Mission of Burma's Roger Miller responds to Burma/Myanmar tragedy

Published May 06 2008, 05:47 PM by Carly Carioli

It was just a couple of months ago that the Mission of Burma dudes threw down at Great Scott during their "Burma for Burma" show to draw attention to the abuses visited on the people of Burma by the military junta that's ruled the country for about the past quarter-century. With the death toll topping 25,000 (and possibly headed closer to 50k) in the horrific aftermath of a once-in-a-generation cyclone, we asked Burma's Roger Miller -- now on tour with one of his other band, the Alloy Orchestra -- for his thoughts.

"There are obviously two disasters in Burma (Myanmar) simultaneously: the storm and the government," Miller told OTD. "Too bad it couldn't have been a 'smart storm' and only taken out the government.

In this, he was echoed -- even more forcefully -- by an unlikely ally: Laura Bush. "The response to the cyclone is just the most recent example of the junta's failure to meet its people's basic needs," the First Lady said, without a hint of irony. New Orleans' 9th Ward (the neighborhood, not this guy) was unable to be reached for comment, but we'll speak for it: pot, kettle, black, etc.

More irony: the US Campaign for Burma, beneficiaries of the "Burma for Burma" shows, was in the midst of a celebrity-video-driven campaign -- starring Sarah Silverman (see below), Jennifer Aniston, and Eddie Izzard, among others -- to bring attention to human rights abuses in the country. The campaign's home-page has now shifted gears and is acepting donations for victims of the cyclone.

After the jump: video of Sarah Silverman, and then Mission of Burma, for Burma . . .

Sarah Silverman for Burma

Mission of Burma, "Academy Fight Song (Live at "Burma for Burma")

Filed Under: Video

Back to On The Download

Back to On The Download

Follow the Boston Phoenix

All Blogs

Dont Quote Me (527)
Laser Orgy (36)
Phlog (1,432)
On The Download (2,174)
Talking Politics (1,529)
Outside The Frame (307)

Filed Under: Video

Boston Phoenix
Jill wants to marry Diane #marryME
Published 10/31/2009 by Jeff Inglis
You may have seen a video about same-sex marriage in Ireland. But check out this one about it in Maine, featuring Portland's own Jill Barkley:...

Boston Phoenix
VIDEO PREMIERE: Matt & Kim play intimate fans-only gig at the Lansdowne
Published 10/8/2009 by Carly Carioli
Sure, MATT & KIM are confirmed Brooklynites, but they're also native New Englanders -- and, as Matt told a packed crowd at the 500-capacity Lansdowne...

more by Carly Carioli

Tall Tails: How To Shoot an Allston Rat | November 06, 2009

PODCAST: Scout Tufankjian on Making History with Barack Obama; Ken Burns on the Art of Documentary | November 04, 2009

ABC reveals the truth about universal health care: sinister plot hatched by space aliens! | November 03, 2009

PODCAST: David Gergen, Lani Guinier, Jack Beatty, and Michael E. Porter on Obama's First Year | November 03, 2009

PODCAST: The Wire's Kima, Bubbles, and Omar at Harvard | November 02, 2009

See all articles by: Carly Carioli

Latest Video

OTD Categories

Out

Brand New at House of Blues | November 17

Rare Frequencies

Rare Frequencies: Trouble and treble

Playlists

Lady Lee's Lion's Den Playlist

MP3 of the Week

HOMEWORK: Assignment #2: D-Tension

Hot Tix

Ticket On-Sale Alert: Dropkick Murphys, The Wandas...

Latest Comments

GodHatesFags.com Invades Greater Boston - So sad and scary. Ppl must get a life that doesn't thrive on ppls differences. Why live in the USA? You...

By Patty on 12-05-2009 in Phlog

Kenmore cat can't be caught - I wonder if it escaped from the Kenmore cat hospital..

By Ari on 12-05-2009 in Phlog

Boston Public Health Commission's Top 10 Bad Romance Songs of 2009: Is pop music unhealthy? - Wow. Thank you for taking the time to express your very biased opinion. However, I think you need to...

By Jim T on 12-05-2009 in On The Download

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: exclusive Cave In DVD preview - mike you fail'd hard. Please end your life quickly.

By shane on 12-05-2009 in On The Download

RIP, Mike Penner / Christine Daniels - offal, you help make my point. Thanks. Women suffering from depression are now recognized for having...

By O-FISH-L on 12-05-2009 in Dont Quote Me

Latest Comments from On The Download

Mission of Burma's Roger Miller responds to Burma/Myanmar tragedy

Leave a Comment