Philosophy Club Meeting
The Coup in Burma: Setback in the Struggle for Democracy
Please join us at our final meeting of the University of Hartford Philosophy Club Online this Wednesday, May 5, from 1 p.m.-2 p.m. as we connect with longtime University Philosophy Club friend Myra Dahgaypaw, Director of the United States Campaign for Burma in Washington D.C., on the present political and humanitarian crisis in Burma/Myanmar.
Myra had originally been scheduled to speak on April 7 but had to reschedule due to a death in the family. Nonetheless, we spent that meeting on Burma as well. Attached are the notes from that meeting.
Over the past decade, Myra has visited on a number of occasions to give us the latest inside perspective on the quest for democracy and social justice in Burma. Many things have happened since the last time she came: first, the occurrence of a free democratic election followed by a full term of democratic government, then a second democratic election followed thereafter by a military coup d’etat, which seized control of all government functions on the eve of the installation of the new government on Feb. 1, eerily reminiscent of our own Jan. 6.
Given especially our own recent experiences with antidemocratic forces menacing us from within, we now must recognize that what happens with Burma matters to all of us. Those committed to democracy and its institutions must unite worldwide to face up to the forces of autocracy aiming to bully us down.
Even with democracy, Burma has had its challenges, as the dire humanitarian crisis of the Rohingya population within its borders during democratic rule will attest. But this problem, too, has its roots in an autocratic past of overweening and hyperaggressive military dictatorship that has once again reared its ugly head and wrested power from the people.
The University of Hartford Philosophy Club Online:
Meetings: Wednesday, 1 p.m.-2 pm.
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WebEx link: https://hartford.webex.com/hartford/j.php?MTID=m41d9f7fef15de4bb58eebaf6645a1ffe
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Meeting Number (in case calling in): 171 628 0135
An ongoing weekly tradition at the University since 2001, the University of Hartford Philosophy Club is a place where students, professors, and people from the community at large meet as peers. Sometimes presentations are given, followed by discussion. Other times, topics are hashed out by the whole group.
Presenters may be students, professors, or people from the community. Anyone can offer to present a topic. The mode of presentation may be as formal or informal as the presenter chooses. Please be a part of us as we continue this great tradition online.
Brian D. Skelly, Philosophy
413-273-2273