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Friday, December 23, 2011
Op-Ed by Davan Long
Dear Compatriots,
As most of us living in the West, I left Cambodia in the 80’s and could hardly remember the last time I wrote something in Khmer. All my schooling and professional training over the past twenty five years were in either English or French. However, during my early childhood in Cambodia and refugee camps, I had great passion for reading and I read every Khmer books I could put my hands on – after all, there was nothing else to do in refugee camps.
A few months ago, at the height of the Boeung Kak protests against forced eviction, I exchanged my view with others on Facebook. Most people posted their comments in Khmer while I wrote mine in English. Interestingly, one poster labelled me as a foreigner because of my English writing, and said that a true Khmer person should write in Khmer when exchanging view with other fellow Khmers, especially with those in Cambodia. He was right, and I was embarrassed, if not ashamed, for not being at ease with my mother tongue language. Since then, I’ve spent some precious times to relearn Khmer. As part of the learning process, I decide to write a poem which I’d like to share with you all.
Attached are fragments of my poem entitled: “Uwat Reas”. It is not complete yet, and I plan to keep writing it to reflect new realities as they happen in Cambodia. I hope you find it worth reading, and would welcome any comments you may have.
Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a safe and happy holiday season.
Best wishes,
Davan Long
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Chers Compatriotes,
Comme la plupart d'entre nous qui demeurent en Occident, j'ai quitté le Cambodge dans les années 80 et pouvait à peine me rappeler la dernière fois que j'ai écrit quelque chose en khmer. Toutes mes études et formation professionnelle au cours des vingt cinq dernières années ont été en anglais ou en français. Cependant, durant mon enfance au Cambodge et dans les camps de réfugiés, j'avais une grande passion pour la lecture et j'avais lu tous les livres Khmer je pourrais mettre mes mains sur - après tout, il n'y avait rien d'autre à faire dans les camps de réfugiés.
Cet été, durant le sommet des protestations contre des expulsions forcées à Boeung Kak, j'ai exprimé mon point de vue avec les autres dans Facebook. La plupart des gens ont affiché leurs commentaires en khmer alors que moi j'ai écrit la mienne en anglais. Fait intéressant, un interlocuteur me prenait pour un étranger à cause de ma rédaction en anglais, et il disait qu’ un vraie Khmer devrait écrire en khmer lors de l'échange avec les autres Khmers, surtout avec ceux qui résidaient au Cambodge. Il avait raison, et j'ai été embarrassé, sinon honteux, pour ne pas être à l'aise avec ma propre langue maternelle. Depuis lors, j'ai passé des moments précieux pour réapprendre khmer. Lors de cet apprentissage, je décide d'écrire un poème que je voudrais partager avec vous tous.
Ci-joints sont des fragments de mon poème intitulé: "Uwat Reas". Il n'est pas encore complété, et je prévois de continuer à écrire encore pour quelques temps pour qu’il contienne les nouvelles réalités comme ils se produisent au Cambodge. J'espère que vous trouverez qu'il vaut la lecture, et j’accepte avec plaisir tous les commentaires que vous pourriez avoir.
En terminant, je voudrais profiter de cette occasion pour souhaiter à tous une saison des Fêtes remplie de joie et de bonheur.
Meilleurs voeux,
Davan Long
i think all khmer should not forget how to speak and read or write khmer even though we all can speak or understand either english, french, etc... khmer is actually real easy once you master the basic like the khmer alphabets and vowels and know their sounds and how to pronounce words to read. i know khmer writing demands that we write perfectly or fluently and beautiful; howeve, i think it is ok to write khmer like a beginner. well, they say practice makes perfect. anyway, do self taught in khmer as well and do ask khmer teacher if you need help with khmer language. have fun learning our khmer language. it is always good to know khmer language in addition to english, french, etc... you never know when you are needed in cambodia to help make a real, lasting difference. there are now a lot of business opportunities like in family, small businesses, foreign investments, etc, etc... yes, cambodia changes a lot and continues to do so. cambodia needs help from the developed countries out there, not necessarily because cambodia likes to beg, it's more like cambodia needs and wants new ideas, new concepts, new ways of doing business, etc... we do want western ways while preserving some aspects of khmerness as well. please come help and teach and educate khmer language in cambodia so we can in turn help the world and be a productive member of the world as well. cambodia and khmer people are hungry for new knowledge from the developing countries out there. please help cambodia to help ourselves. yes, there are more to cambodia than just some political people wanted to punish cambodia from past mistakes, etc... khmer people in camobdia would like to see cambodia becomes like the rest of the developed countries out there, especially in education, standard of living, rule of law country, justice loving people, etc. cambodia has to start from somewhere, somehow... god bless all.
ReplyDeleteYou should not be ashame of writing in English or other languages but you should write Khmer if you know how. The person called you a foreigner is ignorant and a bully. Who do he think he is to determine who you are, and you allow him to do that to you? What about your children who grow up in US and do not have the opportunity to learn Khmer writing, and should they be not Khmer!
ReplyDeleteAs long as your mind is still Khmer, you are a fine Khmer citizen.
ReplyDeleteYou made great effort at learning Khmer and was able to write poem in Khmer, that is an exceptional accomplisment.
The traitors who can speak and write only Khmer are horrible when they allow the mass influx of Vietnamese into Cambodia to destroy most of Khmer natural resource and legalize (through vote) Cambodia as part of Vietnam in the future.