Comments on: “…put on a happy face. The face of Myanmar” http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/ New perspectives on mainland Southeast Asia Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:28:26 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: New Mandala » “Take a different trek”…to “timeless” Burma http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/comment-page-1/#comment-80539 New Mandala » “Take a different trek”…to “timeless” Burma Fri, 04 May 2007 16:45:07 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/#comment-80539 [...] I have highlighted in the past, the self-censorship of tourism writing on Burma must give the generals reason to smile.  [...] [...] I have highlighted in the past, the self-censorship of tourism writing on Burma must give the generals reason to smile.  [...]

]]> By: Amateur http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/comment-page-1/#comment-60684 Amateur Tue, 03 Apr 2007 12:46:09 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/#comment-60684 Excuse me, can any one tell me WHO this Jay Solmonson is? Is he a media figure of any importance at all or just a poor littly local writer, whose account of ignorance should not deserve much more than a merciful smile? I am not for isolating Burma, but tourists like Jay are counterproductive. Unfortunately, the majority of Burma tourists are like him. Excuse me, can any one tell me WHO this Jay Solmonson is? Is he a media figure of any importance at all or just a poor littly local writer, whose account of ignorance should not deserve much more than a merciful smile?
I am not for isolating Burma, but tourists like Jay are counterproductive. Unfortunately, the majority of Burma tourists are like him.

]]> By: Maylee Thavat http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/comment-page-1/#comment-60234 Maylee Thavat Mon, 02 Apr 2007 16:04:45 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/#comment-60234 I laughed out loud I laughed out loud

]]> By: BarNyar http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/comment-page-1/#comment-60060 BarNyar Mon, 02 Apr 2007 07:06:37 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/#comment-60060 Hey It's not such irony here in Myanmar. I'm frm myanmar and I'm happy and smiling with the situation here. Hey It’s not such irony here in Myanmar. I’m frm myanmar and I’m happy and smiling with the situation here.

]]> By: Pig Latin http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/comment-page-1/#comment-59914 Pig Latin Sun, 01 Apr 2007 23:34:11 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/#comment-59914 Macabre! Great post Nich, thanks! Macabre!

Great post Nich, thanks!

]]> By: aiontay http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/comment-page-1/#comment-59869 aiontay Sun, 01 Apr 2007 20:54:41 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/#comment-59869 If I remember correctly, back in 1995 there was an Esquire magazine article that was about travel in Burma and commenting on the smiles in Burma it said something to the effect that although the people may be oppressed, they weren't depressed becasue they were smiling all the time. Of course, what else can you do but smile? If you lose your temper at the idiots running the country, well that'll land you in jail, at the least, so keep on smiling. If I remember correctly, back in 1995 there was an Esquire magazine article that was about travel in Burma and commenting on the smiles in Burma it said something to the effect that although the people may be oppressed, they weren’t depressed becasue they were smiling all the time.

Of course, what else can you do but smile? If you lose your temper at the idiots running the country, well that’ll land you in jail, at the least, so keep on smiling.

]]> By: book » Comment on “…put on a happy face. The face of Myanmar” by Jon … http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/comment-page-1/#comment-59829 book » Comment on “…put on a happy face. The face of Myanmar” by Jon … Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:24:15 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/#comment-59829 [...] Nicholas Farrelly wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptEvery tourism major must excel in the art of smiling and explaining their culture to foreigners. The elite valedictorians of the class go on to become stewardesses at Japan airlines. What I’m actually describing is the Thai university I … [...] [...] Nicholas Farrelly wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptEvery tourism major must excel in the art of smiling and explaining their culture to foreigners. The elite valedictorians of the class go on to become stewardesses at Japan airlines. What I’m actually describing is the Thai university I … [...]

]]> By: Sawarin http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/comment-page-1/#comment-59800 Sawarin Sun, 01 Apr 2007 16:48:50 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/#comment-59800 I like this report Nich. How about 'Aloha Junta-Aloha Burma'? I like this report Nich.

How about ‘Aloha Junta-Aloha Burma’?

]]> By: book » “…put on a happy face. The face of Myanmar” http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/comment-page-1/#comment-59799 book » “…put on a happy face. The face of Myanmar” Sun, 01 Apr 2007 16:45:15 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/#comment-59799 [...] pablopalazzi wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptCovered in the dirt of the road, Solmonson writes that “we could put on a happy face. The face of Myanmar”. This persistent image of a smiling, happy country (”We also spent a lot of time smiling on the road to Mandalay”; … [...] [...] pablopalazzi wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptCovered in the dirt of the road, Solmonson writes that “we could put on a happy face. The face of Myanmar”. This persistent image of a smiling, happy country (”We also spent a lot of time smiling on the road to Mandalay”; … [...]

]]> By: Jon Fernquest http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/comment-page-1/#comment-59793 Jon Fernquest Sun, 01 Apr 2007 16:09:37 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/01/put-on-a-happy-face-the-face-of-myanmar/#comment-59793 Every tourism major must excel in the art of smiling and explaining their culture to foreigners. The elite valedictorians of the class go on to become stewardesses at Japan airlines. What I'm actually describing is the Thai university I taught at, which is probably a good predictor of Burma's future. If I had my druthers, I'd have them all become doctors or engineers, but I'm not in charge of reality. (fortunately) IMHO On the other hand, most books about Burma are doom and gloom books, so sometimes a little non-doom and gloom is good. Like this little girl in the market once explained to me with a big proud smile that she had picked the Kazun-ywe (Thai: Pat-boong) by the side of the road. Smiles keep people going in depressing circumstances sometimes. Check out: Chomsky on Burma policy, from Bangkok Post Perspective Sunday April 01, 2007: "McLeod: The US has imposed trade sanctions on the Burmese junta. Given the brutality of the Burmese regime, do you think that this is an example of the US taking a positive stance in the region? Chomsky: The US can have and occasionally does have benign influences on many things. Now exactly how to deal with the Burmese junta is a question that has to be raised. Burma has a rotten, horrible government and surely, someone should try to help the Burmese people to free themselves from it, but the question of exactly how to do it is not simple. Sanctions often backfire - you really have to think of the right means of doing it. Sometimes, engagement is more effective. You really have to think this through, you cannot just have formulas." http://www.bangkokpost.com/Perspective/01Apr2007_pers02.php Every tourism major must excel in the art of smiling and explaining their culture to foreigners.

The elite valedictorians of the class go on to become stewardesses at Japan airlines.

What I’m actually describing is the Thai university I taught at, which is probably a good predictor of Burma’s future.

If I had my druthers, I’d have them all become doctors or engineers, but I’m not in charge of reality. (fortunately)

IMHO On the other hand, most books about Burma are doom and gloom books, so sometimes a little non-doom and gloom is good. Like this little girl in the market once explained to me with a big proud smile that she had picked the Kazun-ywe (Thai: Pat-boong) by the side of the road. Smiles keep people going in depressing circumstances sometimes.

Check out: Chomsky on Burma policy, from Bangkok Post Perspective Sunday April 01, 2007:

“McLeod: The US has imposed trade sanctions on the Burmese junta. Given the brutality of the Burmese regime, do you think that this is an example of the US taking a positive stance in the region?

Chomsky: The US can have and occasionally does have benign influences on many things. Now exactly how to deal with the Burmese junta is a question that has to be raised.

Burma has a rotten, horrible government and surely, someone should try to help the Burmese people to free themselves from it, but the question of exactly how to do it is not simple.

Sanctions often backfire – you really have to think of the right means of doing it. Sometimes, engagement is more effective.

You really have to think this through, you cannot just have formulas.”
http://www.bangkokpost.com/Perspective/01Apr2007_pers02.php

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