Heroic Guidelines

Aung San Suu Kyi b.1945 Burma

ü works for democracy and human rights

ü displays courage and commitment

ü may become a prisoner of conscience

ü sets examples and symbolizes what others seek

ü mobilizes the best in others.

ü unites deep commitment and tenacity

ü provides a vision in which the end and the means form a single unit.

ü adheres to basic principles including:

ü democracy,

ü respect for human rights,

ü reconciliation between groups,

ü non-violence, and

ü personal and collective discipline.

ü acknowledges sources of inspiration (e.g. Mahatma Gandhi, etc.)

ü conveys independent reflections

ü protects human dignity.

ü Protects right to live in a free society and a right to respect.

ü Possess a combination of sober realism and visionary idealism.

ü shows how such a doctrine can be translated into practical politics.

ü displays fearlessness.

ü believes it is not power per se that corrupts, but power when driven by fear

ü oipposes totalitarianism.

ü willing to confront danger

ü understands violence is its own worst enemy, and fearlessness is the sharpest weapon against it.

ü demonstrates impressive courage

ü seen as a potent symbol,

ü opposes violence and struggles for a free society,

ü shows courage and high ideals that bring out the best in others.

ü elicits feelings in others when treated injustly

ü stands for a positive hope.

ü conveys confidence and faith in the power of good.

ü continues self education,

ü constantly aware of and concerned about one’s own people

ü increasingly concentrated on Burma's modern history.

ü senses that a social responsibility

ü studies the process leading to independent statehood,

ü understands the ideals governing politics.

ü brings out the special features of one’s cultural heritage.

ü believes history is important

ü believes you choose who you are by choosing which tradition you belong to.

ü seeks to call attention to the best aspects of the national and cultural heritage

ü identifies deeply with a culture and uses that identiy as an irresistible force in the political struggle.

ü takes an active role in the struggle for national independence.

ü intervenes with an oppressive government

ü proposes constructive alternatives to oppressive initiatives

ü supports multi-party elections.

ü emphasizes the need for discipline and for refraining from the use of force on either side

ü demands the release of political prisoners.

ü presents a political program based on human rights, democracy and non-violence.

ü engages in vigorous political activity,

ü defies bans on meetings and military provocations,

ü respects and supports various ethnic groups,

ü willingness to be detained and placed under arrest.

ü recognizes the importance of human rights.

ü Maintains a conviction that a fundamental prerequisite for peace is the recognition of the right of all people to life and to respect.

ü Recognizes that human rights are not just a Western idea, but common to all major cultures.

ü Knows that where there is no justice there can be no secure peace.

ü Knows that just laws that uphold human rights are the necessary foundations of peace

ü Knows that security would be denied only by closed minds which interpret peace as the silence of all opposition

ü Helps provide the protective coolness of peace and security

ü observes the teachings of world religions - central to these teachings are the concepts of truth, righteousness and loving kindness.

ü understands that peace and reconciliation cannot be achieved once and for all

ü knows that a better world demands even greater vigilance of us, still greater fearlessness, and the ability to develop in ourselves the "profound simplicity"

ü Shows humility and fearlessness

ü Understands "The quintessential revolution is that of the spirit"

ü Understands the "essential spiritual aims" of the struggle.

ü The realization of this depends solely on human responsibility.

ü At the root of that responsibility lies, "the concept of perfection, the urge to achieve it, the intelligence to find a path towards it, and the will to follow that path if not to the end, at least the distance needed to rise above individual limitation... ".

ü "To live the full life one must have the courage to bear the responsibility of the needs of others … one must want to bear this responsibility."

ü "...Buddhism, the foundation of traditional Burmese culture, places the greatest value on man, who alone of all beings can achieve the supreme state of Buddhahood.

ü Each man has in him the potential to realize the truth through his own will and endeavour and to help others to realize it."

ü "The quest for democracy is the struggle of a people to live whole, meaningful lives as free and equal members of the world community. It is part of the unceasing human endeavour to prove that the spirit of man can transcend the flaws of his nature."

Note: items in red are Suu Kyi direct quotes