sent to The Cambodia Daily
Last week, three pieces of news and events made me reflect on the condition of our country.
A poor man knocked a powerful man unconscious with a steel pipe and rammed the man's car into the wall of his house. While nobody can condone such violence, it might be helpful to reflect on what caused this act of rage. We usually read about the poor robbing, attacking or killing other poor for money or grudge. The rich and powerful were up to then immune from such danger. Not any more, it seems.
When frustrations build, they lead to anger and rage. Fences, however tall, and barbed wire, however impressive, could not protect one that was the object of hatred.
In some countries, a king, a queen, a minister or a mayor can be seen in the streets, going on a bike or public transport, on their own, without body guards. They have nothing to fear from their people. Such a thing is unimaginable in Cambodia. Why? Is it status or fear or both? If it’s fear, why?
There can be only two reasons. A: they have too many enemies, or B: they have no faith in the police.
And what turns a man into an enemy? When he is not given a chance and when he is robbed of his hope and dignity. What is dignity? I was there in my reflection when a piece of news gave me the answer to the question.
It seems Cambodia is less poor now. Its GDP has increased, there are less people living under the poverty line. I was really happy with this good news until I read that the poverty line was $0.45 per day.
What can one do with $0.45 a day? Why don’t we all try to live with $0.45 for a day to see how it feels? I had the experience ten years ago, trying to live with, not $0.45 but $1 a day. It was ten years ago and I didn’t take the rent or transport into account, just food for just myself. I knew what it was like to count every cent before buying something, to choose always the cheapest, to pretend I was not hungry. Now in 2008, what can one do with 1800 riel a day? One cannot even have a car wash. But of course, the poor do not have cars to wash. Only their dignity is washed away.
In 1979, the Cambodian people were the most equal in the world—all of them had nothing. Twenty nine years later, the gap is Himalayan—some have millions of dollars and the crowd has $0.45 a day. How could this have happened?
Some say those poor are lazy or stupid otherwise they would have made it like the others. Either that—we are a nation of lazy and stupid people—or there is something wrong in the economic management of the country and the values that govern our lives. A car knocked a man down. The owner came out and went to check the damage done to his car before he noticed the man and told him off— so much for individual dignity. What about our dignity as a nation?
Muoy You
Phnom Penh
A poor man knocked a powerful man unconscious with a steel pipe and rammed the man's car into the wall of his house. While nobody can condone such violence, it might be helpful to reflect on what caused this act of rage. We usually read about the poor robbing, attacking or killing other poor for money or grudge. The rich and powerful were up to then immune from such danger. Not any more, it seems.
When frustrations build, they lead to anger and rage. Fences, however tall, and barbed wire, however impressive, could not protect one that was the object of hatred.
In some countries, a king, a queen, a minister or a mayor can be seen in the streets, going on a bike or public transport, on their own, without body guards. They have nothing to fear from their people. Such a thing is unimaginable in Cambodia. Why? Is it status or fear or both? If it’s fear, why?
There can be only two reasons. A: they have too many enemies, or B: they have no faith in the police.
And what turns a man into an enemy? When he is not given a chance and when he is robbed of his hope and dignity. What is dignity? I was there in my reflection when a piece of news gave me the answer to the question.
It seems Cambodia is less poor now. Its GDP has increased, there are less people living under the poverty line. I was really happy with this good news until I read that the poverty line was $0.45 per day.
What can one do with $0.45 a day? Why don’t we all try to live with $0.45 for a day to see how it feels? I had the experience ten years ago, trying to live with, not $0.45 but $1 a day. It was ten years ago and I didn’t take the rent or transport into account, just food for just myself. I knew what it was like to count every cent before buying something, to choose always the cheapest, to pretend I was not hungry. Now in 2008, what can one do with 1800 riel a day? One cannot even have a car wash. But of course, the poor do not have cars to wash. Only their dignity is washed away.
In 1979, the Cambodian people were the most equal in the world—all of them had nothing. Twenty nine years later, the gap is Himalayan—some have millions of dollars and the crowd has $0.45 a day. How could this have happened?
Some say those poor are lazy or stupid otherwise they would have made it like the others. Either that—we are a nation of lazy and stupid people—or there is something wrong in the economic management of the country and the values that govern our lives. A car knocked a man down. The owner came out and went to check the damage done to his car before he noticed the man and told him off— so much for individual dignity. What about our dignity as a nation?
Muoy You
Phnom Penh
9 comments:
Well said! BTW, you are not by any chance the same MOI, a friend of KI-Media aka Man of Integrity, are you?
Passer-by
The above comments are out of context. Please be reasonable!
Big villas, big and fences, built for what?
Because they are not feeling safe? Because those villas are built with dirty money, under the Hun sen's blessing?
Look even hun Sen's father has a big villa.
The above comments are very reasonable because he used international standard to measure Cambodian progress! Unless you still want to use Vietcong measurement system which AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave had been using over the years and I see no reason why any dirt poor Cambodian people would want to complain but the fact is dirt poor Cambodian people had been complaining about high gas price and basic goods and services and it is about time that AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave takes notice!
well said
Well, wait and see how the Viet/Yuon treats Khmer people when Hun Sen officially declares Cambodia as being member of the Viet controlled Federation of Indochina, Buddy Muoy You?
we see traits of domination by Vietnam. but Cambodia is not all out dominated by Vietnam. If Hun Sen comes out to declare that he would submit Cambodia to full Vietnam leadership under Hanoi Indochinese Federation, then I rather die then live. There is no more Khmer proud to be Khmer stuff means nothing.
I don't believe that day will come because Cambodians as a whole hates straight out colonialism to its neighbors. Theoretically if it happens, then will will see similar situation Thailand would see in its South.
If land can be sold to foreigners, Let see where is you fucking dignity! Rent the land from foreigners in your own country?
Mather fucker ah Kwack Hun Xen and its offspring!!
Great analogy!!! and easy understanding for those blindsided by the Hun Sen government to reflect. I share your pain!!!
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