MRC Fort Wayne participating Asian Festival in Columbus, Ohio

May 26, 2008

On May 26, 2008,  MRC-Fort Wayne participated in Asian Festival in Columbus, Ohio. The festival was participated by 15 nationalities including Mon. The festival was started by the speeches of special guest speakers, Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman and other U.S and local officials. The Mon cultural show started at 4:00 p.m. at Adventure Center. Before the show started, Mi Soe Soe explained the meaning of the two dances that would be performed and a brief history of Mon people. According to Mi Soe Soe, we, Mon lost our independence  about 19 years before American gained its independence from the British. Since than the practices of Mon culture have been banned in Burma. The present Burmese military (SPDC) continues to oppress the practice of Mon culture in Burma. Mi Soe Soe also had a chance to talk local media news channel, Fox Channel 28 and explained about the Mon traditional dances and Mon culture in general.

About 50 MRC members left Fort Wayne with a bus to join the festival in Columbus, Ohio. Both Mon Community in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Akron, Ohio have been invited to participate the festival every year. Asian Festival is one of the biggest cultural festivals in the United States.