Acting Against Injustice

Episode #170: May Wynn Maung is a well-known Burmese actress that now lives in the United States. Her father was a long-time Army officer who also worked in the government. His maxim was the importance of doing one’s duty, to do as one was told without question regardless of how one felt personally about it.

This outlook bound the way she lived in Myanmar, through protests and during her acting career. But little by little, censorship decisions about movies she acted in became increasingly ludicrous. It wasn’t until she came to the United States where she “found her voice,” as it were. Now, she speaks out against the military and does fundraising for the democracy movement, and still acts as well.

She also has continued a vipassana practice. In speaking of this, she references famous monks in Myanmar who seem to be teaching that people should just accept military rule, which she finds disheartening. Because of all the hardships the people of Myanmar are facing, she strongly feels that monastics should be involved in the movement for freedom and democracy.