Made-up tots are Myanmar’s shame

WE were disheartened to see the My Best Shot [“Mandalay Miniature,” Oct. 15].

You can see little girls with an ornate thanakha design (and heavy Western eye makeup and lipstick) at virtually every tourist spot in Myanmar. The mothers make the little girls sit still for the makeup application and then all day so they can peddle them for photos from tourists.

Tipping the mothers for their artistry (the tourists are charged and will be told if they give too small a tip) perpetuates this use of small children to get money from foreign tourists.

The Myanmar people are very beautiful. It’s a shame to see them reduced to putting their children on display and an even bigger shame to see tourists encouraging this.

DR. MARNA GEISLERAND

BILL BIERSCHENK

Santa Monica