Monday, July 19, 2010By Theary C. Seng
I have a few close relatives who have/had lost an eye either as a child or soldier, e.g. my father -- like the Prime Minister -- to warfare. Hence, I have a private sensitivity to this particular disability. I like this posting and review for its emphasis on H.G. Well's parable and its reference to our society as a whole and less for its reference to Cambodian leadership in Erasmus' "one-eyed king".
C.S. Lewis observes a similar phenomenon with resonance for us Cambodians: "We are half-hearted creatures ... like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
But if all these "ruminations" are too literary, here's a more modern, 21st-century observation by the producer of The Office, sit-com style: "In a room full of stupid people, the clever one is always the loser."
I really appreciate the contribution of KI Media in creating in this forum for expression, the only one of its kind in and for Cambodia. I am not naive not to understand that plants with obstructive comments will be following and posting to this site, especially the more popularity and sensitive the topic to the interests of the powers-that-be. But to ears which can hear, it is worth reminding of KI Media's note (top, left hand column): "We just ask that you keep things civil. Please leave out personal attacks, do not use profanity, ethnic or racial slurs, or take shots at anyone's sexual orientation or religion."
The idea of course is that sight amongst the blind is a precious gift and one which would be lauded.
If only it were so.
In 1904 H.G. Wells wrote a short story called The Country of the Blind.
A lost climber Nunez falls and descends into an isolated and inaccessible valley whose people over many generations have grown to become sightless. With the realisation of his situation, Nunez at first believes that he will be feted as king of his new domain. He comes to learn differently.
The people do not feel deprived awaiting being released from their darkness. Indeed quite the opposite. Their beliefs, religion and rituals have all expunged any reference or recollection of sight to the extent that it has become little more than an echo buried within childish fairy stories.
Nunez's attempts to demonstrate the power of his fifth sense are to no avail. The enhancement of their senses of taste, touch, smell and hearing have replaced the need for sight, and his protestations to the contrary are seen as no more than the rantings of the feeble minded and insane. They no more miss or accept the value of a fifth sense, than do the sighted a sixth sense.
In time he is absorbed into the society, required to renounce his belief in sight. Indeed in order to be assimilated into the community by marriage, the village elders propose to cure his insanity by removal of the facial features he, in his insanity, insists on referring to as 'his eyes'.
As society speeds headlong, head-down and with little thought, it is perhaps more appropriate to say that
C.S. Lewis observes a similar phenomenon with resonance for us Cambodians: "We are half-hearted creatures ... like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
But if all these "ruminations" are too literary, here's a more modern, 21st-century observation by the producer of The Office, sit-com style: "In a room full of stupid people, the clever one is always the loser."
I really appreciate the contribution of KI Media in creating in this forum for expression, the only one of its kind in and for Cambodia. I am not naive not to understand that plants with obstructive comments will be following and posting to this site, especially the more popularity and sensitive the topic to the interests of the powers-that-be. But to ears which can hear, it is worth reminding of KI Media's note (top, left hand column): "We just ask that you keep things civil. Please leave out personal attacks, do not use profanity, ethnic or racial slurs, or take shots at anyone's sexual orientation or religion."
..........
Apparently it was Erasmus, a Dutch thinker, who first penned the phrase, 'In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king'. The idea of course is that sight amongst the blind is a precious gift and one which would be lauded.
If only it were so.
In 1904 H.G. Wells wrote a short story called The Country of the Blind.
A lost climber Nunez falls and descends into an isolated and inaccessible valley whose people over many generations have grown to become sightless. With the realisation of his situation, Nunez at first believes that he will be feted as king of his new domain. He comes to learn differently.
The people do not feel deprived awaiting being released from their darkness. Indeed quite the opposite. Their beliefs, religion and rituals have all expunged any reference or recollection of sight to the extent that it has become little more than an echo buried within childish fairy stories.
Nunez's attempts to demonstrate the power of his fifth sense are to no avail. The enhancement of their senses of taste, touch, smell and hearing have replaced the need for sight, and his protestations to the contrary are seen as no more than the rantings of the feeble minded and insane. They no more miss or accept the value of a fifth sense, than do the sighted a sixth sense.
In time he is absorbed into the society, required to renounce his belief in sight. Indeed in order to be assimilated into the community by marriage, the village elders propose to cure his insanity by removal of the facial features he, in his insanity, insists on referring to as 'his eyes'.
As society speeds headlong, head-down and with little thought, it is perhaps more appropriate to say that
In the land of the blind, the world will beat a path to the door of a man who can teach them a few new words of Braille, but will have little time for the man who seeks to open their eyes.Review by Steve Unwin
39 comments:
Miss. Seng Theary should aware that KI media has set up by extreme SRP supporters to invented the stories about Cambodian politics and insult to Hun Sen and the CPP. Therefore, those extremely persons have never used a civilization word in debate.
one eyed hyena bit off more than he could chew, Mu sochua is one tough lady.
This blind bitch should serve her one-eyed hero.
Bitch, you're losing now.
It's time for you to get a real JOB in the US--if you can find one.
The Beatitudes
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
- the Lord Jesus Christ
Arabic
قوّة الإنسان فى عقله و لسانه
(qūwatu l-ʾinsāni fi ʿaqlihi wa lisānihi)
"The strength of a person is in his intelligence and his tongue."
If the opposite is also true, what does that make 5:58?
6:10 PM
AND FUCK THE CHRIST!
DON'T BOTHER TO WAIT FOR HIM, HE'LL COME FOR YOU.
"A language is an exact reflection of the character and growth of its speakers."
- Mahatma Gandhi
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. (St. Luke)
"Knowledge is no guarantee of good behavior, but ignorance is a virtual guarantee of bad behavior."
- Martha Nussbaum
Opinions are formed in a process of open discussion and public debate, and where no opportunity for the forming of opinions exists, there may be moods -- moods of the masses and moods of individuals, the latter no less fickle and unreliable than the former -- but no opinion. (Hannah Arendt)
Thank you, KI Media, for this forum for discussion and public debate, even if some try to obstruct with vulgarity and racist slurs.
- Khmer Canada
Ms. Theary, remember with A thmils, "First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. (Mahatma Gandhi)"
Psalm 37
Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil.
For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.
The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.
The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.
But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever.
In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
But the wicked will perish: The Lord's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish--vanish like smoke.
The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.
If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.
Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.
For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.
The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.
The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives; but the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial.
Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil, but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.
Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.
But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.
The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
- King David
Miss Theary Seng,
I understand you are intelectual person, but try to write something simple to make all of us undertstand your point of views. We Cambodian are less educated who could see only straight lines, maybe two dimensions not three or four dimensions. Personally, I don't like to read your articles, because it sounds too philosophical or sometimes senseless.
cpp supporter...
Poor 7:18 PM,
you are so afraid of hell ha ?
You don't see that they always promise, promise, promise..
He will never come, he is died..
You never think and use your brain, for once, why millions and millions of westerners in western contries stop to belive in him..
Theary Seng,
Cambodians can't read Khmer or religious scripts not to say foreign books or influence.
Cambodians feet are still on earth ground yet.
All of the comments shows about "Charit Khmer." I don't support Hun Sen, but Seng Theary just tried to curb down the rough insulting used language. If any one don't understand this, then who is the blind? or blinds?
To Theary Seng:
If you read C.S Lewis, may be you are a Christian because C.S Lewis is one of the most famous intellectual Christian in his time.
I'm not sure if you ever read the Bible. In the book God said " If my people turn from their wicked way and seek Me, I will forgive their sin and heal their land"
So you see the salvation of our country start with spiritual awakening. Spiritual and morality must be revived first before democracy, political reform, and justice can happen in Cambodia.
30 years listen the tug you want me to say something better than myleader???????
Deep it in his eye socket fool!!!!
An educated person is someone who can make other understand what he wants to tell and able to understand what educated person wants to tell ?
You are an educated person ?
i think some individuals took it too far when they poked fun at the person's physical handicapped or disability like the lost of an eye sight or a lost of an arm or a leg, etc... i mean, if it meant metaphorically, that's another story, but it it is literal and obvious, then it is cruel and not even funny! i think educated people would think twice before they say something like that to hurt other people. perhaps, it goes to show the individuals in khmer society need a lot of education for we know the stupid KR killed off a lot of intellectual, educated khmer people in the past, so, khmer society now need to be reborn and reestablish into a civilized society once more. i hope individuals like that would now start thinking twice when poking fun at a person's physical handicapped. you don't make fun of people that way, really! i shows ignorance and uneducated and can't be count into anything productive, etc... until individuals start think like an educated person, they are no more that trouble maker and a bully, to put it bluntly. i agree with ms. theary. i hope there are more and more khmer people thinking like ms. theary for it will transform our society into a respectable, productive, educated, vibrant community of people. think about it! good, philosophical rhetorics aren't meant literally, it just a way to convey ideas, understanding, analysis, critical thinking, etc, but most definitely not literal, really! god bless cambodia.
in thing in khmer way, people often used sarcastic remarks to convey messages to others, especially those who think they are godly or god-like. i think it has a historical purpose going back to the rule of absolute monarchy, even way beyond angkor era, i'm sure. in cambodia, particularly, i often read or heard literature story or folklore stories that tells about power struggle, the rabbit outwit the tiger, the python and other carnivorous animals that metaphorically painted as the rulers or those in absolute power or what we called today "dictator". i think one has to understand the historical beginning in order to understand where this mentality come from because once upon a time, true, people were afraid to criticized gov't, king, monarchy, etc for they will get their head chopped off. so, that kind of mentality caused people, even in today's society to reserved in their critics like poking fun of a person's god-given trait like blind, lost of limbs, etc because it is so cruel to poke fun of individuals like this as they cannot change their physical appearance; well, maybe nowadays, they can get cosmetic surgery, etc, however, my point is in the olden days, they can't. anyway, i hope individuals in khmer society would stop to think twice before poking fun at a person's physical handicap like eye, height, lost of limb, etc... it's rude and not productive and low life! stop it already! be kind of others less fortunate people than yourself, ok!
yes, there's a distinction between real, physical handicap and just plain moral lesson of a folklore to make people think before they open their mouth!
This blog would be a learning place if it is used as a constructive tool by all users. For instance, I remember that I read one post which I paraphrased, in relation to Ms MU. The post's meaning is Cambodian Assembly should restore her parliamentary right and has her salary deducted to the National Reserve fund. This would end the political issue in Phnom Penh. I am grateful that this opinion became a reality.
Ah Kwack Hun Xen deserve all the curses in the world!
And mother fucker will go with ah Hok Landy soon!
Motherfucker kwach both in the eye and brain! and spirit too!
Ah Hun Xen is evil !!!!!
Wow! I am really amazed the amount of violence you had incited by your thoughtful, right on the point observation and assessment of our culture, the rulers and those who take sides. Obviously, these people don't have the capacity to understand your point and their ignorance continues to bash others full of hate. There is one person who said that Khmer do not have the capacity to understand your point, and for you to write something more simpler. I am Khmer, and I understand it perfectly well. I have not been on this website, of course. This is my first time, but I am just horrified by the comments and the violence of their ignorance, arrogance and pointless defense of a political party. What do they have to gain? They live in one country. How could you hate so strongly? After all, we see what hate did to us all.
i think in public debate or public forum or blog, etc, there is no set rule to control people's freedom of expression like we obviously see here. however, ethics rules, law, rules and regulations seem to only apply in an established organization, in an entity, in gov't, in business organization, etc, etc..., but in public open forum like this? it is doubtful. i think one has to understand this reality in a democracy society like cambodia. i mean people can say the eith agree or disagree, that's it!
why so? i think because there is no consequences or no incentive for people to do so, here, really!
"Anonymous said...
Wow! I am really amazed the amount of violence you had incited by your thoughtful, right on the point observation and assessment of our culture, the rulers and those who take sides. Obviously, these people don't have the capacity to understand your point and their ignorance continues to bash others full of hate. There is one person who said that Khmer do not have the capacity to understand your point, and for you to write something more simpler. I am Khmer, and I understand it perfectly well. I have not been on this website, of course. This is my first time, but I am just horrified by the comments and the violence of their ignorance, arrogance and pointless defense of a political party. What do they have to gain? They live in one country. How could you hate so strongly? After all, we see what hate did to us all.
3:00 AM"
3:AM! if you know about killing fielf, K5, 1997 crenat attack and coup, killing of Chea Cichear, Piseth Polica, and many other news men! land grabing, wrong fully imprisonment, and other abused of humanright and laws by rich and powerfull people of Cambodia ,these are mild , BOY!!!!!
Does Theary Seng have a job now ? If she doesnt , maybe she is too educated to find a job . To be honest with all readers here , I don't like reading Theary Seng's comment because She just wants to show off her philosophy .. She thinks she is a high educated person. but to me , ther is not much interesting in her article .
3:00 AM poster
You must have been joking . Never been here before ? By the way , your comment doesnt make alot of sense.
Theary I appreciate your work. I like to pick up some good ideas from your writing, even some parts of yours are difficult for me to understand.
Don't be discourage by what other thinking or making comments on you. Remember that you have some people support you if you still have Khmer people in your heart.Please, everyone tolerate and forgive to all our Khmer people because we suffered so much from the Killing field until now. We live in a trauma and less supportive society.
Monica
Women's Voice Supporter
"In a room full of stupid people, the clever one is always the loser."
If i understand your '' philosophy '', you are the clever on....and a loser hehehehe
This very simple phrase "in the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king" is rather logical, but in this sense, we must not compare to the situations in Cambodia where Samdech Hun Sen is a Prime Minister and not that of this phrase. Simply, it has nothing to do with his position in Cambodia. If we were to really pick everything out of contexts then there would be enormous problems not even anyone, not to mention Samdech Hun Sen himself can actually solved. Therefore, if we, the people, are excepting this phrase to be truthful, hence we are truely a bunch of blind persons in Cambodia. But it happens that we are not, thus if we wish to solve these problems in Cambodia then we must depend on rule of law and not that of this silly phrase written years ago to describe certain situations in that period of time. When we make a comparison we must know what our intentions are, if we dont say the right thing then the public would be the one that would actually absorbing all the guilts and then who are we going to blame...Samdech Hun Sen or the People?
I thank you.
X-Men
hm, "in the land of the blinds, the one eyed is king", that's right, when i think about this phrase, although it has meaning in it, i think cambodia has to be careful not to accept being called "blinds", otherwise, we all are guilty with it as well to be called the "blinds"! because if we all are blind (not literally, of course), then we let the "one eyed (the not so totally blind) lead us all. now, think good about it, do we really the blind people to allowed that? good point, here!
i think the meaning of "blind" here is not physical blind, but it means ignorant! cambodia, please don't be ignorant anymore, time to get good education, ok! and be kind to each other, too!
Ohhh...theary seng, go suck some winds. Trying to empathize Hun Sen with his disability to her fictional close relatives and father with blindness in one eye. In essence, one can detect that she is beginning to suck up to the man. She senses the political wind has lately changed and now tries to get on the band wagon. But she has been a sore side to many political parties and figures. Because she is an opportunist. An octopus that changes colors in a flash. On top of that she has been taking a role of an actor, a bad one at that. Not even in the Mia Farrow league, a class B actress herself. So spare the public with the above portrait of a fake distant stare. Most people don't buy it, only a few ill informed would bite your garbage.
Now, she has an octopussX to label the Cambodian people as blind. What has she done for the Cambodian society and communities besides gotten notoriety for her own self? None, jack shit. Except in a detracter role. How about cooperate but disagree when need to? Also provide solutions and alternatives when disagree. Not my way or the high way. What a waste you are!
Theary, stop frowning, honey, and smile more...it will make you look much more beautiful...
This is rediculous!! This quote isn't meant toward Hun Xen. Mr. Hun sen is probably being flattered by this corny quote because he lacks the intelligence to understand the underlying meaning of the quote. "In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king" has far more significant meaning than what it appears to be.
This is what I call "Soft Porn." Theary may be educated but she does not know how to sell herself.
This is not about "blind eye". But in fact, the issue is being raised is about the political philosophical and ideology of a leader of an "animal farm" or the "Ansom Chek Kingdom."
I'm with Heng Soy.
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