghan's post: I also found the reading quite interesting concerning the Palestine/Israel conflict. I dont follow the news or any current world affairs because it all makes me slightly depressed, so I didnt know a whole lot past these two countries are fighting. I know that its a religious difference and history that pushes the two apart, but I was shocked to learn that there are Palestinians traveling for work in Israel and that they buy weapons from them to USE AGAINST THEM!!!! It seems that this conflict is just fueling itself...and I think that any U.S. involvement should be withdrawn to let them figure it out.
In Andersons book he talks about the mistica and that is what keeps the guerrilla fighting. Because once the fighters are on the battle ground they have more of an appreciation for life. I find it funny that it requires people to into a battle ground to make them appreciate life more. It seems as though a lot of the countries that are fighting are fighting over the difference of religion and the difference of thought for how the country should be run. What it all ends up being is a big misunderstanding. The unfortunate part is that so many people in countries are killed just for this reason. Like in Burma, they shut down the country from having any foreign people coming in and that it impossible to teach the people about one another if no one can go in the country. It is all just a misunderstanding.
In chapter four of Anderson’s book, he draws the distinctions of motives between guerilla actions in Morocco, El Salvador, Afghanistan, Gaza, and Burma. While he describes how the FMLN have the time and space to patiently engage in the struggle to win “hearts and minds,” the Karen soldiers in Burma engage in day to day survival. As Anderson says, “Their war is aimed at killing the enemy, not winning him over.” Because of decades of enmity between the Burmans and the Karen, the Karen’s choice is either enslavement or fleeing the country. Their fight is similar to the Palestinians in that both are outnumbered, pretty much surrounded, and access to modern weaponry is limited.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it was recently announced that other several other ethnic groups in Burma (Mon, Kachin, Karenni, and Shan) have formed a military alliance with the Karen in resistance to the results of the “free” elections held last week in Burma. Elections have not been held in Burma for over 20 years, and it was widely reported that people were coerced and threatened into voting to retain the ruling military junta’s candidates. The country was virtually locked down last week, the border with Thailand sealed, no foreign journalists were allowed in (officially), and two days prior to the election on Nov. 7th internet service was mysteriously cut off.
Military actions by the Karen have increased along the border with Thailand as 10,000 people fled the country the day after the election. Will this new alliance among previously disparate ethnic groups have any effect against the Burmese government? For now, their effectiveness depends on their willingness to band together under the old saying of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” With the release of Aung San Suu Kyi this past Saturday, perhaps she can help bring all parties together to fight this repressive regime.
Name: Lauryn Gallagher
ReplyDeleteClass: Anth. 366
Date: 15 November 2010
In chapters 3 and 4 in Anderson’s book it discusses “To make war one must confront death, and it is the routine prospect of killing and dying that makes a guerrilla´s life different from other people´s.” In war, human life becomes expendable, and respect for it is made contingent on many factors. The war’s objectives, the enemy’s behavior, the physical condition of the battleground and, perhaps most important, cultural traditions and beliefs. In the end, the value men place on human life determines how wars are waged. “You learn to live with death, you become intimate with it,” says Augustín, who works with Haroldo on Radio Farabundo Martí. “But the fear never goes away. If anything, you feel a stronger love for life. But, above everything else, there is a decision to surrender it at any moment for the cause.” The feeling Augustín describes is called mística, “mystique” but mística means much more. It is the fusion of emotion that push the guerrillas to continue fighting.
The thing I found most interesting in this week's reading was the fact that Palestinians had to travel into Israel for employment. I yet to fully understand all that goes into the conflict between the two and have been trying to learn more about it over the last few years, but this was something new to me. I couldn't imagine having to go into a country and work for people who I was completely against. The other shocking piece was that Palestinians quite often purchased their weapons from Israelis. Buying weapons (which will be most likely used in the conflict) from your enemies to use against your enemies is an odd concept to me, although I know it has happened many times throughout the world's history.
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 4 of Anderson, he is talking about the war campaigns in the 1980's. That when, "the governments sought to expand its influence by encouraging civilian candidates to run for political office in municipal elections, the FMLN responded by attacking town halls, abducting and sometimes killing prospective and newly installed mayors. As controversial as this campaign was, it achieved its desired objectives. Having wiped out the last vestiges of government rule, the guerrillas stood unchallenged by an competing political groups in may contested areas. Instead, sympathetic 'citizens committees' were set up as fronts for the FMLN. Exploiting their unarmed civilian status and the government belated desire to achieve international acceptance as a 'democracy,' these committees began operating more openly. Soon they took to the cities to demonstrate the return of refugees from camps in Honduras and elsewhere"(Anderson 136).
ReplyDeleteIn response to Meghan's post: I also found the reading quite interesting concerning the Palestine/Israel conflict. I dont follow the news or any current world affairs because it all makes me slightly depressed, so I didnt know a whole lot past these two countries are fighting. I know that its a religious difference and history that pushes the two apart, but I was shocked to learn that there are Palestinians traveling for work in Israel and that they buy weapons from them to USE AGAINST THEM!!!! It seems that this conflict is just fueling itself...and I think that any U.S. involvement should be withdrawn to let them figure it out.
ReplyDeleteIn Andersons book he talks about the mistica and that is what keeps the guerrilla fighting. Because once the fighters are on the battle ground they have more of an appreciation for life. I find it funny that it requires people to into a battle ground to make them appreciate life more. It seems as though a lot of the countries that are fighting are fighting over the difference of religion and the difference of thought for how the country should be run. What it all ends up being is a big misunderstanding. The unfortunate part is that so many people in countries are killed just for this reason. Like in Burma, they shut down the country from having any foreign people coming in and that it impossible to teach the people about one another if no one can go in the country. It is all just a misunderstanding.
ReplyDelete