My sister was in Burma (Myanmar) for some time, and she sent us amazing pictures. The country has many spectacular Buddhist temples and much natural beauty, not to mention the good people created by God who live there.
 
I learned that Burma was under an isolationistic form of socialism for decades (1960s to 1980s) and is still under an oppressive regime. This picture that my sister sent me conjured up images of Orwell’s “1984″ in my mind. It makes me realize that much of the world is still so twisted in systemic ways that institutionalize sin and evil and are antithetical to the truth of God in how he created human beings:
 

 
My sister insightfully noted that this sign is in English for a reason. When people are deceived into expelling God from their hearts and their nation and elevate “the State” above all other considerations, major evil is being done. This sign reminds me so strongly of “1984″ and in particular the Thought Police in that book that it is scary. Just what are “negative views” and what is considered “progress of the Nation”?
 
The only thing I found humorous about this was their use of the word “stooges”, which always conjures up images of The Three Stooges in my mind.