Burma or Myanmar?

[question everything]

I was listening to the President talk this morning and at some point he mentioned Burma (do not remember the exact reference).

And I wonder what is the correct term. If the citizens who live there chose Myanmar, shouldn't we respect this? Or is Myanmar associated with repression and as democracy returns, so will the old name Burma?

Similar to Iran and Persia?

Just curious

[BlueToTheBone]

1. I don't think it was chosen by the people but

by their dear leaders.

[question everything]

6. Thanks, Look like that (nt)

[CTyankee]

2. I kind of think Obama wouldn't pull a "Czechoslovakia" like John McCain did in 08...

so my guess is that Burma is still operational, altho I thought it was Myanmar too...

[question everything]

4. Thanks. I think that both Obama and Hillary visited

the country in the past but I don't remember how they referred to it while there.

[DURHAM D]

9. Burma

[Enrique]

7. he might

i've always thought those brain farts are funny more than anything else. Unless it's someone who is in fact truly ignorant, like Rick Perry.

[CTyankee]

8. but really, McCain always talked like the big foreign relations guy and it had been, what, 16

years at that point since the creation of the Czech Republic and Slovakia! He's old and used to the old name and all that but still...

[karynnj]

13. McCain always got more credit than he deserved from a media in love with him

There it was not just that the country was renamed - it was now two different countries!

[CTyankee]

14. correct! I have an ESL student from Brataslava and we talk about the changes a lot...

McCain could learn a lot in 5 minutes with this guy...

[rtracey]

3. Military rule

The governments who still use Burma say it's because the junta who changed the name to Myanmar are illegitimate & undemocratic rulers. It was changed when Burma became military rule.

[question everything]

5. Thanks. As we are working on improving relations

and Aung San Suu Kyi getting more active in government, it will be interesting what will happen to the name.

[davidpdx]

10. There was a good episode of Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown

about Myanmar. He talked about both food and politics. The food looked very interesting.

[BainsBane]

11. It was a slip of the tongue

Every word people say is not intensely thought out. It's proper name is Myanmar.

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. Suu Kyi: It's Burma, not Myanmar

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 5:29a.m.
...
She also expressed disappointment with the New Zealand Government's decision to call her country Myanmar instead of Burma.

"I have made the point that Myanmar was imposed on this country without so much of a bye or leave to the people. The people were not asked what they thought of it. One day, in the state newspapers it was announced ... I think that it was imposed on this country in a totally undemocratic way.

"I still object to it. So I will always refer to this country as Burma, until the Burmese people decide what they want it to be called.

http://www.3news.co.nz/Suu-Kyi-Its-Burma-not-Myanmar/tabid/417/articleID/277768/Default.aspx

I regard her as still the best voice of the people of the country. As far as I can tell, she has not changed her stance since November.

[question everything]

15. Thank you. I agree. Hers is the best and most reliable opinion

about the country, the one people are hoping for.

[Igel]

16. Hers is one.

And since she's not on the outs with the government--recognized by the US and by the UN, and presumably legitimate by most standards--her personal opinion matters rather less.

The US, however, never recognized the name change. Obama isn't taking a marked political position, but merely ratifying the decision adopted by Bush I and continued by Clinton and Bush II.

However, if pronounced "Burma" or "Myanmar"--both of which are the names of a large ethnic group--it should be pronounced properly--as Queen Elizabeth would pronounce it. Their pronunciation was non-rhotic when they decided on the spelling, and there is no American "r" in either.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_Burma does a decent job.

[csziggy]

17. Uh...

Obama praises, encourages change in Burma
David Jackson, USA TODAY 8:06 p.m. EDT May 20, 2013

Story Highlights
President Obama meets with the leader of Burma
While official U.S. policy is to call the nation 'Burma,' Obama used 'Myanmar' as a diplomatic courtesy
Obama praises changes in Burma, but adds that more work needs to be done

President Obama praised changes in the country he repeatedly referred to as "Myanmar" on Monday, but he added that the military government there needs to go even further.

While official U.S. policy refers to the Asian nation by its older name — Burma — Obama used the name preferred by the ruling military government in encouraging President Thein Sein to continue on the difficult path of political and economic change.

"As President Sein is the first to admit, this is a long journey and there is still much work to be done," Obama said.

Holding out the hope of increased trade and investment with the United States and other nations, Obama said: "We very much appreciate your efforts and leadership in leading Myanmar in a new direction."

White House spokesman Jay Carney said the name Burma remains official U.S. policy, but the U.S. government "over time has begun to allow limited use of the name Myanmar as a diplomatic courtesy."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/05/20/obama-myanmar-burma-thein-sein/2343431/

[question everything]

18. Is this what is meant: working both sides of the street?

Oh well. Thanks for the quote.

Obviously, I was not the only one questioning this.

[csziggy]

19. Obama may consider it appropriate to use the name preferred by the rulers

When he is trying diplomacy to influence their actions.

But the US government officially still uses Burma since they don't officially approve of the current government that calls the country Myanmar.

The thing that some are "outraged" about is that Obama called the country the name that the military dicatatorship uses, NOT that he called it Burma.