In 1990, after her party swept the majority of the Burmese elections, Aung San Suu Kyi was expected to become the next democratically elected Prime Minister of Burma.
Instead of a peaceful transition to her leadership, she was denied the results of the election and she’s faced oppression from the ruling regime and spent 15 of the last 21 years under house arrest.
She was released earlier today.
20+ years of oppression and today she walks free.
“The release of political prisoners is the most important thing for all those who truly wish to bring about change in Burma.” – Aung San Suu Kyi (via e-mail from Amnesty International)
During their U2 – 360° Tour, U2 has been dedicating their song, Walk On, in support of Aung San Suu Kyi and those living under oppression everywhere.
With her release, U2 has issued a statement regarding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi today…
I thought they beautifully summed up the ideas behind a Love Insurgency…
“For a life denied the basic freedoms, she has lived so vividly in the minds of her people and supporters and accomplished so much. By putting the people of Burma’s interests above her own, she has lived in stark contrast with her oppressors. Her struggle has become a symbol for all humanity, of what we are capable of – best and worst. Her very grace so infuriating to the bully government whose brutish gorging of the country’s rich resources have left the people of Burma poor and hungry.”
May we all lives that put the interests of others above our own.
May we live lives in stark contrast to our oppressors.
May we all live lives so full of grace and love that we infuriate those who wish to oppress us.
And may we all live lives that prove, beyond a shadow of doubt, that love wins!