In Myanmar, posting an image of Buddha wearing headphones can land you with a multi-year jail sentence. Yet during the Buddhist New Moon festival in Taunggyi, a technicolor extravaganza of hot air balloons affixed with a Buddha's visage set aflame with torches and fireworks, police and monks watch the celebrations just like me and other onlookers.
To parrot the most often-heard response from many local human rights leaders, religion in this country "is complicated." The country's 2008 Constitution recognizes Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Animism as religions in Myanmar and promises to protect each of these religions. Moreover, it forbids "any act which is intended or is likely to provoke feelings of hatred, enmity or discord between racial or religious communities or sects." But the State also "recognizes the special position of Buddhism as the faith professed by the great majority of the citizens of the State." And herein lies the challenge. (Courtesy of Huffington Post)
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