Contesting Buddhist Narratives 47 These concerns have historic roots in Myanmar and must be navigated with sensitivity by good-willed foreign actors and organizations seeking to promote peace and coexistence. Without this sensitivity, outside actors risk unintentionally inflaming exclusionary Buddhist nationalism. As such, they must focus on ensuring that local actors and organizations take the lead, while supporting these efforts Without sensitivity, outside actors from behind, streamlining efrisk unintentionally inflaming forts to prevent duplication, and encouraging collaboration exclusionary Buddhist nationalism between initiatives in different parts of the country. The international community must also ensure that while it consistently criticizes hate speech and violence on all sides, it refrains from language that generalizes or vilifies entire groups, or that seems to privilege one group over another. Today, people in Myanmar also worry about what they see as the preservation of Buddhist moral values and of other traditional practices in the face of rapid modernization, technological advancement, and increased openness to the outside world. They also express fears common to religious groups as they encounter modernity—that Buddhism might lose its position within society or might be debased in a secular, multireligious context.49 While the government might want to consider policies designed to ease these fears and recognize and protect religious and cultural traditions, the targeted discrimination contained in the legislation discussed above demonstrates that enacting policies for the protection of particular religions always risks institutionalizing practices of discrimination. As such, the proposed laws on interreligious marriage, conversion, monogamy, and population control must be rejected as violating the basic rights of those living in Myanmar, and as counter to the democratic vision the country seeks to embrace. Religious Transparency and Informed Citizens One factor that continues to fuel conflict is ignorance of other religions, particularly ignorance of Islam. While it is understandable— given repressive state tactics—that Muslim communities in Myanmar have been relatively insular with regard to religious practice, some Muslim leaders have decided that increased transparency will foster mutual