In Impromptus today, I begin with this new Windsor child — Harry and Meghan’s son. Then there is economy, presidential politics, Israel, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and more. There is no shortage of contention in this contentious world.
Here in the Corner, I’d like to note some of the latest news. The Reuters reporters have been released: the two who were imprisoned in Burma, for investigating the “cleansing” of the Rohingya people.
Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, walked out of Yangon’s notorious Insein Prison at about 9:40 a.m. As they passed through the front gate, waving to the gathered crowd, they were mobbed like rock stars by fellow reporters who as professionals had covered their plight and as colleagues pushed for their release.
“I want to say that I am very happy today. I want to thank our friends and families who were trying for our freedom and also those from all over the world who sympathized with us,” Wa Lone said. “I am really excited to see my family and colleagues. I can’t wait to go to my newsroom.”
(I have quoted from this article.)
After the two reporters were sentenced last September, I quoted Wa Lone, who had said, “We know we did nothing wrong. I have no fear. I believe in justice, democracy, and freedom.” I commented, “We are lucky to have such people working in journalism, taking risks that most of the rest of us could hardly imagine.”
From Jerry and Judy Horton, I learned about Jean Vanier, the founder of L’Arche. This is a network of communities in which the developmentally disabled live with the people who help them. The Hortons founded Down Home Ranch, near Elgin, Texas, which I wrote about in a two-part series: here and here.
Vanier was an amazing human being (as are the Hortons, and others who labor in that vineyard). To read about him, go here. He has died at age 90.
One more thing, of a darker nature: What do you do if you’re a dictator and your opposition — oops — accidentally wins an election? Well, you do as Erdogan does. Check him out.