How Tyrannical Is a Country? Look at How It Treats Captive Animals
During these difficult and polarizing times, it is important to remember the uncharted journey that our nation’s Founders undertook that gave us the protections against tyranny that are more important than ever. The best way to truly understand the magnitude of their journey is to witness first-hand the struggles of a country, in this modern era, fighting to achieve even the simplest semblance of democracy that we are fortunate to wake up to every morning because of the sacrifices of all those who came before us.
On a recent trip to Burma, now known as Myanmar, I saw what America's Founders must have seen: the thin line between tyranny and liberty—and the excitement that comes when the tipping point between oppression and freedom tilts in the favor of the people. This was evident in so many Burmese, whose eyes sparkled with the first twinkle of freedom reflecting the light of democracy. One couldn’t help but think of the tyranny and oppression that these same people faced not even a decade ago.
But under the leadership, sacrifice and vision of so many—like Myanmar’s State Counsellor, Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi—the long journey to awakening each morning to the shining light of freedom is getting closer. As she stated just a few years ago, "Those of us who decided to work for democracy in Burma made our choice in the conviction that the danger of standing up for basic human rights in a repressive society was preferable to the safety of a quiescent life in servitude.”
Many base their assessment of the freedoms within a country not only on the democratic values that they espouse, but how those values manifest themselves visually. In Myanmar, the words of freedom are not just being spoken but can be seen in the vibrancy, excitement and wonderment in the Burmese people. Most embrace and live a life enshrouded in the protections granted to those in a free society as evidenced by their unencumbered and comfortable discussions of the challenges that still face this emerging democracy.
Though we learn in school what typically defines a democracy, there is more to assessing the true freedoms of a society and the underlying foundation that democracies are built upon. A country which claims to be a free and open society in words can hide the fallacy in that statement through the physical and emotional intimidation of its people. But what is truly difficult to hide is how animals within their borders—not only in the wild, but those subject to government regulation—are treated. This is the proof, more than any other sign, that Myanmar is building the foundation of freedom and individual liberties not only in words but actions. As Mahatma Gandhi once stated, "The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
In a recent visit, it was refreshing and inspiring to witness the commitment from the people of Myanmar to protecting their elephants. With all the struggles that Myanmar is facing, the testament of who they truly are as a people is defined by their steadfast commitment to all animals, and especially the elephant. There is no greater example than their commitment to the continued care of the approximately 3,000 government-owned timber elephants and the thousands of mahouts and their families who care for them every day.
The situation was created when the government chose to end the devastation of their forests caused by excessive logging, which put these elephants and their mahouts out of work. Many governments, especially those faced with tremendous economic and political challenges like Myanmar, would have simply walked away from any commitment to continue to help these elephants and its people, but they didn’t.
The author with one of Myanmar's timber elephants, June 2017. (credit: Dane Waters)
Myanmar is on the precipice of a frontier of uncertainties. But there is little doubt that this country of 51 million moves closer every day to the freedoms that should be manifested without restriction to every human on this planet. The fact that the government and the people have chosen to walk the landmine riddled path to their own grand experiment to the right of self-determination side-by-side with the elephants, is simply more proof of their desire to become a nation of freedom, compassion, dignity, and human rights.
Though we are faced with our own uncertainties, watching a country fight for the same values, freedoms and opportunities that we enjoy should give us the resolve to fight harder to ultimately keep us on the right side of the thin line between tyranny and liberty.
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