The "Inflexibility" of Dissidents

The siren call for a "new approach" in dealing with the Burmese junta rang loudly in the Wall Street Journal's weekend edition. One can almost guess the theme of the article entitled, "In Myanmar, Two Hidden Worlds. Amid privations, its regime prospers by trading with China and India" -- that Western sanctions towards the Burmese junta are ineffective because the dictatorship is being provided financial relief by the two Asian nations.

Substitute China and India for Venezuela and Spain, and it's all-too-eerily familiar to the Cuba debate.

Nonetheless, here's the line that was truly striking:

"Other [advocates of a "new approach"] go so far as to propose that the West should accept a diminished role for Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's leading opposition figure. The Nobel laureate is arguably the world's most revered prisoner of conscience since Nelson Mandela, but she has drawn criticism for her inflexibility in dealing with the regime."

It's fascinating how opposition leaders that support sanctions towards their oppressors are so easily labeled "inflexible." Fortunately, there's an inspiring trend that finds these "inflexible" opponents on the right side of history.

From the 19th century abolitionist movement to end slavery:

"With reasonable men I will reason; with humane men I will plea; but to tyrants I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost."

-William Lloyd Garrison, U.S. abolitionist and editor of "The Liberator"

To the 20th century Soviet opposition during the Cold War:

"We are slaves there from birth, but we are striving for freedom. You, however, were born free. If so, then, why do you help our slave owners?"

- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Soviet political prisoner and author of "The Gulag Archipelago"

To the 21st century Cuban civil society:

"I do not support, nor will I ever support, any policy of dialogue with the Castro's dictatorship because I firmly believe that the only way to achieve democracy in Cuba is through civil disobedience and a campaign of no cooperation."

- Jorge Luis Garcia Perez "Antunez," Cuban pro-democracy leader and political prisoner (17 years and 38 days)