Wednesday, October 20, 2010

7 socio-cultural obstacles in Cambodia, which stop a progress

Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Op-Ed by Orphan Child
“The Cambodians always fight among themselves in the matter of concession. The losers in these fights go off to ask help from a neighboring state; the winner must ask for forces from the others.” - King Rama III of Siam
(Yuon) Lieutenant-General Phan Thach Van also calls Khmers "Ill-natured barbarians, ill-natured blood, Khmers have traits of stupidity, idiot, illogic."
1. Angkor Empire does not exist anymore, which disappeared like the ancient Egypt, Greek, Roman, Mayas or Incas. Present Khmer people may be the descendants, obviously they have not inherited the Angkorian spirit. Time to accept that.

2. Native Cambodians are racist because they always put the blame on Siam or Yuon for their failures. The world community would recognize that. Therefore Yuon intentionally spread in Cambodia to harmonize with Khmer people.

3. Cambodia claims that it has no folk hero, idols or representatives since Sin Sisamouth. Instead, it attained international fame through Khmer Rouge, Angkor Wat and poverty.


4. Egoism is more important than nation, family and friendship. As a result three little liberal parties with similar goals become stronger than one coalition. In addition money brings happiness. So the beginning of economic upswing in Phnom Penh blinds its citizens and foreign tourists.

5. Title, insignia, luxury, degree and prominence delight everyone. Otherwise primitive people don’t respect civilians. Thus they envy the upper class.

6. Refugees are cowed by H.E. Saddam Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen due to CPP’s unlimited power in all over the world.

7. Cambodians believe in rumors and superstitions. Furthermore they prefer prejudices to detailed research and unspectacular truth. Hence many liars try to discourage and split Khmer people. Those enumerations are a cornerstone of Cambodia’s policy.

Depending on your point of view you will find false accusations and/or true statements above. The point is that if you are self-critical enough to accept and analyze it to make an improvement. If people do not exercise this, they are unable to take criticism. Hurt feelings cause emotional reaction, which prevent you from realizing the reality and concern in objective thinking. Further a compromise solution cannot be found. Secondly Khmer people appreciate what they already have too quickly. For that reason they don't see or even know what better options they have. With this, it does not bring any progress. Cambodians need to develop a sense of duty to ensure the other’s (the poor) basic needs as well. For example: Is the oppression or the mass murder of ethnic minority ordered by government legitimized for a country's development? Certainly not, in the 21st century the government must avoid using indiscriminate violence against its people or minority.
"One day everything will be well, that is our hope. Everything's fine today, that is our illusion." - Voltaire
Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator. And change has its enemies. Robert F. Kennedy
Written by Orphan Child

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

WTF is this comment for? Just quoting some 1800's shit and you think it still have the bearings on the present-day Cambodians. Fool, that if Siems and YUONs were so smart how come they each chose to fight to protect Cambodia for, fool. In addition, the YUONs became the slaves of the French where the YOUNs must lay flat on the ground before any French person. Orphan Child, you are stupid. Stop talking sh*t about the Khmer people, fool, because you have noting constructive to say, mather f*cker!

Anonymous said...

It may be true.....if you observing around the Khmer society. The Khmers boast themselves all the time. When they become rich, they forget when they were poor. When they become higher in rank i.e. in military, they do whatever they want - Patriotism is lost this way. At work place, they do whatever they can to take advantage of their co-workers, they form pact within the work place and speak behind someone back. They raise foreigners to heaven and push their Khmer countrymen to hell - Solidarity is lost this way.
We all forget the expression "Kbal Dam Te Ong". Who know how many provinces were lost to VN and Thailand?

Anonymous said...

There are too many problems and too disruption in Cambodian society since the time of the Siem and the Viet who are the newcomer to the region and with their huge population and they began to displace Cambodian population almost into extinction and to add more problems then came the French, the Japanese, the Chinese, and American and the war and follow more wars!

No human society can withstand such destruction and humiliation as Cambodia! And Cambodian people are expected to pick up the pieces and move on with life!

What I like to see is un- interruption and continuation of Cambodian peace and stability for many years to come that promotes development in all sectors of Cambodian society!

Long term peace and stability is a must for Cambodian people to fully develop....

Anonymous said...

because khmer is dumb as dogs, everyone can pee on their face

Anonymous said...

Khmer gain their fame through child sex too. Whores are everywhere in Cambodia

Anonymous said...

I agree with you, Child.

HN

Anonymous said...

What u said is just for the present leaders, Kbal youn khloun khmer only.

Anonymous said...

The truth hurts

Anonymous said...

Those Whores in Cambodian it all VietCong Whores most of them. That is these business and also ah Siem too, that why alots of foreigner always go to Viet and Siem. Even in Orange County,CA alots of VietCong Whores here too.

Anonymous said...

Reading can be very tricky business and lead to misinterpretation.

This article is very good piece of writing for active readers and cause very negative points to passive readers to accept what the author tries to deliver his message.
So it's all up to us to conceptualize into a context depending on what type of a reader you are.

Anonymous said...

orphant child! if you are so PLER like this don't drag khmer to be low as you are. you are so PLER that why you lost in your little RAT brian.SOCHEATA suck a fuckin BITCH to post this thought of artical.

Anonymous said...

This is sam rangsy's supporter idology which deserve to cut his head off!!

Anonymous said...

Anyone talking about whore? Being a whore is the oldest profession in the world! The Siem government used million and million of their whores bring in billion and billion of dollars to become Asian economic tiger. And the Vietcong government used their whore to steal military secret from American soldiers!

Those people who use the words "whore" should be more careful...If you think the word "whore" is such a bad word it is because you have not meet the real whore who are willing to die and sacrifice for their country! ahhahahhahahha

Anonymous said...

May be true to certain extents, it hurts of course, but Youns and Siamese aren;t perfect either.

Please make no assumptions !

Anonymous said...

Only we Khmer are able to protect and support each other. My feeling, that some of us, don't love to be Khmer and look down ourselves. All you blamed always others, but yourself did not change your behavior.
I don't care, who are thinking bad about Khmer. I am still proud to be one of Khmer descent and will die as Khmer.

Anonymous said...

When I'm exit from this world from now I don't want to be Khmer for my next life. Living as a Khmer person having too much nightmare on and off. Even I'm working, drinking, singing and playing nothing to change me so I need to go see Dr. Hoon Xen.

Anonymous said...

Interesting how so many people become so fanatically offended by this article. Such ignorance of you to be offended. If you look throughout ancient Angkor, the Lovek & Oudong era, Sangkum Reastr Niyum years, Lon Nol years, Heng Samrin years and now today under Hun Sen, you still see that those types of tragic Khmer behaviors and mentality are still prevalent. These were our downfalls in the past and it remains to be for the forseable future...unless we change and the elitists on top. It is very frustrating to see Cambodia today still clinging to a culture of lords, vassals, peasantry and feudalism.

Anonymous said...

I love the truth, even partial truth. It hurts; but it invagorates the brain to react and think. That is the beauty of the truth.
Thank you, Orphan Child. You are much better than many of us who have been blessed by nurturing parents.

Anonymous said...

This is like something coming out of furtune cookies. Any of these points can be made about any country or person.

Anonymous said...

I think if all of us spend more time to provide a comprehensive educating our next generation, MAYBE, Khmer will have a chance. I have been in Cambodia for the last 10 years, what I am seeing is that we have too many executives, excellencies, generals... all the management, but nothing to manage.

If we look at any successful society, from ancient to modern time, technologies play a very central role to it's development and ultimate destruction. Those countries that were and are successful tend to manage the balance between both.

I am sad that so few Cambodians can get along, not even online. What hope to we have than as Khmer? As c nation and as a people?

Anonymous said...

What's the F u c K!! that understandable you have no parent! to teach you about culture!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Why the F%46 KI put this shit in front page?

Don't Mother%$^ know waht is HUMAN Weakness and Waht his Mother&*^0 hourim=ng behavior??????

Anonymous said...

Yes u r all right! Any of these points can be found in each soiety! But remember in any prejudice lies a truth! Nobody is perfect, but only when u notice ur "bad" behaviours u can get on.

I'm a Khmer and I'm proud Khmer even the current situation is painful and tragic. We'd better take these obstacles as challenge and find a way to manage them.
Even though I'm very confident cuz I see the next generation has already overcomed this mentality!

Orphant C. u r a genius! Ur article is very controversial and urg the people to think!

Anonymous said...

OUTSIDERS LIKE SIAM AND YOUN CAN SAY WHAT EVER THEY WANT....TRASH KHMER PEOPLE, OR BLAST KHMER PEOPLE.

WE ARE STILL WHO WE ARE NO DOUBT. WE ARE STILL KHMER THINK LIKE KHMER EAT AND SHIT LIKE KHMER...

WHY YOUN AND SIAM STILL THINK THEY ARE BETTER... THEY STOLE OUR LANDS, THEY KILL OUR PEOPLE AND SHIT..

HOW ARE THEY BETTER...BETTER MY ASSS.

Anonymous said...

What the Orphan Kid is thinking, is what Pol Pot wash Thinking!!!!!!

All the problems and causes the kid was mentioned are not unix to Cambodian but are normal to the rest of the world (human behavior.)

That why we need laws and order and no one should be above the laws!

And that why Demoncracy and right should be the same for people on eartth and we ca leurned from eachother!

Don't be stupid like ah pol Pot be accept human fault and prevented and look up aand leurn from others!!!!!!

You are not special fools!!!!

Anonymous said...

Dear Sir Or Madam:
This article seems to reasonate at some point but a considerable false play of contexts in reality that my generation to Cambodian today generation.
Indeed as you mentioned "The Cambodians always fight ...the losers in these fights go off to ask help from neiboring state; ...".
In the year 60 and later in the 70,I recalled Khmer having close associate with Youn & Thai in School, at work even past history was not played important factor to alienate their frienships; I believe due to mutual respect of frienship and understanding.
Even in America, Europe the racial discrimination sterotype also playing in politic and social in daily of life but then their good intention of the applicable rule of law that make the differential diversity to get along well.
In the 60th ad after Khmer origin Islam, Khmer Portuguese, spanish..held high ranking jobs in Khmer Government: General Les Kasem (Khmer Islam), General Sosten Fernandes, or the popular singers and adorable Sos Mat, and singer Im Song Seum(Vietnam descent)were always inspiring Art and culture khmer acceptable diversity disregard the past bad experinces of distrust mainly with Thai ang Youn whose history proven as their invaders or big brothers color blind to Khmers as you again quoted in your article that Khmers " ill-nature babarians, ill-nature blood. Khmer have traits of stupidity, idiot, illogic."

Please read the past History had ever Thai ask King Khmer for help to fight conquering Burmanese to pay back khmer Thai king had to kill Khmer King.
Before and Now Youn who created vetminh to fulfill the Westward Journey to Svallow and encroching Khmer land and Thai get into fighting in the Preah Vihea that was falled into Youn tricts.
The Paris aggreement in 1991 for all party to live peacefully together even signed by Thai And Youn.
Have they YOUN and THAI ever trying to implemented it may be not in their best intetrest ?

As an ordinary Khmer like me and many more who are powerless really want to be a mutual frienship with Thai and Youn.
I personally do not see Thai or Youn are smarter or big brother than Khmer.
Many of my friends and Khmer new generation kids are in school with them in Westen country or in Cambodia they are not better than Khmer.
Indeed seeing that many of our dictatorship leaders failed our Motherland Cambodia and an uncapacity leading skill.
Before and now history has repeated again the same mistake that YOUN and THAI step in that apportunity to these unqualify leaders for Thai and YOUN best interest.
Don'T you think this is the healing process for doing that ??
Khmer elite and Khmer Compatriots who hold and love dearly Freedom, Democacy, liberty, equality for lal have not ever held power at this time.
If Khmer majority having free and fair election with international standard to choose a real good leader one day Thai And YOUN whose show a mutual respect and Khmer integrity those day the real friendship may becoame among ordinary Khmer not to the big Power and money.

Real Khmer are compassion, tolerance, forgiveness but not anymore phony sweet heart like YOUN today.

Anonymous said...

i think that khmer people were disrupted from knowledge during during war periods in our history. it is now time to reconnect to our rich and proud khmer heritage. we've been isolated and cut off from knowledge and education on and off for a long time already. it is time to be reborn and relearn for all khmer people. we have a great khmer civilization to prove or show to the world and our own country that khmer people were once very knowledgeable and educated, etc. you know, it take a mathematical genious to construct so precisely the architecture of the ankor momuments; not only that, but you have to be able to lead as well the army in an empire as great as the ancient khmer's. so, we know it was a break in the cycle of civilization that cut khmer people off from our great khmer heritage. it is now time to reconnect and relearn that very trait. who says khmer can't relearn and reconnect back to the land of knowledge, the khmer nation during the great khmer empire that left us and the world one of the world's largest man-made architecture, angkor wat, etc... god bless cambodia and khmer people.

Anonymous said...

i think that khmer people were disrupted from knowledge during during war periods in our history. it is now time to reconnect to our rich and proud khmer heritage. we've been isolated and cut off from knowledge and education on and off for a long time already. it is time to be reborn and relearn for all khmer people. we have a great khmer civilization to prove or show to the world and our own country that khmer people were once very knowledgeable and educated, etc. you know, it take a mathematical genious to construct so precisely the architecture of the ankor momuments; not only that, but you have to be able to lead as well the army in an empire as great as the ancient khmer's. so, we know it was a break in the cycle of civilization that cut khmer people off from our great khmer heritage. it is now time to reconnect and relearn that very trait. who says khmer can't relearn and reconnect back to the land of knowledge, the khmer nation during the great khmer empire that left us and the world one of the world's largest man-made architecture, angkor wat, etc... god bless cambodia and khmer people.

Anonymous said...

i know, these were some of the quotes from the historical enemies of the khmer people during cambodia's post-angkor dark ages era. i'm sure khmer people have one for the enemies too!

by the way, going back before the 1800s, let's not forget cambodia was an empire that created angkor wat, bayon temple, etc, etc, that we see scatters all around the empire to this day, so, to hell with khmer historical enemies, the siem and the youn, really! we know they all took advantage of cambodian ancient decline; however, cambodia today is way different than during the dark ages, you know!

Anonymous said...

we can always use paradigm or thinking shift for cambodia, really! everybody in the world does it, so why not cambodia adopt, adapt, learn, change, etc, etc!

Anonymous said...

Yep that what most Khmer do best. Kill and cheat each others. talk bad about each others. It never a good kherm leader. who's ever up there as PM alway bitching and craticing. Fking Kone Khmer need to be at the same so called school abd idea

Anonymous said...

What why Cambodian lost the Great Ankor. Khmer people most are a sell out to it own people. back is the same inside jobs sell out. Siames took over because someone fron ankor sold the country for Gold and Vietname war someone Khon khmer in high official gov sold all are weakness and strong kherm government. That why we as khmer never win.

Anonymous said...

The truth hurts. But you have to know who you are in order to better yourselves. It is like using a map; you have to know where you are in the map in order to get to your destination.

Anonymous said...

2:46AM! do not cofuse what is normal and let the evil controle you!

Go to school and fight for your right!!!!!

Anonymous said...

2:57 AM
Read it again. A normal person would understand what I meant.
I even gave you an analogy.

Anonymous said...

Food for thought:

"There is certainly no magic medicine to cure human weaknesses. However, if we could understand some of our weaknesses, we might be better able to realize where our strength lies. For a shattered society like Cambodia, the key to recovery might lie with this premise. It is not our weaknesses that keep us from effectively changing our way of life to positively adapt to the ever-changing world. It is rather our lack of understanding of our weaknesses that holds us back from realizing our potentials."

A quote from the Cambodian Royal Chronicle.

Anonymous said...

Three decades ago Thai, Lao, Vietnam were not even better off than Cambodia in term of the people life standard per capita income.
The fighting between giant power communist and capitalism and then Khmer leader was trapped in a failure associate alliance with Red Chinese, Soviet and Vietcong..this leader has never listened to good advices for Cambodia sake.
The truth is one good head of household of the family or the Head of the State could make the differences for better or for worse for the family or country alike.

Cambodia has much rich natural resources, Internal development and investment and now also a good place for tourism seemingly like Pyramid in Egypt that has created considerable amount of revenue..
A change could be applicable better off for Cambodia from the top, but not in Cambodia now controlled by outsider influences.

Before and now in 30 years gone by S. Korea got rid of Dictatorship General Pak C. Hee become political and Econimical stable far away from North Korea Kim Y. Il. Because of one good leader and a democratic country.
S. Africa from Apatheit Extremist government to the leadership change of Bismond Tutu and Mandella, now the are unite Black and white for the sake of the Country.
The Estern Europe after the cold war begin their day of shine for the people and country because of their leaders.

Cambodia will be one day the people power will rise to change bad and unqualified leaders.
The power of Vote, Free and Fair !!!!!

Anonymous said...

4:27 AM
You are off about 2 decades. Three decades ago would put us in around the late 70’s or early 80’s, and so far as the countries’ economy ranking went Cambodia was at the bottom of the world – famine and diseases were everywhere.
But five decades ago yes, we were better off than Thailand and Vietnam in late 50’s and early 60’s

Anonymous said...

Five decades ago, we were better off than Thailand and Vietnam in the late 50’s and early 60’s. And why couldn’t we keep it that way, it was because of our stupid leaders, and it has kept on repeating the same mistakes until now.

Anonymous said...

Well said 5:04AM

I see the article is very much focus on the Khmer leaders, not the individuals.
Ordinary Khmer people have been deprived from being educated and brain washed to see their leaders as GOD or Parents. These have been the practice for Khmer leaders and many leaders in the poor and developing nations. As a result, the nation and the citizen suffer.

Look at Hun Sen, the current leader who force his way to lead by human rights abuses with terror and violence, and there is no doubt he tends to stay this way with his leadership.
He fits so perfectly to the quotes from the neighbors but would never see himself to be like that. To make the matter worse, people who support him would not see that either. The supporters don't care what he did or have been doing as long as he can provide benefit to them.
1- We can see that majority of the supporters have had no choice but to go with the flow as they have been unable to fend for themselves, including the CPP...PP who often expresses frustration on this site as well.

2- We can also see the minority who are the most able opportunists and supporters who are actively do anything they can for their personal wealth and power. These are the elements to empower Hun Sen to be unable to know his self, his views or worldviews. This is the drama that lead Khmer reputation to risk in fitting with the quotes.

Everyone should have a good understanding about his or her self and views as well as the worldviews. In this regard we should not react personally to the quotes. We ought to try to reason with a better concept with a contextual free of discrimination in order to learn and feel about the quotes base on individual values and merits.

Srey Khmer...... USA said...

Everyone whose writing above are all good for learning. Good Insight!

I love reading all of your ideas and inputs is like I am living the real time and it is better book notes.

I love all of you who cleverly wrote piece by piece is extra ordinary and outstanding intellectuals.

Very precise!

No one is better then the other..except that Youn, Thai, Lao divided and make us Khmer fight each other... that is all. For what they gain (LAND) and (POWER)... what else!


Keep it up my brothers and sisters who took the time express and I love it.

sincerely.... Khmer srey Khmer

Anonymous said...

I agree with you Khmer Srey Khmer, I like the constructive debates of last several comments. I learn a lot from them.
Don’t underestimate the power of good writings.
In 19 century Karl Marx, a German philosopher, political economist, historian, political theorist and sociologist wrote a book “Das Kapital” whose ideas played a significant role in the development of modern communism and socialism.
That book was more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Those two bombs killed less than half a million people, but the book “Das Kapital” killed several millions people in the USSR and China alone.