July 30, 2008Pacific Daily News (Guam)
Nobody likes to be criticized, especially when criticism touches on national pride. Yet, it has been said, justified criticism provides room for improvement; unjustified criticism speaks volumes about its author's values and worth.
I am reminded that my recent columns on Cambodia "rattled" many, even though anyone can read much of a similar nature on the Internet. My former students of politics would recall my lectures on how existing freedoms, if not cherished and defended, are hard to regain. They should remember a Chinese proverb I often quoted, "Great souls have wills. Feeble ones have only wishes," and Edmund Burke's words, "All that is needed for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing," as I encouraged action.
I am not writing in this space to sell a political or ideological point of view, although I have my own political and ideological preferences and have expressed them. My intent is to share ideas and provoke thought, for that's how knowledge grows. If ideas and thoughts lead to positive action for society, that's not a bad thing.
Cambodia's July 27 national elections have ended. Some have applauded the outcome; others see the outcome in dark terms.
Eric Pape's "The Rule of Murderers and Thieves," in the July 23 Newsweek Web exclusive should give readers pause; Chhan D. Touch's July 24 "Why you should not vote CPP," (Premier Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party) on the Internet outlined three "simple reasons ... a Vietnamese puppet: personal gain, fear, and ignorance."
At the same time, the Thai-Cambodian conflict, which put two armies at a standoff over the ownership of the ancient Temple of Preah Vihear, awarded to Cambodia by the World Court in 1962, clouded the emotionally charged Cambodian election. Interestingly, the Singapore Straits Times reported, Singapore foreign minister George Yeo told a news conference after the Association of South-East Asian Nations' annual security meeting, "It was not a problem, even a few weeks ago. It suddenly became a problem." This, in itself, is a topic worth dissecting.
Like it or not, the flawed Cambodian elections put "elected" leaders in government to lead the country. While Albert Einstein's words should be remembered, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result," we know that in most nation-states in the world the common goals of government are to maintain the country's independence and sovereignty (including Preah Vihear and Koh Tral for Cambodia); security (the order and the security for citizens); and economic and social well-being of all citizens (the promotion of individual and general welfare). How to get the newly elected leaders to achieve these goals?
Last week, I quoted Burma's dissident leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who advised those feeling "hopeless and despairing: 'Don't just sit there. Do something.'"
"Change does not roll in on wheels of inevitability," civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. declared. Change "comes through continuous struggle. And so we must strengthen our back and work for our freedom," he told African-Americans. "A man can't ride you unless your back is bent." African-Americans' fight for change continues today.
There is a Khmer proverb that says, "Live with cow, sleep like cow; Live with parrot, fly like parrot." Such is the power and influence of the socialization that shapes and molds man's behavior, a process that begins at birth and ends only in death.
Being human, we all think. As with most things, however, it is the quality of the thought that matters. I have written about the Foundation of Critical Thinking that posits, "all thinking is not of the same quality," and the "quality of our life and that of what we produce, make, or build depends precisely on the quality of our thought," and "the quality of everything we do is determined by the quality of our thinking."
"To think through," the Foundation advises, we need to "ask essential questions" on "what is necessary, relevant, and indispensable to a matter at hand."
"A mind with no questions is a mind that is not intellectually alive," asserts the Foundation.
I also wrote about Tim Hurson's book, "Think Better," that posits, "Every brain, regardless of its intelligence quotient (IQ) or creative quotient (CQ), can be taught to think better; to understand more clearly, think more creatively, and plan more effectively." Thus, people can learn.
Hurson advises: even when an answer "seem(s) so clear, so obvious, so right," -- as there are Cambodians who think Premier Sen and the CPP's corruption and repressive rule destroy Cambodia -- we should not settle on these answers but "keep asking new questions ... resist the urge to answer, the urge to know ... (because those) who 'know' ... don't need to learn because they already have the answers.
This brings me back to Suu Kyi's call on people to develop a "questing mind" that not only questions but also seeks answers.
The quest for freedom and justice has no end.
A. Gaffar Peang-Meth, Ph.D., is retired from the University of Guam, where he taught political science for 13 years.
I am reminded that my recent columns on Cambodia "rattled" many, even though anyone can read much of a similar nature on the Internet. My former students of politics would recall my lectures on how existing freedoms, if not cherished and defended, are hard to regain. They should remember a Chinese proverb I often quoted, "Great souls have wills. Feeble ones have only wishes," and Edmund Burke's words, "All that is needed for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing," as I encouraged action.
I am not writing in this space to sell a political or ideological point of view, although I have my own political and ideological preferences and have expressed them. My intent is to share ideas and provoke thought, for that's how knowledge grows. If ideas and thoughts lead to positive action for society, that's not a bad thing.
Cambodia's July 27 national elections have ended. Some have applauded the outcome; others see the outcome in dark terms.
Eric Pape's "The Rule of Murderers and Thieves," in the July 23 Newsweek Web exclusive should give readers pause; Chhan D. Touch's July 24 "Why you should not vote CPP," (Premier Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party) on the Internet outlined three "simple reasons ... a Vietnamese puppet: personal gain, fear, and ignorance."
At the same time, the Thai-Cambodian conflict, which put two armies at a standoff over the ownership of the ancient Temple of Preah Vihear, awarded to Cambodia by the World Court in 1962, clouded the emotionally charged Cambodian election. Interestingly, the Singapore Straits Times reported, Singapore foreign minister George Yeo told a news conference after the Association of South-East Asian Nations' annual security meeting, "It was not a problem, even a few weeks ago. It suddenly became a problem." This, in itself, is a topic worth dissecting.
Like it or not, the flawed Cambodian elections put "elected" leaders in government to lead the country. While Albert Einstein's words should be remembered, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result," we know that in most nation-states in the world the common goals of government are to maintain the country's independence and sovereignty (including Preah Vihear and Koh Tral for Cambodia); security (the order and the security for citizens); and economic and social well-being of all citizens (the promotion of individual and general welfare). How to get the newly elected leaders to achieve these goals?
Last week, I quoted Burma's dissident leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who advised those feeling "hopeless and despairing: 'Don't just sit there. Do something.'"
"Change does not roll in on wheels of inevitability," civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. declared. Change "comes through continuous struggle. And so we must strengthen our back and work for our freedom," he told African-Americans. "A man can't ride you unless your back is bent." African-Americans' fight for change continues today.
There is a Khmer proverb that says, "Live with cow, sleep like cow; Live with parrot, fly like parrot." Such is the power and influence of the socialization that shapes and molds man's behavior, a process that begins at birth and ends only in death.
Being human, we all think. As with most things, however, it is the quality of the thought that matters. I have written about the Foundation of Critical Thinking that posits, "all thinking is not of the same quality," and the "quality of our life and that of what we produce, make, or build depends precisely on the quality of our thought," and "the quality of everything we do is determined by the quality of our thinking."
"To think through," the Foundation advises, we need to "ask essential questions" on "what is necessary, relevant, and indispensable to a matter at hand."
"A mind with no questions is a mind that is not intellectually alive," asserts the Foundation.
I also wrote about Tim Hurson's book, "Think Better," that posits, "Every brain, regardless of its intelligence quotient (IQ) or creative quotient (CQ), can be taught to think better; to understand more clearly, think more creatively, and plan more effectively." Thus, people can learn.
Hurson advises: even when an answer "seem(s) so clear, so obvious, so right," -- as there are Cambodians who think Premier Sen and the CPP's corruption and repressive rule destroy Cambodia -- we should not settle on these answers but "keep asking new questions ... resist the urge to answer, the urge to know ... (because those) who 'know' ... don't need to learn because they already have the answers.
This brings me back to Suu Kyi's call on people to develop a "questing mind" that not only questions but also seeks answers.
The quest for freedom and justice has no end.
A. Gaffar Peang-Meth, Ph.D., is retired from the University of Guam, where he taught political science for 13 years.
8 comments:
Remember of all these folks:
-When a man is ignorant, you can't JUST say that he is so stupid or should be as ignorant as he is.you got to know THE ROOTS OF THE CAUSES. "Solution" show him a better routine of life, set good role model for him. It's like you bring lights for where the darkness definetely occupie a place. There are few people can exploit from the darkness, BUT THERE IS A MUCH LARGER MARGIN OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN EXPLOITED AND YOU THINK THEY DON DO A DAMN WHEN THEY SEE ONLY FEW OF THEM EXPLOIT AND LIVE HAPPILY FROM THE ADVANTAGES??????
-Prove that you can do any better than the olds. You can't only sit and watch people suffer and curse the people; they don deserve to receive all this much suffering, yet coz no-one can appear to lead any better-you need to bring and feed on CREATIVITY to guide and lead the poeple for better routine of living!!!!!
-Show your good intention and educate poeple in decent and effective methods of leading and having more quality living rather than just exploiting from the suffering of the people. "Do not just sit and exploit from the situations". "You don't just wait for the chance, rather go after it".
I hope u folks can share more of these practical ideas to help better shape our country to become a really civilized Country in this modern time!!!!!
God Blesses Camboida!!!!!!!!!
yes, agree with the above comments. sometimes, i don't understand why some people just like to blame and criticize without given a reason, a purpose or even some solutions to resolve ignorance. is it due to jealousy? i mean one has to wonder and be inquisitive about how people talk without thinking sometimes. i think human nature wants to change for the better, despite mediocre beginning or what have you. to say that someone is unwilling to reform oneself is like being unreasonable and unfair. just because a person came from a poor, disadvantaged family doesn't mean that person can't succeed when given the opportunity. you know, in the USA, they help low-income, disadvantaged people who want to start a business, go college, buy a house, etc... that speaks volumes. i would like to see cambodia get into this kind of welfare and compassionate for poor, helpless, disadvantaged kind of people. maybe by doing that to help the people, cambodia can produce some expected, talent people out of the quagmire. plus, it is sinful to abuse helpless people. i think cambodia can do better, slowly but surely. being optimistic helps a lot. also, have some expectations, because without some expectations, there is no purpose in life. god bless cambodia and all our beautiful khmer people.
yes. the election is over. But we Khmer have not lost our power. We only lost our rights and freedom and will repeat the same treatment by the government over again if we sit around and demand and work for our rights.
Thank you author. Hope is not lost, it only ends when those do the hoping gives up at sight of an obstacle.
You're repeating yourself!
Tell us something we don't know (not something we already know).
I agree with our people's above comments. Being optimistic can help. Oppositional parties should learn these bad bexperiences. Stay closed to the poor, unfortunate and farmers and try to educate them. Don't blame people for they are ignorant. EDUCATION on people is the key to success as a whole in a real democracy. I know it is hard and takes time especially such kind of things will be based greatly on finances but I hope each party will try & learn to sacrifice their own party interests in order to get united. Learn to forgive & forget each own party interests in order to achieve your UNITED GOAL and like this poeple will have more condifidence and belief that you are all truely trying to advance your country. Please understand whatever you do, people are also watching depite the irregularities exist on the voting process. But one real thing is that people are also watching, regardless of their watching is right or wrong, but they are doing so, otherwise FUNCINPEC or RANARIDTH will still get lots of vote just as 2003 or 1998.
Personally I am also upset that the oppositional parties have little voting margine under such kind of goverment.
Khmer countryside live & educated locally.
"...hope u folks can share more of these practical ideas to help better shape our country to become a really civilized Country in this modern time...!!!!!"
How can I or others conceivably help Cambodia to become a civilized country like most Western countries, when we have an uncivilized leaders who are not willing to spearheading about change for a civilized Cambodia? My answer: it's insurmountably infeasible.
12:00PM , Waht's so down side or up about " countryside live & educated locally?"
Just give your comment and leurn from dood disegreement, Boy!
12:53 AM
" Khmer countryside live & educated locally?" This is my background.
I am Khmer and I was born in the countryside of Cambodia and all my educations are within my country, Kingdom of Cambodia.
My dream is that all people at the countryside have the opportunity to be educated and try to learn just as I do and that no body can abuse them in the future. Since we have no chance to live & educate abroad, local learning can also improve ourself.
Ignorances is the roots of all evils.
Hope you all Khmer inside and outside the country stand together and get united for the benefits of our country. No matter what, we still have hopes.
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