For decades, the southeast Asian nation of Myanmar was controlled by a military
junta. This regime held free elections in 1990. That’s when democratic activist Aung San Suu Kyi’s party won a majority of seats. But the military didn’t cede power for nearly two more decades.
Earlier this month, the military took back control of the government citing voter fraud in the November elections. To NIU Assistant Professor and native Burmese Tharaphi Than, the protests are more than a power struggle.
She said protesters are fighting to release all religious, social and political leaders and reinstate democracy. But that’s not all.
Credit Northern Illinois University
Turning the conversation away from partisanship may be key to an effective speech from the new president.
That’s according to Dr. Ferald Bryan, a professor at Northern Illinois University specializing in political rhetoric. He says Joe Biden particularly looks up to Robert Kennedy, and a similar tone could begin the process towards bridging the divide among Americans. One speech isn’t going to do it, but I think he’s going to need to set the right tone and continually use his bully pulpit to remind people that indeed we’re all Americans and there are common values in our democracy we can celebrate and cherish.