I avoid personal opinion on my website for several reasons. One, some of my opinions may seem extreme or impractical. Two, some of my opinions may alienate others who genuinely care about the well being of the people of Burma. Also, to delve too deep into these issues without well prepared 300 page reports sponsored and legitimized by some international NGO will just make my opinion a rant, nothing more. Also, to raise some topics is to certainly antagonize questions that can not be answered by conventional means. But such is the nature of the problems in dealing with Burma.

But I have been pretty busy lately. I've been building two new websites. This is taking some time because I lack the expertise of website development but there are other reasons as well. The first website I am creating is a specific campaign. I tend hold my tongue on what I think of other prominent campaign's which claim to be out for the best interest of Burma but lack good taste, solid judgment and transparency. And again, to voice my opinion would alienate the allegiance such "organizations" claim to have acquired. As I said, it would take not an insignificant investigation and assessment to truly release such opinions.

This first website I am building is philosophically independent. I have thoroughly analyzed the practicality of such a campaign and have found it to be good. But, along its development I discovered some overhead would be required, so I have put a temporary halt to the project until I can find a way to make this campaign 100% finance-free. There are a few more issues to work out but they are minor in comparison. And with the recent explosion of online advocacy it is difficult at this time to tell if a more educational and information-outreach oriented campaign would be well received.

The second website I have been building has just been heartbreaking. It is topic specific. I have been debating for sometime if a site devoted to such a subject is even appropriate. In my research thus far, I have not come across anything I did not already know, but to focus so deliberately on such egregious human rights abuses has left me somewhat marked. It has changed me.

It is as though the veil has been lifted - to use a religious analogy. And I can not help but see the world in the condition it is truly in. Not only has this been an emotional challenge but it has also altered the subtly of my national identity. That, assuming we are ingrained with a national identity whether we are aware of it or not.

I will put this in very simple and under supported terms. It's the circle of life. The United States trades with China. American citizens buy Chinese goods every where we go, one would be very hard pressed to avoid it. In the first three months of this year alone we have purchased $72,728.2 million dollars in goods from China. China is no longer Burma's largest trading partner, Thailand is, but Chinese trade with Burma is still very significant and China is still the top arms provider to Burma.

Very simply put. In reality. If we lift the veil. U.S. citizens buy good's that puts money into China's pocket, that money is then spent in Burma to provide for their military needs, then the military launches it campaign's of genocide, systematic mass rape of women and children, torture in prisons, children losing their legs stepping on landmines as they run to escape the Burmese army and political oppression.

U.S. citizens don't pull the trigger; we just pay for the ammunition. The circle of life.

The deeper question is; does knowing this, the inability to claim ignorance, make one an active participant and an accessory during the fact? I believe it does.

But being an American I am well aware of the consequences of saying such a thing to another American. We can not live without Chinese goods. And thanks to U.S. trade policy with China, the Chinese rural class is seemingly rising out of poverty.

But the U.S. has strong trade sanctions against Burma, right? This hasn't stopped the ever increasing trade deals with China, Thailand, India and the rest of Southeast Asia. Europe, though they too blow the democratic trumpet and salute the abstract entitlement to freedom, in reality sit on the fence. Many top level corporations in Europe would be doing business with Burma at a moment's notice, with the blessing of their respective governments if it were not for legitimate public outcry and the unavoidable relation one would create with human rights abuses as one creates a relationship with Burma.

The United Nations? The British and the United States are fully aware that the United Nations Security Council will never pass measures to assure the basic safety of the people of Burma. Most of what "Democracies" around the world comment on Burma is save-face-rhetoric.

I believe the only way the international community can bring change in Burma is for a widespread, genuine and wholehearted diplomatic engagement to convince the Chinese that a democratic Burma is in their best financial interest. Why the Chinese? Because they are the superpower of the pacific. They have the political clout and diplomatic strength to force the junta to hold Free and Fair Democratic elections and to coerce (behind the curtain) the junta into retirement. Thailand has no such relationship with Burma. Their relationship is one of economic opportunism. India? Out of the question. Not only are they not an established partner with Burma but many feel that proactive economic engagement will encourage prosperity and democratic reform in Burma. But that to me seems as likely as the military loosening its grip on power because of U.S. sanctions. It looks good on paper. But in reality; poverty soars, the women and children are being raped, unknown numbers are dying from easily treated diseases. And the worldwide spread of a capitalist morality (what's most important is what stimulates my self-interest) simply makes the problems of Burma's people inconvenient.

I have been saying the same thing for many years now. Truly Creative Thinking can solve many issues. What has our adroit citizens of the world so preoccupied? I ask this because it seems it is only the adroit individual that can be of some assistance. The U.S. is now subject to its own devises finding itself another victim of financial dependency (modern colonialism). Not to mention the well received debt to China we own from the war in Iraq. We are in no position to negotiation and will be doing no such thing anytime soon. And so I wonder, what of the adroit individuals - who put the other before the self. What are they up to?