Dear Readers,
I assume by now most of you have read the article “Yuon: What’s in a Xenonym?” that was posted in the Phnom Penh Post (PPP) on February 8, 2010. Since then, there were some comments made on the article, specifically those made by Mr. Peter Starr (http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2010021031854/National-news/yuon-may-be-neutral-but-its-not-diplomatic.html) and Mr. Michael Hansen (http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2010021131924/National-news/is-the-use-of-the-term-yuon-constructive.html).
After reading the two comments I decided to respond to them by sending my letter to the PPP on February 14, 2010. Until this day I have not heard anything from the PPP, not even an acknowledgment saying that they have received my letter. I know that the PPP cannot please all its readers and in general it has done a fair and decent job in its reporting. However, I think the PPP made a mistake in its judgment for not publishing my rebuttal letter. In spite of this, I still consider the PPP to be a good newspaper because it has not only enriched our Khmer culture but also opened up our society to the rest of the world. However, in order to be a great newspaper it must not only fix its mistake whenever there is one, but it must also learn from it.
I believe the reason the PPP refused to publish my letter because the insights and statements I brought up in the letter hit the nail right in the head and they were too close to foreigners’ feeling towards Khmers for the PPP to feel comfortable. Below please find my letter that the PPP refused to publish.
Is the Foreigners’ Imposition on Cambodians to Stop Using the Word Yuon a Form of Colonialism of the Mind?
By Kenneth T. So
Dear Sir:
February 14, 2010
This article is in response to all Westerners and/or foreigners who keep on insisting that the word Yuon is a pejorative and/or racist word. I was hoping the article that Dr. Sophal Ear and I wrote (Yuon: What’s in a xenonym?) would clarify any misunderstanding concerning this word, but some comments I read in your newspaper still leave me somewhat uneasy.
I appreciate the comments that Westerners and/or foreigners made in your newspaper very much and furthermore, I understand that they are constructive ones. In light of that, I still need to make the following points to defend our usage of the word Yuon when we speak or write in Cambodian. Personally, I do not support people using the word Yuon when expressing it in the English or French languages, but I do respect their freedom of choice.
Respectfully, I would like to specifically respond to Mr. Peter Starr in his article “Yuon may be neutral, but it’s not diplomatic” (Phnom Penh Post, 10 February 2010) and Mr. Michael Hansen in his article “Is the use of the term yuon constructive?” (Phnom Penh Post, 11 February 2010).
The story that Mr. Starr told about the Sino-Vietnamese Cambodian cook called Samlor Machou Yuon in the kitchen, but had to switch to calling it Samlor Machou Vietnam when he (she) brought it to the guest was very poignant to me. Mr. Starr said that the cook switched the name out of courtesy to the guests. I assume that the guests were mostly Caucasians. This is where Mr. Starr and I differ in opinion and understanding of Khmer culture. From my point of view, the cook did not do it for courtesy but rather for fear of being branded a racist by white foreigners. To me, this is a form of colonialism of the mind.
Additionally, if the word Yuon is pejorative or racist why would we honor the Vietnamese with the name of a dish that we love and consider as one of our national dishes? In my opinion, it is incorrect to call the soup Samlor Machou Vietnam (or Yuon) because this national dish does not taste or resemble the Vietnamese soup Canh Chua, which is sweeter and includes bean sprouts. I feel it is more appropriate to call this soup Samlor Machou Péngpoas.
When Mr. Starr mentioned that it was not statesmanlike for a member of a parliament to use the word Yuon (I assume the member of the parliament was speaking in Khmer and not in English or French), the only existing Khmer word to designate a Vietnamese, I also call this a form of colonialism of the mind.
Mr. Hansen explained his objection on the usage of the word Yuon by saying that the language changed over time, or that the context in which the word was used must be considered, or that one must listen to the tone of the voice carefully. Mr. Hansen is correct. This is true in any language and/or words one used. Replacing the word Yuon with Choun Cheat Vietnam (National of Vietnam) will not make any difference if one is loud, vulgar, and abusive.
Allow me to ask the following questions to Westerners and/or foreigners who think that the word Yuon is either pejorative or/and racist in nature.
Is it racist to say Lauk Neung Yuon (A respectful way of saying “He is a Vietnamese”)?
Is it racist to say Neang Srey Yuon Neung Sa’art Nas (That Vietnamese lady is beautiful)?
Is it racist to say Yuon Klas Chit La’or (Some Vietnameses have good hearts)?
As I have explained earlier, Yuon is a xenonym and is not a racist or pejorative word. Why is it alright for Westerners and/or foreigners to tell Cambodians to stop using this word, but they would not dare telling the Americans or the British to stop using the word German (and the French to stop using the word Allemand) and replace it with the word Deutsch instead? Is this the case of a double-standard because Cambodia is a small and defenseless country? Isn’t this the case of colonialism of the mind? Why won’t Westerners and/or foreigners also criticize the Thai for using the same word Yuon to call the Vietnamese? Isn’t it that they cannot harass the Thai like they can easily do it to the Cambodians? Yes, I call this a form of colonialism of the mind.
Colonialism does not just pertain to a powerful country occupying and ruling a smaller and defenseless country, but it also includes the rules and moralities that a powerful country imposes and dictates on a smaller and weaker country.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
57 comments:
i would love "srey yuon" and let ah barraings love "srey vietnam"
what ignorant and arrogant morons!
oops, i said "ah barraings," did i just agitate these barraing experts of khmer language?
We should expect Huynh Sen to give a press conference any time soon to ban the word "Youn" in Cambodia.
i can't believe they (foreigner) still having doubt on the preference khmer people chose to use the word "youn" for vietnamese people. i suggest they get used to it for khmer people have used this word for centuries now, yes, even before they invented the word "vietnam". of course, khmer people may change it as a courtesy to our foreign guests, however, don't even expect that khmer people will stop using in in our everyday language, etc. good try for wanting us (khmer people) to stop using youn, i doubt if we go with that. we reserve the right to continue to use the khmer word youn for vietnamese when deemed appropriate such as in our daily conservation, in our country, etc... as for foreigners, we understand you try to cater to vietnam for suggesting such, but do respect khmer people's right of choice as well. talk about freedom of speech and here you are trying to dictate to khmer people what we can and cannot use with youn, give me a break please. khmer language is khmer language, please get used to it. you have your language, we have ours, really, as simple as that. of course, we try to learn english, french and more, however, khmer language will always be khmer language, please live with it. thank you.
one thing khmer people will resist is when foreigner try to dictate to us or impose to us our right and freedom as a sovereigned nation to be who we are and so forth. we can learn too, but just don't force us to do something we don't want to do, that's fair!
i think it is the responsibility of the khmer foreign minister to educate their foreign guests to respect and know the khmer language in this usage. i think when the foreign minister is educating the world, then people will be willing to accept the fact, however, it is still good to debate and talk about it everywhere with anybody here or there as well. the more khmer people educate them, they will eventually get used to that! it is like changing the country name, etc, it is proper protocol with foreigners to do it through the ministry of foreign affairs of cambodia, really! that's how we educate the world, through the foreign affairs ministry because it will go through every country's embassy from the foreign affairs ministry, really. it just a matter of knowing the proper protocol, etc... i bet then foreigners will have a rude awakening when the foriegn afffairs educate them about cambodia.
the way i see it, there are many fish in the seas. there's no such thing as sticking to one, really! it's like going to a buffet and eat only one kind of food or something. same concept here, really!
it makes an interesting topic to debate here! khmer language will always be khmer language, really. get used to it already! thank you.
Don't bother to care about those foreigners' stupid comment. The reason why these foreigners mentioned this word YOUN as pejorative was because they did it to please the Hun Sen government, which has been strongly survived by the hepl of Youns. We don't need these foreingers to teach us how to Khmer words properly if we are realy decent Khmers who regard our own language as essential as other languages in the world. Our language has come to existsence for hundreds of years. Only right now some Khmers write some words stupidly, ignoring the correct rules and grammar created by our ancestors, includidng Samdech Chuon Nath, Samdech Loui Em, Samdech Huot Tat and many more Khmer scholars in the recent past.
yes, when dealing with outside countries or the world, the foreign affairs ministry is the window to cambodia and the world, really. cambodia need to revamp our foreign affairs ministry by replacing younger, educated khmers so they can help to promote cambodia to the world and educate the world about cambodia, etc... we need this, really! yes, put only the best people in the foreign affairs ministry, please! that is one of the key to eduating our foreign guests. i'm sure this is how thailand did it, that's why they are well known to the world with their food, country, etc... cambodia can learn and do a lot better than this when it comes to educating the world about our beautiful country, you know!
I think those barangs should be banned from Cambodia when they think the word Yuon is derogatory. Let them go to Srok Yuon instead!
cambodia should also start thinking competitively when it comes to seeing and dealing with the outside world, really! please wake up, cambodia can fuse the world into our culture, living standard, etc while at the same time, maintain and keep our true khmer identity as well. who says we can't walk and chew at the same time,really, especially when it comes to the global perspective or understanding, really! god bless cambodia.
i know, our great khmer ancestors invented our language, letters, etc for a purpose for our country cambodia, we are obligated to respect and maintain and preserve it for eternity, really. when we know our language, we are so proud of our great ancestors and great statesmen who created or invented everything about khmer for our prosterity to keep as khmer legacy, etc... all khmer should be proud of who we are, really. we are a rich and unique country of khmer people and khmer things. we have the right to be proud of being bornt khmer, really. god bless cambodia and all our beautiful khmer people and citizens.
ps: i mean, of course, we can still learn from the world and adopt and adapt for the world as well while at the same time hang on and maintain and preserving our very khmer identity and khmer icons as well, you know. that's being smart, clever, and proud and having pride as khmer people. god bless cambodia.
Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime
Members:
Pol Pot
Nuon Chea
Ieng Sary
Ta Mok
Khieu Samphan
Son Sen
Ieng Thearith
Kaing Kek Iev
Hun Sen
Chea Sim
Heng Samrin
Hor Namhong
Keat Chhon
Ouk Bunchhoeun
Sim Ka...
Committed:
Tortures
Brutality
Executions
Massacres
Mass Murder
Genocide
Atrocities
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvations
Slavery
Force Labour
Overwork to Death
Human Abuses
Persecution
Unlawful Detention
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime
Members:
Hun Sen
Chea Sim
Heng Samrin
Hor Namhong
Keat Chhon
Ouk Bunchhoeun
Sim Ka...
Committed:
Attempted Murders
Attempted Murder on Chea Vichea
Attempted Assassinations
Attempted Assassination on Sam Rainsy
Assassinations
Assassinated Journalists
Assassinated Political Opponents
Assassinated Leaders of the Free Trade Union
Assassinated over 80 members of Sam Rainsy Party.
"But as of today, over eighty members of my party have been assassinated. Countless others have been injured, arrested, jailed, or forced to go into hiding or into exile."
Sam Rainsy LIC 31 October 2009 - Cairo, Egypt
Executions
Executed over 100 members of FUNCINPEC Party
Murders
Murdered 3 Leaders of the Free Trade Union
Murdered Chea Vichea
Murdered Ros Sovannareth
Murdered Hy Vuthy
Murdered Journalists
Murdered Khim Sambo
Murdered Khim Sambo's son
Murdered members of Sam Rainsy Party.
Murdered activists of Sam Rainsy Party
Murdered Innocent Men
Murdered Innocent Women
Murdered Innocent Children
Killed Innocent Khmer Peoples.
Extrajudicial Execution
Grenade Attack
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Brutalities
Police Brutality Against Monks
Police Brutality Against Evictees
Tortures
Intimidations
Death Threats
Threatening
Human Abductions
Human Abuses
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Corruptions
Bribery
Embezzlement
Treason
Border Encroachment, allow Vietnam to encroaching into Cambodia.
Signed away our territories to Vietnam; Koh Tral, almost half of our ocean territory oil field and others.
Illegal Arrest
Illegal Mass Evictions
Illegal Land Grabbing
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Illegal Deforestation
Illegally use of remote detonation bomb on Sokha Helicopter, while Hok Lundy and other military officials were on board.
Lightning strike many airplanes, but did not fall from the sky. Lightning strike out side of airplane and discharge electricity to ground.
Source: Lightning, Discovery Channel
Illegally Sold State Properties
Illegally Removed Parliamentary Immunity of Parliament Members
Plunder National Resources
Acid Attacks
Turn Cambodia into a Lawless Country.
Oppression
Injustice
Steal Votes
Bring Foreigners from Veitnam to vote in Cambodia for Cambodian People's Party.
Use Dead people's names to vote for Cambodian People's Party.
Disqualified potential Sam Rainsy Party's voters.
Abuse the Court as a tools for CPP to send political opponents and journalists to jail.
Abuse of Power
Abuse the Laws
Abuse the National Election Committee
Abuse the National Assembly
Violate the Laws
Violate the Constitution
Violate the Paris Accords
Impunity
Persecution
Unlawful Detention
Death in custody.
Under the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime, no criminals that has been committed crimes against journalists, political opponents, leaders of the Free Trade Union, innocent men, women and children have ever been brought to justice.
it's called the cycle of civilizaiton. life goes on, believe it or not, really! people only lived once on the planet, however as khmer religion believes in reincarnation, etc... well, we have that right to believe, however, that's another story for next life, not for this life time though. think more for this life, instead of next life for next life is irrevelant in this life time, really. think about it, ok! no body on earth every seen a person die and then come back to life, ever. that's in the belief, not in reality, even scientists can't prove that. once you die, you're done forever as far as this life time is concern, really! wake up, people!
If 11:56 PM is right in his beliefs, than what goes on around him doesn't affect him in anyway.
His belief encourage bad behavior, in this case the Cambodian government or any government.
Do what is right in ones' own eyes is all it matters.
Only group of licking Yuon's bottom that called Yuon is Vietnam.
I born in Kampuchea Krom, since my great great grand parent and continueing to my generation we never ever called Vietnam or Vietnamese. We called ah Yuon, ah Katop, ah Srakei, ah Gneung, ah Porpous tirk etc... in front of their faces. Why in Khmer kandal can not and demand to called Vietnam? that's something to be wondered very much!
Youn is a big crook in south east asia, but they don't what countries such laos or khmer krom, or khmer to call them crook or " youn ".
Its like a crook without shame. If someone is a crook, we either call them a crook, "Jor " or " youn ".
If youn, what to rename everything. That name must fits the discription! Perhap, we should instead of them youn, or vietnam, maybe we should start calling them " Jor " = YOUN .
Thank you KENNETH T. SO for your letter to PPP even they didn't responsed. Maybe now, they will?
Love for your family, culture, homeland, and people is the same love of one's origins!
12:49am,again, not necessarily. there are law that people have to obey. however, nothing is absolute in the belief, though! it may be true once upon a time, however, it's not necessarily true all of the time, given changes, etc... just have to think wisely about it, though.
Fuck this I can call whatever I want it's my mouth. No body can't stop me to call ah choymaria Youn.
There you go, I agreed with my friend 1:24AM
Via Vietcong Khmer issue, the westerners are every racist against Khmer. Everything is good to victimize yuons while they deny or ignore yunos numerous atrocity committed against Khmer people and other people since centuries. Don’t tell me these crooks know shit thing about yuon politics of atrocity but they just deny it by racism regard to Khmer as they are racist against Jewish people. Although unlike Khmer, Jewish people are strong enough to the hatred of these criminals.
i meant, strong enough to"face hateful act of these criminals
I am always glad to read the writing of Mr. Kenneth So. He is very objective and loves Khmer with all his heart. Thank you. Do you know that Mr. Kenneth So is actually an engineer. However, his writing clearly shows his verbal/literary ability, a sign of a very high IQ person.
10:43 PM,
I just love your comment very much!
Bravo, brother!
we are living in Cambodia with a great living no doubt we cannot have a life style like this in our " Baraing-Country ".
Like or not we have to please the Viets who now are controlling Cambodia .
That's why we like Num Kum & Salor Mchou Vietnam.
A White trash group
Ar Krom Baraing-Sam-Ram
barraing experts and the khmer rouge always believe that they can police political correctness and people's thoughts...
Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon ...
Yuon, Yuon, YuonYuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon Yuon, Yuon, Yuon
To the so called expert Foreigners, I will keep using this word!!!
komnoeut yuon neou te yuon ah yuon ah paik doun neou te ah yuon
Well, the west has its own standard to define racist word. Just look
at the word "Nigger". It is just like the word "Youn" in khmer language.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigger and compare to your khmer
dictionary with the word "Youn".
BTW, how much confidence do you guys have to convince the foreigners
to accept the word "Youn" as non derogatory and racist word? Close
to zero, in my opinion.
In the past, US SENATOR McCAIN used to help Lainsy. Why not now?
After Hun Xem send a letter to him about Lainsy using derogatory and
racist word "Youn" in his speech? Most likely.
It is very obvious that the khmer can not struggle against the viets
and Hun Xen by themselves. They need all the help from foreigners
especially from the west. The west are very sensitive about racism
especially the poloticians. And IF they view you as racist, there is
no way in hell that they are going to give a helping hand. Eventhough,
the help was little from McCain, but little help is still better than
no help at all. And not just that, instead of being a victim, you
become a racist pig and the viet aggressor become victim(from the west point of view).
Yo've got to be smarter that this. Let Hun Xen and the viet to
boycot or win one word. You have more to loose if you keep insisting using
that word.
I think "YOUN" is a common language can't be used to compare to "Nigger" cause "YUON" means "thief" or "stealer".
WHICH IS TRUE CAUSE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE ARE "YUON" or "THIEF" STOLE MY FAMILY FORTUNE AND LIVES. DAM STEALER KEEP WEARING YOUR DUON^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^CAUSE I KNOW YOUR JUST A THIEF!
A common appeal TO "YANKEE" MEANING "COWARD" FOR NATIVE AMERICAN INDIANS.
SO AS "DOU PAI" EASTERN FOLKS OR "JAPANESE" SOME TIMES IS RACIST ALSO? CHINESE STILL USED IT.
SO SORRY FOR UNEDUCATED HUN SEN REGIME PLEASE READ MORE BOOKS!
TELL HUN SEN TO READ MORE BOOKS CAUSE HE PRETTY DAM DUMB TO BE PM.
WHY DO YOU THINK ALL VIETNAMESE ALSO SAY HUN IS MY SLAVE AND I AM HIS SHEPARD.
FAT BAT CAT OR CHAT. READ DUMBO.
who cares what ah barraing thinks...it is a khmer word. it shows volume when you referred to wikipedia as a resource and said the word "yuon" is the same as the "n--" word.
I now can officially call you a f.... stupid moron...as allowed by wikipedia.org, of course, moron!
Why people say things like Youn mean thiefs, robbers is still profoundly astounding to me. I wonder if these Khmer poster are really Khmer, understand the Khmer language, or they are Youn or CPP supporter who are furthering this propaganda to victimize the Khmer as evil cruel and demonizer so they can have further legitimization of the Vietnamization of Cambodia through the CPP government.
Another point is I wonder maybe that perhaps these few Khmer really are just hateful angry Khmers who want to redefine the term Youn to whatever the ignorant and racist westerner and Youn people defined Youn to mean in this recent decades, and thus by their blind resentment of Vietnamese, have actually fallen in the trap. In either cases it is pretty sad indeed. A great attack on the Khmer culture.
As for me, who can ask me how confident am I in defending the Khmer language for Youn as non-derogatory? Well, obviously I am still defending it's usage on a KI in western based outlet aren't I? If you are a westerner why don't you come to speak Khmer with me in Kampuchea and then ask me something about Vietnam in Khmer. I will respond with you in Khmer using Youn. If you are proud and confident enough in your own 'understanding' to call me a racist, you might just get a smack of reality.
I believe Mr. Kenneth T. So head the nail right on the head with this imposed colonialism mindset.
The only reason Mr. Hun Xen sent out the message to foreign contact to accuse Mr. Rainsy of this word usage is because he was running a public smearing campaign. Probably even staged and mastermind by his communist comrade in Hanoi. Deep down, Hun Xen knows his Khmer language, but this man is selfish. He does not care what his action means or how it can reflect on Cambodia, thousands of years of history in the making and Hun Xen brought down our culture as racist, ignorant, and "nigger-based" mindset in one pen stroke.
I see very clearly who is working to preserve Khmer nation and image and who is working to destroy Khmer.
Mr. So you are right, the stupid people who compare this word to shameful nigger, are still stupid of all the facts. Until very recently, i bet 100% certainty that they did not know that Youn is also the same national term used by both THAILAND and LAOS.
but who would say, I bet the Thais won't have any confidence to defend themselves against foreigner? It would be the other way around in their case. It would be as you say, I bet the westerners do not have any confidence in their understanding to confront these other nations.
Money support hatreds. Money runs the scholar to support victimization of Cambodia and demonizing of our culture. Hun Xen is not concern about our culture image, he is concern about destroying his political oppoent, even if it destroys his country. This man is true definition of traitor.
Please stop comparing nigger to our beautiful Khmer language. We did not exploit other nations through slave trade and colonisation. We did not dehumanize any race for our own economic benefit, humiliate any nationals by hanging lynching them on the base of their colors, origin, or class in society.
Your nations developed the context of nigger [black] into a hateful and inciteful word because of the cruel history that your ancestor built around the slave trade. Exploiting, raping, lynching, and "picking a nigger" in the slave trade out of poor and defenseless African souls.
Understand, that Cambodia through centuries, have never been on the exploiting end in relationship with Vietnam. On the contrary, we have always been victimised, colonised, and killed by the Dai Viet, Annam, Tokin, Hanoi, Hue, Nam Bo, and finally unified "Vietnam" nation.
So until you can confidently say your racist and ancestor and defend their rape, lynching and slaves trade of humans as a parallel existence to the Khmer nation existence and cultured and Buddhist/Hindu society, do not, I say do not presume to make the same definition and judgment into our history and language.
Sincerely,
Mok
Please stop comparing nigger to our beautiful Khmer language. We did not exploit other nations through slave trade and colonisation. We did not dehumanize any race for our own economic benefit, humiliate any nationals by hanging lynching them on the base of their colors, origin, or class in society.
Your nations developed the context of nigger [black] into a hateful and inciteful word because of the cruel history that your ancestor built around the slave trade. Exploiting, raping, lynching, and "picking a nigger" in the slave trade out of poor and defenseless African souls.
Understand, that Cambodia through centuries, have never been on the exploiting end in relationship with Vietnam. On the contrary, we have always been victimised, colonised, and killed by the Dai Viet, Annam, Tokin, Hanoi, Hue, Nam Bo, and finally unified "Vietnam" nation.
So until you can confidently say your racist and ancestor and defend their rape, lynching and slaves trade of humans as a parallel existence to the Khmer nation existence and cultured and Buddhist/Hindu society, do not, I say do not presume to make the same definition and judgment into our history and language.
Sincerely,
Mok
To the whole worldwide, YUON is the Khmer Language,YUON is the Khmer word to call YUON national, wich is became Vietnamese well known worldwide during and after Vietnam WAR. it's not racial involve what so ever, it's simply a Khmer word daily usage.
Vietnam is a newly word of YUON nation, they wanted the whole world calling as VIETNAM instead of YUON, instead of ANAM, instead of YIANAM. Because the word YUON is a bad reputation (historically)for Vietnamese relating to abviousive, Killing extermination, occupation the neighbouring county(Kampuchea&Champa). Vietnam is the word of choice of Vietnamese nation, why? becuase Vietname word has been bringing WAR victory over USA, well known worldwide and bringing them of new Vietnamese face that potantially could dominat the Indochina after Nuclear Power plane will be built, more ever it's completly a fresh new nation aways,from descendent of CHINESE. They don't wan to hear in a fact that they relate to Chinese people. These are some of the reason that they want outsider help them to blam Khmer people of speaking,using Khmer word to call them as YUON. The Khmer language never ever changed, the word Yuon still always Yuon, and as sam as the word SIAM in the north even though it has been renamed to THAILAND nowaday.
P.K.L
9:57AM,
Money support hatreds, but money can be used to liberate the khmer from the the viets also. Even though Hun Xen is what you said, but why giving him a way to make the foreigners from helping the khmer? Remember, the foreigners do not need the help from the khmer as much as the khmer need their help. And if you don;t stand a chance to convince the west, why do you want to give Hun Xen an upper hand to isolate Lainsy potential supporters?
Right now, Lainsy needs all the supports he can get from the west.
To 10:12 AM,
Please, go to learn your khmer history a little bit more to see how many times your King(Suriya Varman II) launched tow attempt to overtake Annam, but failed. And your King Jaya Varman 7 had amassed a lot of land. Do you think those small kingdoms that your king got the land from as gifts?
It is very common that each nation invaded or be invaded by its neighbors. Kingdom rose and felt.
However, how many foreigners had you convince that the word "Youn" is not ethnic slur?
10:32 AM,
I know my history, and I know about Khmer King and wars with Annamese. But can you blame the Khmer for protecting themselves? Beside do you mean to say that Dai Viet did not attack Khmer first in their move south?
No, I am not naive to think that Khmer kingdom or any kingdom become an "empire" because of gifts. But but can you say or cite any history where Khmer people have taken the Annamese for slaves or exploitations and colonization that could in parallel to your western nigger example lead to the evolution of the word nigger/black to incite hatred?
Your question of how many westerners have I convinced? The question is how many westerners who accused Khmer have actually questioned us on our word before jumping to conclusion and falling prey to the political game set up by Hun Sen and the Vietnam installed government in their fray attempt to legitimize the 97 coup and Hun Sen's illegal hold on power?
You are giving ordinary Khmer citizens an unfair advantage of having to defend something which is not true but perceived otherwise through high formal PR campaign-such as the Hun Sen letter writing campaign. How can we no badges, money, and stars and minister titles on our shoulders ever convinced you if you already come in with an "understanding" already. You know as well as I do, that in anthropology, to study a culture we must leave our mindset and our ethnocentric views behind and immerse with the people.
If you already come in believing in the superiority and righteous of your our world- that the people study are stupid, simple-minded, and their religion and culture are primitive, how can they ever convinced you otherwise that what their cultural values truly mean or how beautiful it is?
Please take your Youn term usage bullying to the Thai and Laos community, we have enough of your your campaign to smear Khmer.
many have said the same as I do, that the term nigger in your culture is born out of exploitation, colonialization, lynching, raping and brutal dehumanization of Africans. In our history, it is true that we have many battles with Vietnam, but we did not produce a slave trade of Youn people to rape, lynch and pick a You as you pick a nigger.
So please, leave your guilty conscious to your ancestor, do not spread to Khmer. Khmer have enough of victimization by Youn ancestor- from the force slave labor of Vinh Te Cannal in Kampuchea Krom, to forced name changes, dressed code, and religious affiliation. Even as many Khmer die to stand up, Khmer still suffer great oppression today, they have not even enjoy as such freedom as black today in U.S.A. So how can you have the audacity to turn the victimization of us to be the attacker? You ask yourself as a westerner had you given this issue a fair and balance anthropological approach or have you not been affected by PR of Mr. Hun Sen, of the Youn government, of the disgraced "Black Book" and of the perpetuating ignorance in Phnom Penh Post?
Once again, please take your ignorance or bully to Thailand, Laos and Burma. Leave Cambodia alone.
Frankly,
Sai Rndul
correction: my comment is meant for mr. 11:14 not 10:32
-Sai
p.s to date, no westerner have ever asked me or any Khmer what Youn meant.
To all Khmers do not let the words Youns exist, because they are racist and let take those Dumb ass foreigners to court for insulting our language.
I believe these foreigners got paid to insulted us.
Lok 12:02 PM,
No i do not believe they have been paid. They have just been lazy and ignorant. Due to the nature of the smear campaign led by Mr. Hun Sen's group to discredit Sam Rainsy and political opponents, the Khmer language have suffer a devastating blow. It will be really hard to recover our image until we have a real Khmer government by Khmer people to set the record straight on the world stage again.
Until then, what we ordinary Khmer say do not matter. Western mindset do you give value to truth as much as they do to power, and who tells the story. They are writer of history so they can only sympathize with their likeness- those who are currently writing history in Khmer politic.
If the westerner truly were "concern" about racism, they would have a closer study into history and culture of Khmer. Their study of term Youn will take them to different countries as well to Laos, Thailand and even Burma.
But they won't because they like accepting easy fed stuff. Easy spoon fed, used to having everything and taking everything for granted.
So there is no winning for us to convinced people who already convinced themselves without questioning. Like they say about people who are fools, you will not set them straight, until you have money and power - still they're only straight because those things smell good.
I believe their is nothing worse in this world then people who believe what they are told, especially through media campaign. Such blindness drove Hitler to turn Germans into mass hate machines, and cause Pol Pot to turn Khmer into Killers of Khmer - because both these example demonstrate people blind follow of campaign to dehumanize another group
Dear all khmer compatriots,this kind of game youn use over and over to defeat khmer people. No wonder I praise for Sam Ransy to win over Mr .Hun Sen and sue the hell of words YOUN as racist in UN.
Here is my supporting ,we send the observers to KUMPUCHEAR KROM and ask them how they call YOUN in their way, Thai ,Laos and Cambodia one hundred people each country and wrap up the answers and proof it at UN what that youn have to say after that?
YOUN colonize Cambodian people kill Cambodian people stealing Cambodia properties at broad day light ,NOW THEY CLAIM they are the victims (sic)with the help from one westerner????? Big joke
khmer express
the yuons call a gringo or any white man ah "mi" (pronounced mee) so what would our barraing foreign language experts feel since they don't call you mr. usa or france or whatever hell you came from????
I am tired of these 21st century over-bearing racist assholes who still have imperialistic and colonial instincts, who still think they could impose their righteousness on others. where were these assholes when the khmer rouge and vietcong were running amok in the killing fields, mr. johnny comes lately???
Does it make sense to say in Khmer...Konduay Vietnam?
correct form should be:
--Konduay Yuon
'Vietnamese pussy'
We know that Konduay Yuon 'Vietnamese pussies' were very popular during the Vietnam War among American GI's :)
let my khmer people decide for themselves which word is inappropriate for them to use.
the language and moral gods who run the tiny phnom penh post have no authority to define any meaning to khmer word.
Sai,
Thank you so much for all that you have said, I couldn't have said it any better! I completely agree with what you said, we need more people like you in office. I am impressed!
Great article to rebut Mr. Starr's irresponsible writing on the topic of "youn".
Why do some Westerners still think the term "youn" is a derogatory term? Perhaps they should re-learn history of the world. Every word has its origin and history. Does Mr. Starr attempt to rewrite the meaning of "youn" when he does not understand the cultural meaning of the term?
I do not think Mr. Starr knows any better than those South East Asian scholar who spend years studying history and learn about Asian culture, including languages. They concluded that the term "youn" has been used for centuries by all ethnic minorities in Asia and has no racist connotation to it.
Colonialism is a backward thinking. Like communism, colonialism has no use in today's society. Any attempt to colonize a a country through cultural influence is a useless tactic.
>> Sai,
>>I know my history, and I know about Khmer King and wars with Annamese. But can you blame the Khmer for protecting themselves? Beside do you mean to say that Dai Viet did not attack Khmer first in their move south?
No, I don't blame anyone. I just state the facts. At the time of the two failed attempts to take Annam by your King Sorya Varman II, I don't think it was the annamese who lauched first attack. The annamese were busy to fence off the chinese from the North.
Beside, the Khmer kingdom was south of Champa and Annam was north of Champa. So, those two attempts were not about defending khmer territory.
>> No, I am not naive to think that Khmer kingdom or any kingdom become an "empire" because of gifts. But but can you say or cite any history where Khmer people have taken the Annamese for slaves or exploitations and colonization that could in parallel to your western nigger example lead to the evolution of the word nigger/black to incite hatred?
It was a common practice in the past that winners take all and I don't believe that the khmer is any different if they were to be able to take Annam. The khmer had annilated the small and less powerfull kingdoms around them and wiped them out from the map.
>> Your question of how many westerners have I convinced? The question is how many westerners who accused Khmer have actually questioned us on our word before jumping to conclusion and falling prey to the political game set up by Hun Sen and the Vietnam installed government in their fray attempt to legitimize the 97 coup and Hun Sen's illegal hold on power?
Hun Sen is uneducated man, but he knew how to neutralize or isolate his opponents by any means(good or mostly bad). As I said, the west has their own way to define racism and you have your own. And, it was Rainsy who came to lobby the west for support.
>> You are giving ordinary Khmer citizens an unfair advantage of having to defend something which is not true but perceived otherwise through high formal PR campaign-such as the Hun Sen letter writing campaign. How can we no badges, money, and stars and minister titles on our shoulders ever convinced you if you already come in with an "understanding" already. You know as well as I do, that in anthropology, to study a culture we must leave our mindset and our ethnocentric views behind and immerse with the people.
Well, Rainsy does have minister title and money too, isn't it? Hun Sen had already submit a letter to McCain about this issue, Rainsy should do the same. Silence will mean acceptance in this case.
>> If you already come in believing in the superiority and righteous of your our world- that the people study are stupid, simple-minded, and their religion and culture are primitive, how can they ever convinced you otherwise that what their cultural values truly mean or how beautiful it is?
It is not about superiority, but conflict in defining ethic slur.
>>Please take your Youn term usage bullying to the Thai and Laos community, we have enough of your your campaign to smear Khmer.
many have said the same as I do, that the term nigger in your culture is born out of exploitation, colonialization, lynching, raping and brutal dehumanization of Africans. In our history, it is true that we have many battles with Vietnam, but we did not produce a slave trade of Youn people to rape, lynch and pick a You as you pick a nigger.
>> snipped
Like I said, the past always have ugly truth and the khmer is no exception.
>>Once again, please take your ignorance or bully to Thailand, Laos and Burma. Leave Cambodia alone.
Of course. Leave Cambodia alone, you said. Just don't come crying to ask any help from the west or the world community.
Good luck with your struggle.
Crying to ask help is ah hun xen who is ah yuon's puupet, it is not Khmer people. Don't be stupid, ah phleu.
to 8:48 PM,
go teach your children that the terms yuon and nigger are the same.
8:48 PM,
if you are from the usa, then it was not about asking or crying for help. It is about a moral and perhaps legal (war crimes?) obligation for the undeclared/unauthorized bombings of cambodia, a grossly violent act that lent to the misery of these cambodian people.
racism is either an intention or an act that cannot be regulated by policing the usage of a language.
we all have baggages, so can't we forgive and learn to live side by side, really! why do we have to bark at each other constantly? why? what is the anger? what is the problem? get counseling help, please!
Lok 8:48.
First and foremost, with respect, I would like for you to use your name or if you're not comfortable, use your nickname so I do not have to refer to you as anonymous or Mr. AM/PM.
Regarding the history of attacks led by Suryavarman II in conjunction with the Champa Kingdom to attack the Dai Viet Kingdom, it seemed that the Champans and the Khmers had reason to fear or they had perceived the growth of Annam as a threat to their own kingdom and survival.
The Chams later gave up their ventured and resigned to their fate. We see that almost a thousand years later, the fear of the Chams and the Khmer did come into fruition.
Champa lost her entire Kingdom. Kambvuja lost 21 provinces by the end of 19th century.
However, despite constant warfare between Chams and Khmer, Chams are respected in modern Khmer society. The descendants of refugees that result from the annexation of their kingdom live among our Khmer people today. Despite the confrontational history of Cham attacks, sack of Angkor and mutual sacking between our society, why didn't the Khmer designate an ethnic slur for the Chams? Or why hasn't the word Cham become an ethnic slur in your opinion whereas the word Youn have now become an ethnic slur?
This really goes back to Mr. Hun Sen's campaign, which you also seem to acknowledge in the reconstructing of this word or at least redefining it for the "western understanding".
You claim that Mr. Sam Rainsy did not react and that his silence means he accepted this accusation were false, Mr. Sam Rainsy did react to Mr. Hun Sen's accusation. He has written to Phnom Penh Post, he also spoke on the issue on the BBC radio interview when the word first became politicized by Hun Sen. At the same time, several Khmer intellectuals and scholars who are not politics came to the defense of the term, including most notable Mr. Bora Touch and Kenneth So.
History is unparalleled between our society, but you still try so hard to fit in the definition of ethnic slurs. Defintions which are made in context and framework with your own history and brutal culture of picking blacks for brutal exploitation and psychological abuse. A framework which does not whole in the Yuan/Khmer context.
In any case, let us go back to the reason why Hun Sen claim Yuan means savage. Hun Sen and his PR campaign speculate on this meaning by making a ridiculous and unfounded connection to the Sanskrit word for "savage" as Yavana. They argued that Yavana became Yuan. Completely ignorant of the fact that Yuan was already a common non-Sanskritic term of the time when Khmer cultured were introduced to Dai Viet culture. This term is used by the Chinese, and borrowed by the Khmer. The Dai Viet people or the Yun are in fact group of people residing in the Yunnan region of South China.
Even if we were in fact to take Mr. Hun Sen's redefintion by face value and take a Sanskritic approach. We find that the Sanskrit word for savage is Vanya, not Yavana or Yun.
Continue...response to Lok western:
We also see that the king of the demons, which Mr. Hun Sen might have found his inspiration for the redefinition and connetion of Yun to Yavana is Ravana, not Yavana. I believe Mr. Hun Sen and his group were attempting to making this connection with the demon king Ravana and fool the uneducated westerners. Uneducated not in sense of stupid, but not aware of the culture and language of Khmer/Sanskrit/ and Chinese. Because of that they immediately fell easily to Mr. Hun Sen's campaign.
The sanskrit words for demons, evil spirits and savages are: वन्य (vanya) असुर (asura), राक्षस (raakshasa), ) but there is no Yun, Youn, or Yun. The word for ethnic Yuan is pronounced with the U sound in Yu, as in Yu in Yunan. It is not pronounced with Ya is Fa, or Ra as in Ravana. There is no connection whatsoever to Sanskrit.
Neither Yun(Yuan/Viet), Chen (Chinese), Japon(Nipon/Japanese), or Amerik (Americans) has any connection to Sanskrit. These are in fact ethnic names based on geographic or country names. Khmer did not made up an adjective for the Viet name, they adapt the names that are already in existence or known. Yuan was never and will ever become meaning "barbaric, or savagery, or demonic".
There has never been a word in Khmer where we describe anything such quality as "Youn, Yun, or Yuan".
And the fact that many westerners dodge the issue of Yuan as used by other Southeast country is also supportive of the Khmer claim that Youn is geographically based term rather then a inciteful term.
But as I say, we can never hope to convince people who already convinced themselves of their righteousness. We cannot make such people understand anything because they come to our culture with framework and context of completely different culture which are in fact unparalleled to our own.
The discussion will be fruitless since the westerners do not understand Khmer culture and linguistic history. They will always come to any country with their own cultural framework.
So, I will not attempt to convince you. And you cannot to convince me that you know my language more that I or force a guilt out of me if you demand I not use the term Yuan when speaking in Khmer with you instead of "Vietnamese".
As we discuss today in English, I will use your language and refer to you as American or British ( I do not know your nationality) instead of Amerik or Angle. And I will use for consistency the term Vietnamese rather then Yuan because this is not an English term.
When in Rome, speak as the Romans, when in Kampuchea, speak as the Khmer. That is all, and we can end the discussion here.
We Khmer will use our language, and you English can use your language.
Are you all really retards or why you insist using the term "yuon" all the time?
Such nationalism was in fashion in Western countries in the 19th century and early 20th century.
How long will it take for you to finally make it to the 21th century?
Is it because KR killed all the intelligentsia and now there are only you ultranationalist retards left in Cambodia? Or what's wrong with you?
Post a Comment