The Sunshine Empire

I have been reading with some interest the unrest and democratic struggles of the monks and people of Burma against the military junta there.  I was reading this weekend that the country’s most famous comedian, Zargana, was arrested.  My first impression was that is a harsh sign of the seriousness of the struggle that they would arrest a comedian.  I could only imagine a world where Lewis Black is thrown into jail for what he does.  I imagine it would make for a great set once he was released, but it is the sign of what can happen when a people lose their humor.  Bill Maher says that the Middle East needs and Arab comic to do Chris Rock’s act.  Only then can they find democracy I feel.  But the more I read about Zargana I found that he was arrested publicly bringing food to protesters.  Zargana has regularly spoken out against the authorities on the need for basic human rights and that is really what a good comedian does.  He yells at the people in charge, no matter who they be, and tells them to go fuck themselves.

I will personally pray for him, but his plight makes me more angry about Iraq.  No matter my feelings on the initial invasion, once you have control of your country you get together and make things happen.  A thousand years of fighting is no excuse.  I am highly resentful that 4000 of my countrymen have died as they sit on their asses and wait this ethnic thing out until they are as separate as blacks and whites in Arkansas in the 40′s.

It’s almost Wednesday.