To the FutureHope
From New York Times regarding Barack Obama's victory for the Democratic nomination:
"We as black people now have hope that we have never, ever had," Mr. Sam-Brew [an immigrant from Ghana] said. "I have new goals for my little girl. She can't give me any excuses because she's black."
Emma Lazarus's The New Colossus
Emma Lazarus (July 22, 1849 – November 19, 1887) was an American poet. She wrote "The New Colossus" in 1883, that is now engraved on a bronze plaque on a wall in the base of the Statue of Liberty.
The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Paul Auster wrote that "Bartholdi's gigantic effigy was originally intended as a monument to the principles of international republicanism, but 'The New Colossus' reinvented the statue's purpose, turning Liberty into a welcoming mother, a symbol of hope to the outcasts and downtrodden of the world".
At the Statue of Liberty in New York
George Orwell's 1984
I have been reading George Orwell's 1984. I am half way now. I want to share some quotes I like.
One of these days, thought Winston with sudden deep conviction, Syme will be vaporized. He is too intelligent. He sees too clearly and speaks too plainly. The Party does not like such people. One day he will disappear. It is written in his face.
Everything faded into mist. The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became truth.
Orwell, in my opinions, probably wrote this fiction based on his experiences about the British colonial rule in Burma. Orwell used to live in Katha and Moulmein (Mawlamyine) while he was serving in the Indian Imperial Police. He hated imperialism and quit the job. He later pursued his writing career.
The book vividly describes the danger of being watched and brain-washed by a government. The main character, Winston Smith, works at the Records Department of a fictional country called Oceania. The department is responsible for producing records that are in line with the Party's agenda and deleting those that are not.
Here is the link to Wikipedia's article about the novel.
The following is the link to full text for "1984", "Animal Farm" and "Down and Out in Paris and London."
All of Orwell's work can be read free here.
More about George Orwell at Wikipedia.
I think 1984 is a good read, especially for the people under an authoritative government. I hope somebody translates this into Burmese.
Photos by Rev. Wo Le
If you are like me and crazy about country life in Burma, here are some pictures. Rev. Wo Le took them on his trips to churches all over Burma as his capacity as the secretary of Lisu Baptist Convention.
Church
School
Water
Innocent lives
Life style
Trucks
Carts
Photos
A building on the bank of Chao Phraya river (Photo by Beauty Shwe)
A Burmese lady (Photo source is unknown and may have copyrights held by the photographer)
Photos by Wawlay
I wanted to post some pictures by Rev. Wo Le. He took these pictures while he was travelling all over Burma visting Lisu churches. I hope to remind you of village life style in Burma.
A big tree
A village (rather a town?) in Burma
A day in the village
A house in the village
A kid in the village
Baptism (village style)
Village family
Chef
Chef tasting food
Sunset
Fetching water
Bathing
Kitchen
Teapot
Dinner
Old pictures from the US
I found my old pictures of my mission trip to Shiprock, New Mexico. I took the trip while I was in the States. We stayed at a Navajo Indian church and here are some pictures.
Shiprock, New Mexico
Lwin Moe after painting an old Navajo Indian lady's house in Shiprock, NM
Pastor Eric Lee talking to our group
A Hogan in Shiprock, NM
Lwin Moe and Molly repairing the roof of an old Navajo lady's house
Mission Team after painting an old Navajo lady's house
My two (adopted) sisters
Heather, Molly and Lwin at Albuquerque airport
Lwin Moe with a Navajo family
With Navajo ladies from Mesa View Church
Jared and Lwin
Lwin in Shiprock, NM
Blue Sky and a tree near the Day Care Center we worked
A beautiful field
Mesa Verdae National Park in Colorado
Mesa Verdae National Park in Colorado
Mesa Verdae National Park in Colorado
Mesa Verdae National Park in Colorado
Four Corners (Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado)
Four Corners (Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado)
From Four Corners (Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado)
Lwin Moe after Missoin Trip
Lwin Moe after Missoin Trip with Diana (host-mom)
