Today, anti-government protesters in Myanmar vandalized shops and took officials hostage. But wait, here's the best part: the violent protesters are Buddhist monks!

Heh. Aren't Buddhists supposed to be all about calm and non-aggression? Apparently, Buddhism's lofty ideal of tranquility is just like Christianity's "love thy enemy" meme--sounds wonderful in theory but rarely works in practice.

You can hardly blame the monks though. Myanmar has been under oppressive military rule for decades, so of course the frustration of their people would boil over from time to time. Even the most peaceful Buddhist monk would fight back if you push him hard enough.

I don't know much about Myanmar. I personally know only six people from that country. I was in the same class as them when I attended a training program in Japan two years ago. They were a very nice and friendly bunch. They laughed at my corny jokes, and I pretended to like soccer. We got along real well.

I can't speak for them, but I had seen some of them looking at websites plastered with pictures of Burmese pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, so I think I can guess which way they're leanings politically. And I feel bad that they have to live in a place where information is heavily censored and GMail is illegal. GMail is a basic human right, damn it! Myanmar's military junta sucks.

I don't know how this monk riot will turn out. Maybe the monks are getting gunned down as we speak. I sure hope not. Their activities may be somewhat un-Buddha-like, but their cause is a just one. And, despite my personal distaste for religion, I understand that it can be a powerful tool for political change. In the Philippines, the Catholic clergy helped topple the Marcos dictatorship in 1986. Perhaps the Burmese monks would be able do the same for their country.

Yay.