Maybe there's hope for Myanmar.
Ali T. Kokmen tells me NPR
did a story about how modernization -- specifically a real estate boom --
in Myanmar is causing some (perfectly reasonable) lamentation among those who
value the British colonial architectural style that had for so long
predominated during the nation's more isolationist years.
Among those interviewed is "nineteen year-old punk
rocker" Maung Nyan (heard on the radio version of the story singing the
Ramones' "I Want to Be Sedated"), who is described as
"rebellious by Burmese standards, but when it comes to construction, he's
a traditionalist" (the precious conservative-punk combo I wrote about in
an essay for this
book!):
"'Because of the valuable architecture, I prefer this
kind of old building to new buildings,' says Maung Nyan, whose apartment is
really a cagelike, cavernous stall with a wire-mesh door. 'I'm also proud to
live here. If it's possible, I'd like to stay here until I die'."
(Of course, I can't help wondering how the regime would
react if he performed Mission of Burma's "That's When I Reach for My
Revolver.")
No comments:
Post a Comment