Good to reflect on tribalistic thinking in all of us. How much do I identify with Buddhists as "my crowd"?
I've gone through so many labels in my life, Ukrainian, Russian, Jewish, Australian, Buddhist... that the labels are not really important anymore. Which is my crowd? It's a small world, as I see it, and to truly care for "my crowd", I have to care about everyone, regardless of the label.
Thank you everyone for sharing - very informative and thought-provoking thread.
PS I was in Myanmar for 2 weeks back in 1996, Visit Myanmar Year, it was. It felt like coming home actually and for some reason I fell in love with that country like no other. Ever since I've followed it in the news. I hope that saner voices can prevail and further bloodshed is avoided. What a shame for this to happen just when the oppression was lifting after so many years...