Thank you. It is deeply disappointing that Senate leader Mitch McConnell has been blocking passage of the Senate sanctions bill-- hope that readers will write their senators-- especially Republicans-- to urge sign on. Only 3 out of 17 signers so far are Republican, and this basic issue of mass atrocity and persecution should be a bipartisan issue, as it has been for many years thanks to Republican leaders like Ed Royce and John McCain, as well as Dems like Crowley and Engel and Merkely.
The Senate Sanctions Bill 2060 has already been watered down to please the gemstone trade special interests. But Mr McConnell should not worry this targets his friend Aung San Suu Kyi8 unduly. Though the Holocaust Museum rightly rescinded its award to Suu Kyi yesterday, because of her complicity, the sanctions bills are narrowly targeted on military leaders responsible for mass killings, mass rape and displacement of 90 percent of the Rohingya minority population.
Failure to act, even in this modest way, sends a signal that America is all talk and no action. We need to be clear in our values and not ashamed of them. China may seem positioned to block action at the UN, and to profit off the displacement and land-grabbing. People will not forget, however. Let's offer an alternative to oppression and injustice.
Are Rohingya lives not human? Do Rohingya Muslim lives not matter?
2
This is a human tragedy. I agree with the overall tenor of this article. However, as a recent article in the Wash. Post reported (Mar. 7), the Holocaust Museum (D.C.) rescinded it's award of the Elie Wiesel Award to Aung San Suu Kyi. The museum stated, military crimes against the Muslim Rohingya minority “demand that you use your moral authority to address this situation.” Shockingly, she has said and done nothing to address the issue! I also agree with a previous commentator who asked, where are the affluent Muslim countries on this issue? At a minimum the world community should help Bangladesh with the refugees.
1
I am so glad that I did not vote for warmonger McCain. The US should mind its own business.
1
What can we do to help? Where can we donate? I pray you are feeling better Senator McCain.
2
As a general rule, people who mix their religious beliefs and social and cultural mores in public life in secular, civic societies should be settled in lands where their religion dominates, whether by law or because of the overwhelming presence of their co-religionists. Saudi Arabia, Libya, Algeria, and various member states of the UAE have chunks of un-inhabited land mass and monetary resources to take in the Rohingyas. They should be approached - and pressured if need be - to accept a large number of these unfortunate refugees. These countries already have a large number of foreign labor from all over the world, mostly the Muslim nations of Asia, working in their countries. The hosts would get the labor force they need, while the uprooted refugees would get a safe, secure place to live without causing any religious or social and cultural strains in the host nations.
Such a solution may sound cruel and based on cold calculation, but a large number of Muslims in mostly Christian countries of Europe, Canada, or the US would not fit well. Sooner or later, strains caused by a large number of assertive ethnic immigrants would bubble up to the surface. After a passage of time, it would be too late to do anything about the recurring ethnic and cultural quarrels except to live with them as a fact of life. Any other remedial action taken at that time would neither be feasible nor very heart-warming.
4
The horrors Rohingya have faced for generations cannot be tolerated any longer. I am afraid though that there will never-- at least not for generations-- be anything remotely resembling peace or justice for them in Myanmar. Aung San Sui Kyi, the world's hope for Myanmar, has turned her back on them. Refugee camps in Nepal are woefully inadequate and present their own dangers. Although it robs them of their homeland (yes, they have been in Myanmar for centuries or millennia) Rohingya need to be resettled and given a chance at life.
1
It's hard to stand up for values such as "freedom, justice and humanity" when you have a leader who has no respect for such values. Indeed, it's difficult to see any values he espouses beyond total self-adulation.
2
Unfortunately with the present administration nothing will happen , not even a scintilla of attention to human rights especially world wide . Gone is even the semblance of being moved to act when we have a president more interested in cutting deals that will benefit him and his family . I will not deign to repeat his opinion of African nations nor his feuds with the Mexican president and what he thinks of the people of Mexican heritage . The same goes for a Congress that is more interested in how much they can reap from corporations and their hired lobbyists . Yes , America no longer represents the values it stood for world wide nor the leadership mantle , but we should be wary of the trend of isolationism , it did not work out before .
1
i agree with everything the writers say in this op-ed, and have been concerned about the plight of the Rohingya in Myanmar for some time.
my question is 'what can i do?'
my knee-jerk reaction in these situations is to send money but i don't know where to send it and if it will be helpful in this situation.
as with much that is happening these days, i am feeling very helpless and despondent.
3
This is why we have a second amendment. Soldiers would think twice about purging a population of 700,00 people who are individually armed. It wouldn't be such an easy task.
1
Am I the only one who thinks this comment is paid for by the weapons manufacturers lobbying group, the NRA?
First, they are mixing ancient Greek and Latin, which displays a lack of knowledge.
Second, they are extrapolating rather grandly a vaguely drafted legal principle from one country to another.
Thirdly, the comment reeks of not really caring about the people of Myanmar, but of furthering a US centric lobbying desire.
What can we as individuals do to help?
1
The United States is the greatest country in the world. We take care of our own AND our global neighbors. We have ALWAYS taken on the "impossible," the improbable, and triumphed. Remember the Berlin Airlift? The Gemini & Apollo NASA campaigns? Eradicating polio & smallpox? Let's roll up our sleeves, organize, and build goodwill throughout the world while cleaning up the mess in Syria & Burma. We have PLENTY of resources to go around - here in the US AND overseas. We have skilled people (engineers, doctors, teachers, nurses, nutritionists, etc) at the ready, working or retired, who can get the job done. We have soldiers and equipment to protect a humanitarian effort in these countries. Just think of how we might be able to revive our reputation as an advocate for the displaced, the hungry, the wounded, and the forgotten. The eyes of the world are upon us. Let's go!
p.s. I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa (90-92) so I know a bit of what I speak.
2
I fully sympathized and hate seeing what innocent Rhonigya's are going through due to mischief of some idiots, particularly helpless children, old peoples and parents of no fault of their own. But UN, Muslim majority countries like UAE, Saudi and Pakistan, newspaper like NY Times, WaPO, and senator John McCain and actress Angelina Jollies should try to understand why non-Muslim majority of countries like Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, etc. hates Muslims and also try to address it with a same effort as they are voicing Rohingya crisis. It is the treatment of minority and their places of worships, and 2nd class citizen status, and separatist demands by Muslim in area where they are in majority (e.g. Kosovo in Serbia, and Kashmir in India, Thailand, Philippines, and Rakhine in Myanmar). Pakistan HIgh Court just declared all minority including Muslim Ahmedia sect is 2nd class citizen and not eligible for positions in in-reserved positions in Parliament, Military and Judicial Courts - see the link from Pakistani Newspaper https://tribune.com.pk/story/1655551/1-declaring-faith-compulsory-join-a...
Also, Saudi's don't even allow non-Muslim to worship or establish their Churches, temple within the privacy of their own home. Forcing non-Muslim to convert to merry, etc.
I don't agree with how non-Muslim treats Muslim minority but we should not forget that there are root cause to all evil, and should also try to address those root cause.
10
What is happening in Myanmar is nothing less than a holocaust. Trying to lessen it by saying we need to listen to both sides is like saying we need to listen to the Nazi side of the European Jewish holocaust. As Edward R. Murrow once said, some stories don't have another side.
1
A a young innocent child, I used to ask my father, a World War II veteran, how the Holocaust could ever have happened and why the US did not intervene. His response was that many did not know what was going on and if they did, they didn't care. Is this not what we are witnessing in Burma or Syria or Yemen or the Democratic Republic of the Congo? Do the numbers of the dead have to reach the millions for us to pay any attention? History will not be forgiving of America.
4
"There can be no free and peaceful future for the country built on impunity for war crimes and persecution."
Sen. McCain and Ms. Jolie's statement is a rousing call for decency on the international stage, but there have been plenty of big exceptions to America's promotion of human rights and the rule of law over the years. Probably the most telling example is Indonesia, where generals under President Soeharto carried out systematic genocide in Aceh, East Timor and West Irian while Washington and its allies, especially Japan, supplied Soeharto's New Order regime with plenty of military and economic aid. Ties with Jakarta were ruled "too important" to be "undermined" by a strong stand on these issues.
The persecution of the Rohingya is indeed horrible. But so was the Indonesian occupation of East Timor. Washington seems to champion human rights only when no major US priorities are endangered by doing so.
After the fall of Soeharto in 1998, Indonesia did indeed become more democratic; but that was due to popular movements inside the country, not Washington's policies.
2
Adding to the despair that comes from knowing this is happening right now is knowing that there are few qualified people left in this administration's state department to carry out the tasks outlined here--nor the will at upper levels to dispatch them. McCain and Jolie are right to use the power of their names to try to change that. They both deserve credit for acting in the face of despair.
2
The US Government, not some movie star and a politician not in the best of health, should lean on the UN who then should lean on both Bangladesh and India to straiten out this Rohingya disaster. Both countries fully recognize and respect the Muslim religion. India has more than one billion people (10% Muslim) and Bangladesh, as small as it is, some 160 million (100% Muslim). This issue is a local issue and should be resolved locally.
5
I read what I consider to be a bunch of stupid comments chastising Senator McCain for caring about this issue but not doing anything about issues X, Y and Z in the U.S.
When we say "Never Again" it means we need to stop atrocities and genocide!
12
Just out of curiosity - can the authors name one example over the past two decades where American intervention has actually helped and changed a country for the better?
And no - a reasonable strategy is not to make America the home of every displaced person in the world.
17
Good, tough question. Er, uh, give me a minute ... uh, ha!
"Manuel Noriega was a former CIA asset who rose from soldier to general to dictator of Panama. Through his ties to the Medellin Cartel, Noriega would launder money for its leader, Pablo Escobar. Noriega was deposed and arrested after the 1989 American invasion of Panama; he would be convicted for drug trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering."
Okay, it's a mixed bag, but I think this puts points on the board -- for whom, I am unsure.
We have helped in countless places since the end of WWII. We have also made some mistakes that usually involve military intervention. We do have the power to do good.
I love the op eds with titles that start with the author's names, tells us why we should care..Homer Simpson: why you should eat more donuts...
4
Where is the UN? Security Council? Special session of the General Assembly? For that matter where are the Muslim states and billions of Muslims?
Or are the Rohingya the wrong kind of Muslims?
7
Time for you to stay out of Asia, Senator McCain.
9
Gee Senator McCain, if only you cared as much about Americans as you do about Myanmar.
6
Having made a bad typo in my reply to There, I'd like to repair it. The original:
"-Try living John McCain's life--all of it, I mean--and then you can say again "McCain is a grandstander, nothing more."
The correction: Try living John McCain's life--all of it, I mean--and then see if you can bring yourself to say "McCain is a grandstander, nothing more."
2
Should. Won’t. Why? Trump.
2
Mind your business USA.Your claim to moral leadership has created wars and refugees that burden Europe.Solve your own problems first.
11
Where is the UN?
2
Without detracting from the #MeToo catharsis, it sure would be nice if Americans gave the systematic rape and murder of Rohingya women and children (and men) even a tenth of the same attention and outrage.
14
Noted liberal and WW2 veteran, former S. Dakota senator and Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern saw the genocide in Cambodia in the 1970s and called for this:
An international force of fighting soldiers to invade Cambodia and take out the vicious leader Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge group… who ended up killing about 2 million in their country.
Invade them.
Kill that regime, it's leaders.
Liberal George McGovern who strongly opposed the folly of the Vietnam War.
Sadly it didn't happen.
Let's give the Myanmar leaders, the military men who run that country, the murderers, an ultimatum:
You can stay alive OR you can keep killing the Rohingya. Choose.
If you don't stop killing them we will swoop in with the smartest weapons ever manufactured in human history and we will blow you up.
In your capitol, in your homes, wherever.
Order your soldiers and thugs to stop the killing and oppression of the Rohingya.
Now.
Or you are surgically going to be killed.
That ought to bring them to some other thoughts on the matter.
- signed a liberal who hates thugs and says, go get 'em.
1
The photograph of the Rohingya refugee in Bangladesh who suffered burns, should bring to our mind the suffering of the Jews during the brutal Nazi regime. It is the same crude reality. "The air for the military in Myanmar is befouled by Rohingya breath, and they must have fresh air".
Senator McCain we appreciate your efforts and leadership in this case. Angelina Jolie: we know that your kind efforts will bear fruit soon. You are strong and smart. God bless you.
And there is Nobel laureate that does not deserve that honor. Norway, Norway, knock, knock, can´t you hear the Rohingya?
1
Kinda late.
2
Thank you for staying on it New York Times.
1
Given Trumps stance on Muslim, and that Stephen Miller is still by his side, I don't think much will happen here.
1
Thank you Senator McCain and Ms Jolie for speaking to all of us about the horror and 'hidden in plain sight' human rights abuse occurring to the Rohingya people.
This is something I have not understood and would appreciate if, you both could write more about - for all of us to understand.
There has been some very good reporting about Myanmar - the Burmese military - and - the Rohingya people - but - I have not understood it in the whole context of who, what, where - and - how it touches all of our lives.
Your joint letter to all of us has given this human rights violation a personal experience - for all of us to feel.
What can we do? Thank you - keep writing about the Rohingya people.
7
What a funny partnership for an Op-Ed piece. Did McCain meet Angelina at a fundraiser for a democratic candidate? Or was Angelina Jolie at an event pushing Trump's tax "reform?"
McCain is a dead man walking. Like others who won't be running for reelection for various reasons, don't listen to his words. Look at his voting record.
The Rohingya are in need of medical care and assistance? So are millions of Americans. Cue McCain's voting record.
No word about fellow Muslim countries like Pakistan ("East"), Saudi Arabia, Turkey, or Egypt sticking up for their religious brethren. Always has to fall on America. The NYT constantly mentions how China is trying to assert itself on the world stage to assume the vacuum we've left behind.
This is just a kumbaya fantasy.
6
As a cancer survivor who has been there, I must ask that you not refer to McCain as, “dead man walking.” Your comment is devaluing of a person’s life, not to mention insensitive as heck.
McCain may be a lot of things, but right now he is a living and breathing being in this moment. And this moment is what is important.
This ethnic cleansing started in 1978. America's diplomatic muscle along with the pressure from United Nations helped bring about a settlement but the Myanmar regime never intended to implement the agreement fully and kept stalling. Political weakness in Bangladesh and an inward looking America has embolden the brutal regime and decided to clear-out Rohingya people from Rakhine State. The brutality employed by the genocidal regime on the Rohingya especially to the women and the children is horrendous and heart wrenching. I Commend Senator John McCain and Miss Angelina Jolie for their support for these suffering people and urge everyone to support as well. It is in US interest to recognize and support our common humanity
1
Yes! Yes! And Yes!
The Rohingya problem and atrocities against them will only get lip service so long as there is bigotry toward Muslims that emanates from people like Trump, Narendra Modi and Putin. People like them segregate human beings into 2 groups : those that are worthy of embrace and those that ought to be punished.
With Trump and Putin the lot that need to be embraced fall into one group - Caucasian Christian. Everybody else is worthy of hate. With Narendra Modi it takes the form of Hindus (embrace) vs Muslims (hate).
That is why the plight of Muslims around the world continues to slide be it Syria, Palestine, Burma or elsewhere. The most visible leadership (if you want to call them that) is bigoted.
1
With our self absorbed President, there is no chance we will help these poor people. Too busy giving away the store to the 1% to ever worry about those less fortunate. What a poor of a "Christian" nation, SAD.
I am not without pity, or a heart. But, too little, too late, Senator. When YOU, personally denounce that poseur in the Oval Office, and refuse to vote in lockstep ( goosestep) with YOUR Party, then I'll listen. This is a fine plea for redemption, but not enough. Please, reclaim your Honor and your dignity, while you can. Be a Hero, once again. Please.
3
It would be simple enough to simply bring all the Rohingya and Bangladeshis to the US. It might make more sense to just give all the women a green card and let the men fight out their issues on their own. They want a Muslim state and the Buddhists don't want it. What is playing out in Burma might play out in Berlin in 50 years when the native population feels overwhelmed by the Muslims.
3
What did the Rohingya expect after 100 years of terrorism?
9
How about saving the Kurds? The Coptic Christians? The Christian Palestinians? How do we pick our woeful refugees to help?
6
so let me get this straight. the honorable senator McCain (who has been savagely attacked by the idiot of a president we currently have), espouses the virtues of being "human" to others in need on this planet and voices his support for intervention by the u.s. to save them (yes, less fortunate people do deserve to be saved from the persecution they face), and yet follows his party's designated leader in eviscerating this country's ability to take care of it's own with those asinine tax cuts that just go to corporations and the wealthy? are you kidding?
tell me, Mr. McCain, where should we get the money to do such Noble and Honorable things? (now that you've given it all away)... and what comfort shall we provide now that you support a party fully at war with immigrants?
I'm not sure Mr. McCain even sees the hypocrisy in his message of "saving" others when he's voted to not even save those of us in this country!
3
"While politics have left Americans deeply divided, we can all unite around the belief that a commitment to freedom, justice and human rights has distinguished the United States as a great nation. Our failure to hold accountable those who commit mass atrocities and human rights abuses will lead to more violence and instability."
Tell it to both parties, both houses of congress, the two presidents who stood by and did nothing in Palestine, Syria, the Ukraine, Myanmar, Venezuela.
And now we are led by a man of both low character and intelligence supported by people too disinterested in the world outside their narrow concerns to see what is happening here and abroad. Somehow they don't get that reality is global. That erecting walls and shutting ourselves off is not an option. In fact it is suicide. China, Russia, the Middle East, and a nearly endless list of unstable smaller players are not going to go away and play nice.
At this point U.S. leadership in the world is not a matter of choice, it is a responsibility and our legacy. Without it all is lost to chaos. Like it or not if we are not going to be the adults no one else who could be has the capacity for the job.
And yes this involves hard decisions and heavy handed action because the U.S. has allowed international bullies to have their way when they should have been slapped down hard.
Trump's attitude toward Russia and the despots of the world is incredibly dangerous. The man is a moron.
I have been waiting for the outrage over the slaughtered women and children in El Salvador. But it hits too close to home, doesn’t it?
5
That poor woman (burn victim in picture) deserves help.
After you save her, could you then save America, please?
Our own government is in shambles. We can't even get sane gun safety laws passed to protect our own children from mass slaughter.
With each passing day it is looking more probable that our President is compromised by a hostile foreign power. And if he isn't, then he and his cronies elaborately lied about their Russian contacts -- out of idiocy? The White House is hemorrhaging what few qualified adults were there to abate the President's unhinged know-nothing flights of fancy.
We can't even get our President to stop compulsively lying or cursing in his Twitter rants, and I think he's preoccupied with his porn star lawsuit.
But if you guys can save the Rohingya, that would be wonderful. Then please save the United States.
3
To lead you need a leader.
Agree with much of what is proposed here. But we don’t seem to be able to take action to protect our own children from slaughter in school or peaceful demonstrators from the Klan and Neo Nazis or black folks from the police. Let me rephrase—we don’t care enough to take action. I’m cynical about the likelihood of the interventions you propose. Not that we shouldn’t try; those of us who give a darn...
The real problem for many people in Myanmar with Rohingya issue is that we never heard of "Rohingya" until very recently around 1998. Suddenly, they claim as native people and automatically claim citizenship as their birthright. It is like some girl whom you have never met before come up to you with the claim "I got pregnant with you. You have to take care of this baby". That's how most Burmese feel cheated with instant pressure from the international community to accept Rohingya as citizens. Unlike United States which is an immigrant country, in Myanmar you do not get birthright citizenship unless your bloodline such parents are also citizens of Myanmar the same way as in many other countries such as Japan or Italy.
As a proof, even in Bangladesh's school textbook, they agreed on the fact that those people who are now called by international community as Rohingya are in fact people with the country of origin from Bangladesh: "A chapter in “Sahitya Konika”, a textbook in Bangla by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), appears to claim that Muslims and Hindus living at Maungdaw in Rakhine state are settlers and that their country of origin is Bangladesh." (link : http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2017/10/16/bangladeshi-textbook-a...
Bangladesh tries to ignore the truth behind "Rohingya" as originally not coming from their country when they are already over-populated.
12
Is Angelina Jolie our new Jane Fonda...?
Let us hope so.
What bothers me about your comment is that it's clear you haven't done much due diligence in your 'facts', nor have you thought it all through completely.
News flash- of course Bangladesh would not wish to take full responsibility for the Rohingya. That would mean they have to pay for them, beyond shoving some of them on some desolate sandy islands where crops can't grow and they will never be self sufficient.
Just getting back to the basics, you have ignored that it became easy for the ruling Buddhists in Myanmar to behave like sociopaths toward these already marginalized people. All they needed was a 'terrorist' excuse and then it apparently became acceptable to burn down villages with people still inside.
Even Wikipedia presents verifiable facts concerning the origins of the Rohingya, which you either have not read or wish to ignore.
No 'they' did not agree. For context, see the actual news item referred to Kevin's link that does not work through the following that I hope does:
http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2017/10/16/bangladeshi-textbook-a...
The gist is that not a history textbook but a literary reader for 8th graders included a travel story by a novelist who confirms in the news story that he did no historical research. Rather, based on language spoken and several interviews, he described people as Bengalis based on where they were 'from'. Well he may have spoken to a few recent migrants, but he may also have been dealing with historical memories of where their ancestors are 'from'
offered by way of making connection with a Bengali visitor. There is
evidence of Rohingya, identified by that name, going back to the lae eighteenth century.
While their presence may be older, there may have been migration at that time when much of the area's population was killed or deported after the absorption of the former kingdom of Arakan into what the British called the Burmese Empire ruled by ethnic Bama.r still resented by the local majority who call themselves Rakhine (presumably cognate to Arakan and Rohingya). Perhaps Kevin believes that he has no claim to US citizenship or residency but may be denied it and terrorized to "self- deport' to where his 18th century ancestors were from. If not, he should not defend the same toward the Rohingya.
The big difference is that the Jews dont wage war among themselves throughout history. They also have been and are more tolerant of other religions.
5
I believe that every U.S. president in the last half-century, from FDR onwards, and their losing opponents of a major party, Democratic or Republican, would have done the right things as espoused by this surprising pair of op-ed authors to help stop this genocide against the Rohingya. Except, the current president. What a shame.
2
Thank you, McCain and Jolie, for daring to spotlight GENOCIDE! I pray that we move forward on their four (4) ways TO LEAD and TO ABATE the ongoing murders, rapes, and dispossessions of the Rohingya.
Either the four (4) pillars of the year-old Trump Doctrine (which I interpret as MY homeland, MY prosperity, MY peace, MY influence) are functional for a world leader - OR THEY ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL.
Either that doctrine’s self-described “principled realism” .. which unabashedly emphasizes national sovereignty over foreign entanglements, wars and alliances .. is compatible with the ABILITY of Our American Democracy TO SERVE as the Beacon of Freedom - OR IT IS NOT COMPATIBLE.
Consider the opinion of editorial intern Austin Mistretta in The Washington Diplomat, 28 February 2018 article entitled 'Our Brand is Chaos': The Trump Doctrine at One Year.
https://washdiplomat.com/PouchArticle/cms/index.php?option=com_content&a...
And yet we are also told of how a mission against terrorists in Africa should not have happened because it was not approved at the highest level and resulted in American casualties in the single digits.
Hey, you can go fight in foreign countries, or you can stay home. Choose one.
3
John McCain is legit. He has a DD214 and knows the cost. If he says we should do something for these people then I agree.
Until we can stand up for undocumented immigrants in our own country, we do not have the authority to stand up for persecuted minorities anywhere.
McCain's willingness to speak the truth here is in stark contrast to his relative quiet while the country he loves and fought for is being turned into a banana republic day by day.
Why so selective with your outrage, Senator?
3
What will it take for humans to divest of the dangerous fairy-tale of religion that so many cling to for hollow comfort - and somehow end up using as a self-righteous cudgel? Do unto others...period.
3
Like Mr. Kristof last week, Sen. McCain and Ms. Jolie are undoubtedly humanitarians with admirable goals. Ending the suffering of the Rohingya should be the first priority.
This article addresses goals of ending the suffering, but ultimately it fails to address the main issue at hand: ending the diplomatic gulf between the West and Myanmar. If the relationship is not repaired, there will no solution and the suffering will continue. We need to encourage communication with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her government, instead of taking awards away from her. While it may "feel good" to do this, it won't end the suffering of the Rohingya, and may actually prolong it by widening this diplomatic gulf.
The issues of the Rakhine Buddhists also need to be addressed in tandem with the Rohingya. By only focusing on one group, we further the perception that the West is only focused on the Rohingya. If we want these groups of people to live together peacefully again, we need to treat them on equal ground with regards to aid. Are the Rohingya worse of than the Rakhine Buddhists? Certainly. I don't deny that. But we are dealing with a case of perception vs. reality. No matter what the reality is, the Rakhine Buddhists have a perception that they are just as marginalized as the Rohingya, and have been mistreated for centuries by the Burmese.
The US must use practical leadership that deals with the situation on the ground and bridges the divides that exist at all levels.
1
Glad to hear from Senator McCain. Best wishes to him.
There are at least two sides to every story and usually several when it comes to affairs of state. While the treatment of the Rohingyas has been deplorable, Rohingya nationalists/separatists have not distinguished themselves either and are equally culpable. How many "war" fronts can the US operate in when Republicans won't pay any taxes?
7
Thank you both for showing the leadership we so sorely lack in our society. Bless you both.
1
The people of Myanmar deserve global support but when I drive my car to the downtown area of where I reside (in California) there are human beings, physically and mentally sick who are on the streets, disoriented, some appear to be dead, others nodding off on the concrete sidewalks. Yesterday, on every every corner for 10 blocks there was at least two people that seem to be unconscious. AMERICA has a huge problem with our mentally ill homeless populations that needs to be fixed. I physically alone can't pick up a person passed on the street. To the people that are are conscious I offer food and to take them to a shelter but they aren't even functioning well enough to accept. I called an ambulance for a individual that was barely breathing. The ambulance driver asked me who was going to pay the 500 dollar fee.
5
Just what we need a million more poor and illiterate people to take care of. McCain and Jolie are awful generous with other people's money. This is the ultimate in virtue signaling IMHO. We shouldn't accept the mantle of savior of the worlds poor and troubled groups, that's not who we are, and besides there are too many of them and not enough of us to fund it. Let all the like minded helpers come together and spend their after tax money of the crisis of the moment to help in the places these people now reside. That would be the best use of their impulse to help and be cost free to those who don't agree.
5
Thank you for this informative piece. 2 questions, however:
(1) Why do we keep calling the country "Burma"? The article uses both, I know something of the history of the naming, but why not use the current name?
(2) Why not include any reference to what US citizens can do? Of course the US should be leading, but it is obviously unresponsive to the authors, so I do not see it responsive to me. Following on Nicholas Kristof's recent article, I tried to find out if there were any relief agencies on the ground in Myanmar itself to help those have remained and now are in essence kept in concentration camps. The Int'l Rescue Committee perhaps? What about aid to the Bangladeshi government directed specifically to help for their refugees?
Unfortunately we have given up our place in the World as the International Leader in the last 15 months. And under Trump and his Administration this will not improve until they are all out of our Government. If we cannot, as a country come together to stop massacres of our own children, how can we be depended upon to help people in other countries.
My deepest sympathies are with the Rohingya people, as well as all peoples who are being systemically tortured or murdered, like in Syria and Yemen just to name a few.
Unfortunately we have proven lately that we are not a country to be depended upon.
23
JOHN McCain REMAINS a light for hope that the Republican party is not yet totally worthless.
8
Kudos to McCain & Jolie, but you should also include Yemen in the naming of countries with human rights atrocities.
7
America would never lead a policy to resolve any worldwide conflict . This is actually the American policy! As long as there is conflict in the world, the wheel of economy and benefits works perfectly nearly for all!
2
Why is it that whenever anyone raises the question, what can we do to stop atrocity, others feel they must attack them rather than address the question. Whatever your politics, and my are very lefty, the Senator is a decent man trying to find his way to help this country and the world in very troubled times. Ms. Jolie is also a decent person who is listening to her conscious. Rather than demean them -or praise them for that matter - we should add our voice to the call or suggest other options. Atrocity unchecked only becomes more audacious.
18
We cannot lead here. We have crisis here, both moral and physical. How can we lead when we don't compare natural human migration, and falsely equal lines in the sand with the human condition. A Rohingya has no passport, no country, no law that puts them on the planet. But that is because the laws of country are usurping the last million years of humanity. We are born, we migrate, we are each others family.
2
America should stay out of Myanmar's business; America should stay out of Sri Lanka's business. It appears that McCain and Jolie have completely forgotten WHY the Rohingya in Myanmar were being driven from Rakhine state to begin with. Those who do not remember history are condemned to repeat it.
8
And why were the Rohinga driven from the Rakhine state? For being part of the wrong ethnic group?
1
Whatever the Rohingya did in Rakhine state doesn't justify the mass rape and genocide being perpetrated against them now.
Aside from the fact that Trump, the liar-in-chief, has no empathy for victims other than when the KKKs and the white supremacists are hurt, just how are these steps going to be carried out without the commitment of ground troops? Especially when the public does not seem to want to get involved militarily abroad.
W thought Iraq and Afghanistan was going to be a cake walk and over a decade later we are still there. All the liar-in-chief cares about is how to make money for himself and his family and he is not about the commit troops. Without boots on the ground all the talks about we should do this or that are just talks. Will the UN get involved? I guess that demands more on China and Russia than the US.
So this is an important column but I think it is still just words.
When normally peaceful Buddhists respond so vehemently, they must think they are in mortal danger. Are they?
11
Buddhists are no more normally peaceful than any other culture. And in this case they are normally bigoted.
1
McCain is a grandstander, nothing more.
The United States should do something to help these people, but we shouldn't spend a single dollar until we take care of our homeless, our veterans and our starving children here, we owe that to our fellow countrymen first before anyone else.
10
We can do everything you say AND help theses folks as well. Just stop giving enormous tax breaks to the wealthy.
23
@There--------------------------Try living John McCain's life--all of it, I mean--and then you can say again "McCain is a grandstander, nothing more."
1
Thank you, Senator McCain and Ms. Jolie, for reminding us that some things are worth fighting for even when everyone else turn their backs.
7
I agree that rohingyas should be helped. But what about minorities in neighboring country Bangladesh?
This country had significant Hindu population in 1947 and even after 1971, when Hindus were massacred by Pakistani Army. Now the numbers of Hindus are degrading significantly. Despite state and public peesecution, Hindus never took any militancy or terror incidents.
Why America and the world should just focus on Rohingya 'Muslims'(there are also some Hindus, who do not get aid proportionately) and just ignore the plight of oppressed minority Hindus in nearby countries.
What have Hindus got after years of non-violence and maintaining peace? Despite Rohingyas have militant outfits like ARSA(Arakan Salvatio Army) and have all the sympathy both from Muslim, OIC world and also West and US?
Where is the justice for minority Hindus?
9
I disagree, Perhaps this time America should leave other countries try to solve this issue. America cannot continue to police the world. We have played this role long enough - maybe it is time to let the PRC get this one.
6
I totally agree with your well stated description of what is happening and your prescription to try and start to address the tragedy there. But you are facing a steeply uphill battle. This president and all those who support him see no "gain" to be had helping these people. Their zero sum game is "What's in it for me?" And when you can't see past that, it's pretty hard to see where we will do the right thing here. Their first question will be : what the Rohingya people will give in return? After all they are Muslims. Must be terrorists in there somewhere. Well I say help them because it is the absolutely right, Christian thing to do. And ask for absolutely nothing in return. Except perhaps a smile, knowing that someone cared enough to let them live. We need to recognize that sometimes when people say "HELP" we have to be willing to do just that, no matter what.
3
If there is a reason for Americas massive military to be used this is an example of when. Setting up a safe haven and forming a coalition of other nations is an excellent start.
There is no room for politics or any excuse not to help the Rohingyan people as we have all the tools to stop this (never happen again) genocide.
While the world talks and talks murder and mayhem continue unabated against helpless people all over the world.
It's time for real world military force with only one purpose, to end the misery with a common goal used to stop unimaginable crimes and needless suffering.
What we have now is politics pervasive in our world institutions, America can truly be great if it takes the lead.
3
It's ironical to see John McCain advocating the cause of the Rohingyas. Do I see a double standard in that the same person who received a campaign contribution from the NRA of over $7 million should be advocating the cause of the Rohingyas?
2
Hate to say this, but I really believe that our President doesn’t have a clue about the humanitarian crisis of the Rohingya.
4
Or if he knows, he read as far as "Muslim" and said "so what?"
Muslims are the new Jews, blamed and vilefied world wide.
4
....without the 1.6 billion in global population or rich record of terrorism and internecine warfare.
Thanks for the absurd equivalence, Nb.
14
Totally absurd comparison.
2
Levy economic sanctions on the leaders responsible, but if the biggest international invader and bully—that would be us, the U.S.—talks down to the Buddhist majority in that way our politicians are so adept at we will not alleviate the situation. What room do we have to talk? How many deaths did we needlessly inflict on Iraq?
Just as slavery in the U.S. took hundreds of years to end (and its negative effects live on), this problem has its roots in the hundreds of years of British colonial rule, societies wherein political and economic power are tightly concentrated in religious groups, and there is a failure—actually an active avoidance—to mix.
We in the U.S. make the mistake, again and again and again, of thinking we can momentarily shine our attention on a problem, or country or issue, and “fix” it.
The government of Myanmar knows the attention of the U.S. will move on so long as the mass murders, rapes and pillaging stop for a while. The Myanmar government has thoroughly terrorized the Rohingya in retribution for the terrorist acts of a few of their fellows, driving hundreds of thousands into Bangladesh.
We forgot to pay attention to the Russians after the early 1990s, thinking “problem solved” when the U.S.S.R. dissolved. Didn’t Obama mock Romney when the latter argued Russia was a threat? But our failure to stay engaged with the Russians, to keep consistent company with them, has come back to bite us in the butt.
Americans.
6
the "Rohingya Muslims" have been violently trying to create a separate Islamic Republic for themselves ever since the 1940s(the exact same way Muslims have violently successfully done to India after deciding they did not want to be part of a Hindu/kafir majority country) look up the "two nation theory".
Despite this, Myanmar allowed these people to remain in the country.
Myanmar issued a 2-child policy on the Rohingya Muslims but they refused to follow it and the Rohingya Muslim women continued to give birth to 8+ babies each, rapidly outbreeding Myanmar's non-Muslim women who only gave birth to 1-2 children on average.
The expelling of the r-Muslims finally happened after Buddhist(&Hindu) girls started getting kidnapped, gang raped, &murdered by groups of Rohingya Muslims living in Myanmar
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-18395788
when authorities tried to arrest these criminals and the leaders of the violent separatist groups for their crimes, those criminals were continuously hidden &protected by the Rohingya Muslim community. THAT incident is when chaos broke loose.
The reason for Myanmar's extreme reaction is bc-
Afghanistan, Tarim Basin(Xinjiang) China, Central Asia, &many parts of Pakistan were Buddhist lands before Muslims invaded & forcefully converted everyone to Islam.
& when Muslims invaded India, they even burned down "Nalanda" the most famous Buddhist monastery in the world.
28
The linked BBC item does NOT support SK's one-sided take on communal violence, in which Muslims are always aggressors and others innocent victims. Indeed, it tells also of an apparently false rumor of such an incident being used to incite a deadly massacre of Muslims, not where Rohingyas mainly live but elsewhere in Burma where more culturally assimilated Muslim communities have also been attacked. Such selective misreading of history,
recent and ancient, on which groups with which one identifies are only innocent victims and and their murders excused and the 'bad' others massacred are only getting their just deserts (even when they are babies being thrown into fires, as attested recently in Myanmar) justifies and incites such continuing cycles of violence as 'defense' against 'outgroups', not only in Myanmar but also in the United States and in India, where Hindu Nationalists who often target Christians and Muslims identify with Buddhists (who they often consider as Hindus) and defend, excuse, or incite their violence against Muslims.
3
Setting aside the dubious claims which make up the rest of your comment, why should the Rohingya allow themselves to be biologically restricted to two children in return for being 'allowed' to live in their ancestral lands?
The world pretends to be blind to these Islamic conquest tactics.
4
This crisis isn't about being American or not, it's about being human or not.
50
Mohammad Bin Salman is about to visit USA. He's a young charismatic leader who wants to bring reforms to the old kingdom. Saudi Arabia is the holiest place for Muslims. Saudi Arabia is very wealthy (per capita GDP $100,000). And if I remember correctly, Saudi Arabia was selected to head a key panel in UN Human rights council. So maybe Angelina Jolie and John McCain should try and persuade his Highness to take in the refugees. By the way, the rumor is, that 20 Rohingyas who instigated the original attack against Buddhists in Myanmar live in Saudi Arabia. Don't know whether this is true.
26
Dear Senator McCain the Republicans and conservatives are in charge. This progressive Democrat would like to know what you conservative Republicans are going to do about it. Beyond passing a major tax cut for the wealthy such as yourself you have collectively accomplished very little.
42
He married into wealth. I doubt he ever held a real job in his entire pampered life.
Terrible what is going on there but the US was not establish for the purpose of being the world enforcer nor has it been particularly effective in doing so.
The United States of America best serves the cause of justice by example—by setting an example human flourishing under Liberty, limited government, and diversity.
7
I am so glad the Nobel Committee recalled the prize to Aung Sann Suu Kyi. The fact that she was under house arrest for some many years and had her own rights denied and is now treating the Rohingya so cruelly just shows what kind person she is. Not the kind to deserve the Nobel Peace Prize.
12
the Nobel peace prize committee has done no such thing. what Aung Sann
Suu Kyi went through at the hands
of the military,and the manner in which
she bore it,merited her the peace prize.it is regrettable that she has not
spoken out more loudly ,but that in
itself should not cost her the honor.
4
You'd do well to read another NYT article, an opinion piece by Roger Cohen, "Myanmar Is Not a Simple Morality Tale" Nov 25, 2017.
1
you think you have the right to speak against a foreign country miles away which you have only one sided mediocre knowledge about.
5
Yes, let’s occupy yet another country and teach people how to behave because we’ve have such good luck doing so in the past. Without evil in the world there is no good. Why fight it?
17
When you read the piece you'll see that none of the four proposals involve occupying another country. What is your response to the four proposals McCain and Jolie actually make?
4
Surely you would not be so nonchalant had your infant been ripped from your arms and thrown into a fire or had your preteen daughter been gang raped at gunpoint.
1
Angelina and Sen. McCain,
While your hearts are in the right place and yes, these poor people need someone to help and save them, I just read an article that the United States of America is #1 in maternal MORTALITY rate among first world countries! Shameful!
We, NEED your voices and YOUR power to speak for the millions of Americans who do not have healthcare!
Senator McCain, your party has nearly dismantled the ACA and has tossed 24 million Americans off the ACA, they are now without healthcare!
Healthcare in the U.S.A. IS a human rights issue! Let's start at home and then go out into the world to make it a more gentle, peaceful and just world.
26
Lack of healthcare, while terrible, is not comparable to brutal torture. Let's keep some perspective here.
3
This is so horrible, and I am ashamed that the US is not doing a lot more to (1) highlight the slaughter and (2) bring relief to the victims and (3) punish those who are responsible. I will do my little part, I will write to my congresswoman and my two senators to support Sen. McCain's bill.
7
"According to recent reports, many survivors are still not getting proper assistance because of a lack of funding for gender-based-violence programs. Addressing these shortfalls and taking steps to protect Rohingya refugee women and girls from further sexual violence should be a priority for the United States and like-minded countries. “
Would this include discouraging girls from marrying at ages as young as 13, and starting to have children of their own? One of the main reasons the Myanmar Buddhists have been so upset with the Rohingya, whom they see as invaders, is that the size of the Rohingya population has continued to grow. Islam allows men to have 4 wives, and multiple children. Rohingya males treat females as little more than chattel.
A 4/12/16 article on the blog New Security Beat, titled “Myanmar’s Democratic Deficit: Demography and the Rohingya Dilemma”, by Rachel Blomquist & Richard Cincotta, estimated that the Rohingya population was growing at 1.5 percent per year.
An uneducated, growing population needs more and more land to farm. The Rohingya have fought to separate the areas where they live from the country of Myanmar. The Buddhists fear the Rohingya will try to settle an increasing amount of land, and will form their own country. This does not excuse the Myanmar government’s murderous attacks.
The U.N. could establish schools in the refugee camps where both girls and boys would be welcome, and it could teach the women family planning.
19
United States is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Trump organization. This country is not what it used to be. Trump has neither the will nor the interest in world affairs. If Rohingyas were not Muslims he might say something but for Muslims, no way. Forget about Rihingyas in some far away country he would be too happy to drive out the Muslim citizens from the United States.
11
Who would have thought that we'd find both John McCain and Angelina Jolie on the same side of any issue? Who would have thought one editorial would have improved both their images?
America can do so little with our current (lack of) leadership. Still: can Nobel committee please rethink its Peace Prize?
4
Should we boycott all products coming from Myanmar? If its rulers saw that clothing factories and other profit centers depend on their conduct, perhaps that conduct would improve.
2
If we don’t stand against this, we stand for nothing. Action now!
7
Who has ever expressed this more eloquently than the poet John Donne?
"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee." Published 1624.
15
Amen! When I first read this prose in high school eons ago it instantly resonated with me. Over the years it became part of my own thinking, and subsequently, how to live my life. Truly, no man is an island. It saddens me that our new American leadership does not hear that proverbial bell tolling.
1
Please readers, take a moment and make a donation. Discuss this issue with your representatives, family and friends and raise awareness so that something might be done for these people.
3
When I read the title my first thought was: America will never lead or save again.
Our government does not value human rights; does not provide for the most vulnerable and won't even protect our school children.
Our government doesn't remember even the idea of America. In Washington, D.C. there is no will to lead or save because there is no moral compass.
16
@Cecelia Sumlin
" In Washington, D.C. there is no will to lead or save because there is no moral compass."
Brava, Cecelia. You've deftly stated our terrible illness, the illness that's destroying America. Thank you.
This is just about containing and encircling China. Burma is a government that is close to Beijing and getting even closer as One Belt One Road continues to take off. U.S. policymakers having lost Pakistan so tactlessly(thanks DJT) are looking to destabilize another pro-Beijing regime. There are many atrocities taking place all over the world from the slaughter and bombardment of Yemen to the daily atrocities in Eastern DRC to the mass violence and drug wars plauging much of Central America to the mass killings of rural Christian farmers in Southern Nigerian by nomadic Muslim herdsmen to the chaos and carnage in post-Gaddhafi Libya(which is a great argument against stone-hearted military intervention). None of these get front page editorials in the NYTimes because they don't align with Washington's geopolitical interests at the time.
McCain,by the way, is still yet to find a foreign intervention he didn't cheer lead.
That said, it is still sad to see state-sanctioned violence but military intervention will not solve this issue.
9
McCain and Jolie don't call for military intervention.
4
This is a horrific tragedy that exists in Myanmar-one that should be condemned by the people of the United States.
How can we help?
5
Check out the Facebook page Humans Of New York. They have set up a GoFundMe for donations to build shelters for the refugees in Bangladesh. Over $1 million has been donated already.
Amazing to see Senator McCain and Ms. Jolie work together and bring awareness to this genocide. As a former Naval Officer, I have always held Senator McCain in high regard. I am always saddened to hear that most people are unaware of this situation in Burma. I hope Senator McCain’s bill is passed and more efforts are made to stop this genocide.
7
I used to hold him in high regard until he lined up lock, stock, and barrel behind the idiot of a president we have just because the GOP controls congress and the WH to sell us down the river with those idiotic tax cuts and allowing McConnell and co. to allow the hollowing out if our institutions. seems as though McCain worries more about the plight of foreigners more than the plight of u.s. citizens!
Two names not typically associated. Hope that these atrocities unite all sides of political spectrum. No one should suffer like this. Heart wrenching.
4
Perpetrators of these heinous crimes should be tried for crimes against humanity by arresting them wherever they are found. One judge from Spain showed the way when the Chilean dictator Pinochet was arrested in London by an arrest warrant issued by him.
5
And who put Pinochet in power? We did.
3
There's a few things at home that need to be fixed first.
14
What a horrendous nightmare that must be stopped. Sure glad this was mentioned many times during the award ceremony for the oscars. Oh wait they were too busy feeling sorry for themselves to worry about these for individuals who are truly suffering unimaginable horrors
2
In 2003, Republicans (assisted by many Democrats including Hillary Clinton) were concocting misleading evidence to justify an armed invasion of a country that had not attacked us, in order to help an unelected president win a second term without weird Supreme Court intervention (while damaging the US reputation and influence abroad), resulting in thousands of US dead and hundreds of billions of dollars wasted.
In 2018, Republicans are apparently reluctant to even impose sanctions on a country committing massive ethnic cleansing, if not genocide.
This what happens when a political party slavishly follows the most incompetent US president ever, who is more ready to do the bidding of Moscow than to attempt to pursue an effective US foreign policy.
And the so-called opposition, the Democrats, in their spinelessness, helped pave the way for this US political disaster and have hardly a clue now what to do about it.
Shame is too mild a word. On America generally, and much more so on the catastrophe formerly known as the two-party system.
Vote independents only in November.
1
The UK caused this problem by allowing movement of laborers into Burma from India for over 100 years. The British government should be the ones to take the lead in diplomacy.
Americans did not cause this problem. The British did. Let them handle it.
9
Senator McCain and Ms. Jolie should not count on the current president to do a single thing for the Rohingya. Trump does not care about their plight because he is much too busy caring about himself.
10
Currently there are approximately 70 million displaced people or refugees in the world. This number is going to continue to rise rapidly. How can the US keep accepting many, many millions of endless refugees? Impossible. There are way too many people on the planet right now. Let's start by addressing this over population crisis by providing free birth control. Or this egregious overpopulation problem in the end will kill us all. Right now there are 29 wars going on in Africa alone and a couple of hundred plus other guerrilla/militia conflicts. Where or how does any of this ever end?
7
Yes it is a great editorial and I cannot thank John Mccain and Angelina Jolie enough. Although a Democrat I have been a constant supporter of John Mccain and one more time he sowed his strength and compassion, I am also full of admiration for Angelina Jolie who is bringing so much help to people in need around the world. The fact that these two people from incredibly different backgrounds cooperated so efficiently to rescue people in dire need brought good feelings to my heart. Le's elect people like them and the USA and the world will become a better place
7
We don't have the money to have global leadership in spending money. Time to let others take the lead and spend the money.
5
Thank you for this editorial. For the life of me I can’t figure out why our government has been silent and how so many Americans don’t know or care about the plight of the Rohingya. It is a human tragedy of epic proportions, and if we as Americans can’t be bothered to do anything about it, it speaks volumes to the degree to which we’ve lost our way as a beacon of freedom and hope.
39
Because we have neither the money or desire to interfere around the world. How about more money for PR, or Haiti?
14
@Andrew-----------------------It's because we don't have a government, just a group of people walking around in disguises.
It would be great if these ideals would be operational in the United States Government and in diplomacy. The President does not seem to care and many of Senator McCains Republican legislators do not seem to care as well. The President called departing Gary Cohn an "Internationalist"- obviously an insult.
It seems that Trump likes to show compassion for the cameras - but in closed room acts very differently. How I wish McCain had played a different hand when he ran for president. He has been doing great things lately. It shows what could have been.
12
Yes perhaps we could have a president who is too sick to do the job.
1
If the US fails to act, we do indeed willingly forfeit any claims to moral leadership we may still own. To remain ineffectual and inert in the face of genocide is a stain of shame this country may never wipe away.
McCain and Jolie are an unlikely pair, but I believe each has the courage and conviction to push this agenda forward.
Please also support Human Rights Watch and Fortify Rights, both very focused on the Rohingya crisis.
16
I don't claim as a government, nor want any moral leadership. If some citizens want to take that on charity is the way to do so.
The little we do for the worst off in the world is a sign of how self absorbed we have become. The biggest indicator that we are a failing nation is our lack of action to intervene on behalf of the most vulnerable.
14
Dear John and Angelina:
Charity begins at home. Any chance that we could feed the homeless, aid the poor, secure health coverage for all, ensure our children get a proper education, and that tomorrow's leaders can afford to attend college? And that all of us can breath clean air and drink pure water?
The picture accompanying this article is heart-rending indeed. I can assure you, you do not need to leave these shores to find Americans similarly in despair, wondering how they will make ends meet, provide for their families, afford necessary health care and save for their retirement, while billionaires occupy cabinet posts and work tirelessly to dismantle government supports for the most needy, so that corporations may have more.
Angelina, you did not create this situation. John, as a United States Senator with a chance so few have to make a real difference, your hands are not clean. The "mantle of global leadership" you both advocate for assumes a solid foundation in which our nation has taken care of its own, so that they in turn may take care of others. Thousands in this nation die every year from preventable causes, due to unchecked firearms violence, inaccessibility to timely health care and poor nutrition.
Are we not worthy of a crusade?
34
Alex, what you are calling for at home is not charity in my mind. It is also possible to do more than one thing at a time, ie, help the Rohingya and achieve the improvements at home you speak of. The problem is not resources, it is resolve.
44
What a disappointing response. There are certainly unfortunate situations that exist in this country, but are American children really getting locked in their houses and being burned alive? Wholesale gang-raped?
This country has always stood for great principles, generosity of spirit, upholding the rule of law & protection of the innocents both inside and outside our borders. And please don't attack either of the authors who have given generously of themselves in this cause and many others.
9
Of course we are! And charity does begin at home. It is true that McCain is qualified in a way to speak about the Rohingya situation but a Hollywood actress whose only university studies were in theatre at NYU - exactly who is going to take Jolie seriously? The USA should not be interfering with Myanmar's affairs anyways. Myanmar is taking care of itself.
2
If our Congress and President would back these proposals, it would go a long way toward restoring faith in both of those institutions. Worldwide, I think other nations who worry that America has lost its way would be impressed if we would go to this much trouble to save a Muslim minority; perhaps we could unite with the many majority-Muslim countries to see this through.
7
Leading the effort to protect the Rohingya would also send a powerful message to the Muslim world that the United States will intervene to help the oppressed whatever their religion.
Another good reason to act.
26
Senator McCain is one of the few members of my party to continue to make me proud. Congratulations to him and to Ms. Jolie for collaborating on this most worthy cause.
7
Yes, of course, the United States should lead. We usually do. But while Trump is President, and both houses of Congress are held by a feeble GOP, you can forget about it.
Can Trump even find Myanmar on a map?
5
Can you, and what real benefit to US citizens either direct or indirect does spending money that way produce? It is take care of citizens, not the entire globe.
2
Tell us again how obama approached this issue that has existed long before Trump came along.
3
Vulcan, because genocide demands a response
I think elephants should get first dibs on saving. There are so few of them and such a magnificent animal.
15
An unlikely duo. Unfortunately, the difference between Myanmar and Syria, from an American outlook, is the lack of any strategic relevance of Myanmar, and thereby no real reason to attempt to protect the Rohingya. I applaud the acknowledgement and McCain's efforts. Something is definitely better than nothing.
1
I am sure that this article and the sentiments it professes are worthy and represent an important contribution to a stale and terrible situation. I am however a little shocked by the, apparently shocking political introductory remarks referring to '(the US) steady retreat (from global leadership) over the past decade.' Is this insult to the Obama presidency a sop to Trump? Why did the authors not say over the past 20 years. Or as a result of Republican intransigence. Or just be smart and not mention time at all??
8
Though this piece (with which I thoroughly agree) makes bare mention of Syria, the humanitarian disaster that's unfolding on the evening news is horrifying. I cannot help but think what might have happened if Obama hadn't walked away from his "red line" and set in a no-fly zone over Syria, BEFORe the Russians stepped in and made that impossible. On the whole, America's foreign policies make me sick. Whatever light on the hilltop we once were has gone out.
6
But then he would not be globalist Obama.
3
I read this and was taken by my own immediate reaction to this plea for support of human rights: not in this America. It was a sobering moment as I viscerally felt the failings of America’s new path (or lack thereof). How will we recover? What a disgraceful and criminal squandering of hope and leadership, trust, humanity, the list goes on.
3
Hopefully we will never go back to meddling around the world as in the past, only do that which is in the interest of US citizens. And I know of no laws to require such as you indicate therefore not doing it is not criminal.
4
Thank you Senator McCain and Ms. Jolie for your editorial and for advocating for the Rohingya. We sorely need to take the actions that you recommend and stand up for justice and compassion in this horrendous situation.
6
"We can all unite around the belief that a commitment to freedom, justice,and human rights has distinguished the United States as a great nation."
If only that were true. Unfortunately we have supported and enabled a myriad of dictatorships around that world that perpetrated every human rights abuses you mention in the article.
To expect any leadership from a White House that flagrantly violates every norm of freedom, justice, and human rights is, to put it mildly, extraordinarily wishful thinking.
7
I believe in freedom for US citizens and not meddling in other countries unless it is very important to us. Meddling in the past has not worked out very well.
3
So good to see some thoughtful and engaged people looking toward things we should be doing. Certainly nothing will happen in the short run, given the dearth of leadership we have, but hopefully we will soon get back to concern with issues we need to address. McCain and Jolie come from different backgrounds but show that a deep morality is still with us. Their efforts contrast with the sea of venality that sometimes looks like the new norm.
5
As an American of Bangladeshi origin, I recently visited the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. When I told the locals and the refugees I was visiting from America, they said, "Trump has put a tarvel ban on Muslims to America. We don't expect him to do anything for us." The sheer horror of what was done to the Rohingya by the Myanmar military and civilians defies description. Young girls in the camps told me they prefer death to living. Bangladesh, a poor country to begin with, is struggling to provide basic amenities to the refugees. The Rohingyas I spoke with think of the idea of repatriation and returning to their ancestral homesteads without any guarantee as a cruel joke. Bangladesh is too weak to demand or enforce justice against the Myanmar government for the genocide. What I saw with my own eyes in the camps was despair and fatalism. And my country, the United States? A silent and ineffective witness to ethnic cleansing, nothing more.
33
Did you correct them, there is no Muslim ban at all.
5
The Burmese military is a brutal dictatorship. Action against the Rohingya is similar to previous action against the tribal groups in the border regions. Dictatorships use "outside enemies" to survive, here their way of maintaining power in the face of a preference for Democracy by the Burmese people. That there is such deep prejudice against the Rohingya is regrettable. Note that we also have deep prejudices against "others" in our own society.
When will all societies except a Human Rights code for all peoples? Our government--our State Dept.--should be leading the way here.
2
How about "First, no genocide"? Seems like a pretty agreeable foundation
I just keep hearing St.Paul. "I fought the good fight; have run the race; I have kept the faith."
We are not a global leader because we cannot scrape up enough soul to be a domestic leader. We can't agree to stop shooting our kids, or make sure that everyone can get to see a doctor. How can we spread the ideals of America abroad, use our bully pulpit to inspire others, when we actually believe a bully pulpit is a place for our chief bully to speak from.
Yes, we really should help the Rohingya, as should the rest of the developed and civil world.
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During this fraught time in our nation's life, when many Americans are worn to numbness by our domestic political upheaval, we must not forget that the United States bears a solemn responsibility to defend human rights wherever people are suffering in the world. The temptation to turn inward must be overcome because people's lives depend on our help. Thank you, Senator McCain and Ms. Jolie, for working to snap us out of our stupor.
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I couldn't agree more with these two individuals but their plea points to a larger issue. The United Nations has become worthless when faced with intra-nation issues surface. Syria and Myanmar are just two examples. When innocent people are slaughtered and Russia takes one side and we take the other, people die. A stalemate doesn't occur. The slaughtering continues.
Time to change this inexcusable travesty!
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Is anyone in the Trump administration listening? Or for that matter anyone in the senate or house? It looks as though this country has totally abdicated it's moral leadership with the election of Trump who seems to have a complete lack of
empathy or concern for human suffering around the world.
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Tell us again about Obama’s efforts on behalf of this issue that has existed well before Trump came into office.
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More importantly does the president think addressing this issue with support his desire and promise to the US citizens? If not it is not high on his agenda.
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"There can be no free and peaceful future for the country built on impunity for war crimes and persecution."
Until the US prosecutes its own war criminals it is just blatant hypocrisy to complain about other countries war crimes.
The unjustified bombardment and invasion of Iraq still stands as the war crime of the century despite all that has come after. We know who the perpetrators are.
"We’ve seen this unfold in Syria, where the United States and the international community have shamefully failed to address brutal violence that has engulfed the country for seven years, led to hundreds of thousands dead and contributed to the worst refugee crisis since the end of World War II."
A lot of the "brutal violence" in Syria has been perpetrated by the US. We armed and trained insurgents. We have conducted tens of thousands of bombing runs at costs of thousands killed or maimed and billions of dollars spent.
Our perpetual war making is causing more problems than it is solving. Are John and Angelina thinking that we can bring peace to Myanmar by sending in the troops? Or are they thinking that the moral prestige of our president will be adequate to implement their four point plan?
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Your unjustified is my we did not go far enough. After the first Gulf war Iraq should have been required to turn over all the people we wanted and if not the entire country would be destroyed, and not rebuilt except at their paying for it. Sort of how we treated Japan.
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Bravo to you both. This just goes to show that taking on the mantle of leadership in this critical endeavor transcends political differences. If only the WH administration would take note.
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Thank you, Ms. Jolie and Senator McCain, and also Nicholas Kristoff for shining a light on this despicable and inexcusable genocide.
We are our brothers' and sisters' keepers and we are one world. I will donate to Ms. Jolie's Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative.
So disappointed and dismayed with Aung San Suu Kyi's lack of moral leadership with this monstrous oppression.
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The United States and all civilized people must stand united against the horror of the crimes against the Rohingya. We should apply all economic sanctions and travel bans for the corrupt military that is perpetrating these horrors. It doesn't mean we need to send troops. But, we need to raise our voices and let these corrupt people know that these actions are unacceptable and will be addressed. We need to speak loudly and clearly on this, together, in one deafening voice. Violence against women and children is a crime. Plain and simple.
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Very well put. Thank you. America does, or at least has, stood for universal principles.
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When you have Angelina Jolie and John McCain agreeing on something, it must be important. And the plight of the Rohingya in Myanmar is a major humanitarian calamity that demands U.S. action and leadership. However, the U.S., specifically the C.I.A., does not have very clean hands here dating back to it's suppression of Burmese minorities in a post-World War II anti-communist policy that led to the Burman Ne Win dictatorship that engaged in a similar ethnic-cleansing policy. [Remember "The Ugly American"?] With a white nationalist, neo-isolationist Trump administration that seems fascinated with cruel dictators and uninterested in human rights, it's hard to see any "robust diplomacy" occurring in our severely depleted State Department. Perhaps we need to focus on the United Nations and international aid groups as a more viable way of aiding the Rohingya and pressuring the government of Myanmar. It's a sad to time to feel so helpless to help those in such desperate need.
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Senator with all due respect and I do respect you, this is what we do as we support every Regime and Human Rights abuser who is "ours " and despise/sanction every other Regime and Human Right's abuser. We pick and choose who to sanction and whom to protect. We do give it a name," National Interest".
We fought for Aung San Suu Kyi, even got her a Nobel Peace Prize and she can’t even talk about the atrocities/Genocide being committed by her people; won’t even call them as Rohingya’s.
I am glad you are doing something about it. I only wish that we as a nation would always stand with the oppressed people and never side with the oppressor regardless of race ethnicity, religion, our so called National Security. Always standing up for the oppressed is good for our National Security also.
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With this administration, it is clear, we need to move the UN to a country that is ready to take international leadership and action in Myanmar, Syria, Philippines, etc. Nikki Haley is incapable of nothing more than reading the script she is handed and is woefully incompetent for the role.
All good points, but what you don't mention is taking a strong stance against any country that has been selling weapons and providing military advisors to Myanmar. This is something that should've been done over a year ago. We know exactly which country sold them the weapons and provided military advice, it's our 'special ally'.
profound concern that America is giving up the mantle of global leadership . . . We’ve seen this unfold in Syria . . . shamefully failed to address brutal violence that has engulfed the country for seven years, led to hundreds of thousands dead and contributed to the worst refugee crisis since the end of World War II."
The US did NOT "fail to address" that. The US DID that. The CIA working from Turkey and Lebanon, and the US Army working from Jordan, ran those terrorists into Syria for all those years. They recruited those jihadis, armed them, supplied them, paid them, guided them, and protected their camps.
John McCain himself met with a terrorist in Syria, who just weeks later cut the still warm insides out of a man he'd just executed, and ate them raw on live video, then streamed to the whole world, blood all over his face. That's the guy that McCain MET WITH and SUPPORTED right before he did it.
So don't tell me we've "failed to address" this. We've addressed it plenty.
Those millions of refugees are fleeing wars that the US is fighting in their home countries. They are fleeing us, as much as they are fleeing Assad and the other side(s) in Iraq and Afghanistan and Somalia and Libya and Yemen.
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Sad but true.
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We did more than that, we instigated the uprising as CIA cables published by wikileaks back in April 2011 showed.
"The State Department has secretly financed Syrian political opposition groups and related projects, including a satellite TV channel that beams anti-government programming into the country, according to previously undisclosed diplomatic cables."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/us-secretly-backed-syrian-oppositio...
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To mk in Philadelphia above: I'm sure many Americans in the late 1930s felt as you do, that it was too early for military action. In retrospect, was it conscionable to wait till 1941 to get involved in WWII? In the current situation, but I hope that we as a country acknowledge the human rights violations that are being allowed to happen.
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I would support diplomacy, and a role for US diplomacy and a strengthened state department.
I would support aid.
In no way could I support military involvement, engaging US soldiers and resources.
Our role should be aid, and diplomacy.
Now is the time, for the US to step back, in our military roles, and step forward in aid and diplomacy.
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No US military involvement to save terrorists who will kill us after we save them
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Sadly, I share the dismay of many commenters: Expecting the current American government to take a position let alone a leadership role to aid the Rohingya is fantasy. Our self-absorption has been building in recent years, but in a remarkably, shamefully short time it has become official policy. Think of any important issue, at any level of American society. Isn't the common, becoming universal transactional position, "What is in it for me?" As individuals we have moral obligations to (1) support these unfortunate souls by private contributions to effective charities now, and (2) also to vote for more compassionate government in November and in 2020.
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moral obligations to (1) support these unfortunate souls NOT IF IT KILLS AMERICANS,
"Finally, the United States must lead efforts to resolve decades of ethnic strife throughout Myanmar,"
The United States under Donald Trump is not going to take any leadership role in this humanitarian crisis, I do not even believe that he has any interest in solving this ethnic conflict in Myanmar but Americans can do a lot by supporting the Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) this organization has provided medical aid to the Rohingya for decades, however, the scale of the current crisis is unprecedented. This is the fastest-growing refugee emergency in the world, according to the United Nations.
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Sadly under our ersatz president the atrocities committed around the globe fall on deaf ears. Myanmar, Syria, North Korea, Philippines, Venezuela, Sudan, Eritrea, Niger, and in many other countries where the torture is under the radar require us to set an example and do the right thing such as protesting these regimes, offering humanitarian aid, and most importantly try to stop these egregious violations of human rights. We cannot in good conscience ignore these genocides and pogroms. The diaspora of the Rohingy people is heinous.
I agree and I'm sure most Americans fully support Senator McCain and Ms.Jolie's exhortations and plan of action. We can make excuses and blame our current administration for their inaction and lack of a moral compass. But as Americans we are not selfless and can still do the right thing with or without our government support. We are one planet and we need to do our best to mitigate the suffering of others not so fortunate.
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This crisis has been going on for years. Tell me what your hero obama did to help these people. It is now a knee jerk reaction on these boards to immediately blame Trump for issues that have gone unaddressed for decades.
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How can this happen? It is unconscionable. Why? No human should treat another human the way the Rohingya people are being treated by the people of Myanmar. What can be done to stop it? Babies being thrown in a fire. Homes being set on fire. It is hard for my brain to wrap itself around these atrocities. We here in the United States should do something. We haven't helped much in Syria. Could we at least do something here for these mistreated people. I am very, very sad for their plight.
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Ask the conservatives, they are in charge.
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You have the power to do more for these people than just feeling sad. Get up and do it! You can start by calling your Senators and Members of Congress.
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Explain what you would like to have done.
Thanks to Mr.McCain and Ms. Jolie for chiding us all about our near sightedness in ignoring this human tragedy that is not on our front pages everyday.The United States cannot ignore genocide and not lend our voice and efforts to mitigating this terrible tragedy.It would be the greatest tribute to John McCain, a true American hero to pass the Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act.Mr. McCain paid a high price for freedom in Viet Nam.We should heed his plea to help those suffering at the hands of the Burmese government.
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Mr. McCain. I totally agree with what you have written here but perhaps you should be saving our country from the one person who would never think of the Rohingya people, or even them as people. It is shameful that you have had the opportunity to vote against his policies that are tearing apart this country instead of providing lip service. The United States will never claim any mantle as long as this person is in the White House.
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Senator McCain and Angelina,
This opinion echoes the good things the United States was known and respected for. Sadly, the last year under your current president has wiped away many of these sentiments. His siding and congratulating despots like Duarte, Putin and others has set a very different tone across the globe. Human rights now take a back seat to the might of despots who have little or no fear that their actions will have consequences.
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Maybe, just maybe, the United States should start saving lives by stopping to kill people, overthrowing government, helping to installing dictators, and fighting endless wars. Then they should start thinking about other countries actions.
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While we're at it, we ought to stop selling arms around the world. Eisenhower warned us about the military-industrial complex, and here we are. In Burma (I stick with the old name), the military are armed with American M-16's. Yes, I know, the Chinese would sell then AK-47's, but we need to start somewhere.
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Save lives by stopping to kill people.... hmmh?
Nice sentiments but how about we focus on the humanitarian disasters we ourselves have caused in places like Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan.Repairing those places should take up all our useful attention for decades. The situation in Burma is a mess but no more so than the ones we ourselves created. Our foreign policy has suffered from ADD for years....let's try to focus.
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Thank you Senator McCain and Ms. Jolie. First, thank you for referring to this country as Burma and not Myanmar which was chosen by the unelected military regime that runs the country with Aung San Suu Kyi as their puppet.
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Worthy proposals all desperately needed. However, if our current president is required to participate in any way, fogetaboutit. He is deranged and needs to be replaced.
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His attention is, and was always focused on storms closer at home.
This is why we need to have an honorable, morally upright person in the White House. Trump is a serial sexual abuser, including a retracted but credible allegation of forcible rape. Anything he says on the subject is tainted and easily mocked by enemies. This country is better than that. We should pass McCain's bill, get rid of Trump, and take a "mulligan". After all, it's only fair that us non-Trumpists should get one also.
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Simple. A coward president doesn’t make for a brave country.
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This is a complex crisis. In late November, the government of Myanmar agreed to let these refugees return—although not to their homes, and at a pace that could drag out the process for a generation. A significant proportion of the Rohingya having lived through the recent atrocities may never return to Myanmar and might to choose to stay in Bangladesh instead. It would be a violation of international norms if their return were not voluntary. The Myanmar government is itself the perpetrator of these human rights violations. There is no easy solution here. The Rohingyas are ethnically Bengalis, they were never accepted by the people and the government of Myanmar as citizens of Myanmar. The only solution for the international community and the USA is to help Bangladesh to cope up with the Rohingyas who are going to remain in Bangladesh. Donald Trump is not going to take them as refugees into USA.
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Rohingyas were Bengalis several centuries ago, and the were living in an independent kingdom/land called Arakan that was never part of what is now known as Burma. The British, in their enormous colonial wisdom, decided to make it part of Burma for 'obvious' reasons when they left this area after the Second World War. Arakan and even a big part of Burma used to be under the control of Delhi for a long time.
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Response to Mr Padman - who has said before that Rohingyas are Bengalis, as if that makes them non Burmese. Fact is, this region of the world changed hands many times and the border moved, not necessarily the majority of the people. Yes, some Rohingyas moved to Burma during the British period, but that country separated from British India in 1937!
Sorry, Senator McCain and Ms. Jolie, Myanmar is indeed a worthy cause for American leadership and intervention against crimes against humanity, but Trump's America has no interest in human rights.
Our State Department is closed; American diplomacy is dead and America is leading with a Derrière-In-Chief.
If Americans want to help, here are some organizations responding to the Rohingya refugee crisis.
https://bracusa.org/southasiarecovery/
https://secure.unicefusa.org/donate/help-rohingya-children-escaping-viol...
https://www.rescue.org/country/myanmar
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/29/world/asia/rohingya-aid-myanmar-bangl...
..and vote on November 6 2018 for real American leadership.
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In November Secretary Tillerson met with leaders in Myanmar; he then publicly called this "ethnic cleansing". This humanitarian issue has not so far been a partisan issue. It harms this humanitarian cause to turn it into one. The problem is not here but in Myanmar. Concerted action with others, as Senator McCain and MS. Jolie suggest, is certainly called for; some groups involved wish for stronger sanctions. But American has little leverage on Myanmar, which is economically and politically supported by neighboring China.
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So, this is a new problem that developed while Trump is president? If not, what did Obama do about the problem? People are so quick to blame Trump for problems that have existed for decades.
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Thank you, Socrates, for suggesting that we help the above non-profits, which are truly responding to the Rohingya crisis.
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This is absolutely the time for America to lead the way in showing the world what compassionate governance means, and affirming that all life has equal value. It is easier to pro-actively address needs, rather than let the problems grow out of control. Early action is way cheaper and more effective than waiting until things are broken beyond repair.
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"While politics have left Americans deeply divided, we can all unite around the belief that a commitment to freedom, justice and human rights has distinguished the United States as a great nation. Our failure to hold accountable those who commit mass atrocities and human rights abuses will lead to more violence and instability."
A guard rail at the top of the cliff is a much better choice than an ambulance at the bottom.
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An approach that needs to be exercised at home first to a large number of chronic problems.
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