It’s hard to admit, but there was something to admire in George Bush’s speech to the United Nations on Monday. Like many other Americans, I was amazed that he realized that a crisis was occurring in Myanmar (although he called it by its Anglicized old name.) It’s less likely that he realized how significant the events there should be for Americans.
About a month ago, monks who have devoted their entire lives to peace and poverty turned over their bowls—an act with amazing meaning for the people of Myanmar and the world. These monks own nothing but their robe and their bowl. They beg for food, and those who give it to them are blessed. By turning over their bowls, they are going on a hunger strike and at the same time refusing to bless their nation. They don’t fight, they don’t scream, they just walk with bowls inverted.
First a few, then dozens, and now hundreds marching every day. A few people begin to follow, and by last weekend, tens of thousands walk behind them. The government forbid more than 3 to gather at a time; they walk anyway. They shoot into the crowd, killing monks. They walk anyway. Last evening, the government raids the monastery itself. My guess...tomorrow they will walk again. These are people who know how to sacrifice for their beliefs.
Flash forward to the progressives of this nation. What have we sacrificed? I’ve sent checks, talked to neighbors, made phone calls, written a few LTEs...and gone shopping. We talk to one another and shake our heads.
I’d like to suggest that now is the time to turn over our bowls. It’s the only way.
Money talks. Boycotts work. Not the inane, in-name-only stuff like not buying gas on Tuesdays. The CEOs know well that we won’t stop driving, so the total amount of gas will be the same. I’m suggesting relatively permanent changes in buying patterns, targeted very specifically against the companies whose CEOs have done the most to facilitate the war and the neocon agenda.
It would take research. It would take work. It would take coordination. And in the end, we’d be really inconvenienced and might even have to sacrifice. But I predict we’d get real results long before we had to starve or be shot as we slept.
Let me suggest three examples, and then open a discussion. Suppose our research showed that the owners of Sam’s Club™ were far more active on the Republican agenda than those of Costco™. (Ya think?) A national effort brings folks to changing their subscription memberships, notifying the company why they are doing it, and collating the effect on a website that produces press releases. Or suppose the management structures and contributions of the major airlines were compared, one targeted for action. Supporters cancel their frequent flyer accounts (with explanation), donating the balances to anti-war causes, and inconvenience themselves by choosing another airline. If one telecom company has been more aggressive at resisting the illegal information requests of BushCo than others, a movement is organized to move cell phone accounts. These are just meant to be thought exercises. I know there are no perfect companies, but there are definitely differences.
Is it possible? Is it reasonable? Do people have the nerve to stop shopping and turn over their bowls?