Your Say on "A Self-Destructive Trait
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Alternatives Watch
Aug 20, 2009, 3:06:08 PM8/20/09
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YOUR SAY ON “A SELF-DESTRUCTIVE TRAIT”
“Right on analysis. I couldn't agree more. I wonder how we can subtly
get our leaders to read this analysis, and yet they don't stop you
from visiting Cambodia in the future. Thanks.”
Hor Soneath
20 Aug 09
“You paint an ugly, yet sadly true, picture of Khmer characteristic.
While most nations have a history of uniting together to fight off
invaders, we Khmers have a completely different history – one of
uniting with foreigners to fight fellow Khmers. Each and every leader
that I have observed in my lifetime so far, those who have had
sufficient powers to bring improvements to the whole country, have
always used their powers to enrich themselves.
I often wonder when Khmers will learn to think for themselves,
especially when it comes to violent acts against other Khmers, but
watching the video clip of that recent speech by Hun Sen and seeing
how his audience was listening to his every word, I feel quite
pessimistic. It may be that the next generation of Khmer leaders will
continue to act just like those who have before them.”
Ung Wattanak
20 Aug 09
“You provided facts and analysis based on them. How can I contest?
Given these unfortunate facts and trends, what can we do? I'm not
seeking an answer though. Everyone should have their own way to go
about in light of the right context you try to provide. Thanks a lot.”
Chan Sophal
20 Aug 09
“In fact, Khmer leaders do not have a monopoly on the trait. Sadly,
even on shop floors or social networks overseas where they live, many
Cambodian workers are good at fighting their fellow Cambodians, and
are not so outspoken with other ethnic groups, let alone the
Caucasians.”
[Name provided and withheld on request]
20 Aug 09
“Entirely agree. Our ancestors have a saying about that – I do not
quite recall though. It goes something like this: the Khmers dare to
only challenge their own race but not foreigners/alien occupiers.”
Srey Chanthy
20 Aug 09
“Is the next generation of Khmer leaders going to follow the same
example like it has been? What should we be doing in order to avoid
hatred or fight among our own nationals and submissive to foreign
adversaries for his/her own benefit only? What mindsets should we
banish? I am sorry to ask so many questions. I believe that it is very
important to find out solutions if we want to build a better Cambodia
or make a difference and not to follow the same footstep of the
predecessors.”
Meas Wat Ho
20 Aug 09
“This analysis is not complete and not exact. Most people in the world
especially those large ones have had civil war or revolution, that
includes Cambodia's neighbors; China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
In the Chinese system ruled by the ‘mandate of heaven' principle,
dynasties were toppled by common people because they had not respected
the Chinese people. This also applies to the Vietnamese, when the
Nguyens North and South had fought each other in the 19th century
which ended up by the reunification of the whole Dai Viet under
Emperor Gia Long. Not to mention the European infighting in France,
Russia, Italy, Germany.
What makes the Cambodian case different is the fact that each time
there is an in-fighting, unlike other countries cited earlier, the
Cambodians always asked for help from their worst enemies, especially
the Vietnamese or the Thai, not to mention the French. This deadly
Cambodian habit of what D Chandler had called the "dependency
mentality" had always brought Cambodia more disaster than expected
good.
For instance, Son Ngoc Than asked the Viet Minh to help him fight
against Sihanouk; Pol Pot asked the Viet Cong to help him fight
against Sihanouk; Sihanouk asked the Vietnamese to help him fight
against Lon Nol and the Americans; last but not least, Hun Sen and Pen
Sovann asked the Vietnamese to help them fight against the Americans
and Sihanouk. Now, we all know what happen to Cambodia, when
Cambodians asked for help from the Vietnamese, not to mention other
foreign powers (Thailand, France) throughout the history of Cambodia
since the fall of Angkor in 1432.
Unless we can change this dependency mentality, Cambodia cannot
survive.”
Naranhkiri Tith, Ph.D
20 Aug 09
“Right on analysis. I couldn't agree more. I wonder how we can subtly
get our leaders to read this analysis, and yet they don't stop you
from visiting Cambodia in the future. Thanks.”
Hor Soneath
20 Aug 09
“You paint an ugly, yet sadly true, picture of Khmer characteristic.
While most nations have a history of uniting together to fight off
invaders, we Khmers have a completely different history – one of
uniting with foreigners to fight fellow Khmers. Each and every leader
that I have observed in my lifetime so far, those who have had
sufficient powers to bring improvements to the whole country, have
always used their powers to enrich themselves.
I often wonder when Khmers will learn to think for themselves,
especially when it comes to violent acts against other Khmers, but
watching the video clip of that recent speech by Hun Sen and seeing
how his audience was listening to his every word, I feel quite
pessimistic. It may be that the next generation of Khmer leaders will
continue to act just like those who have before them.”
Ung Wattanak
20 Aug 09
“You provided facts and analysis based on them. How can I contest?
Given these unfortunate facts and trends, what can we do? I'm not
seeking an answer though. Everyone should have their own way to go
about in light of the right context you try to provide. Thanks a lot.”
Chan Sophal
20 Aug 09
“In fact, Khmer leaders do not have a monopoly on the trait. Sadly,
even on shop floors or social networks overseas where they live, many
Cambodian workers are good at fighting their fellow Cambodians, and
are not so outspoken with other ethnic groups, let alone the
Caucasians.”
[Name provided and withheld on request]
20 Aug 09
“Entirely agree. Our ancestors have a saying about that – I do not
quite recall though. It goes something like this: the Khmers dare to
only challenge their own race but not foreigners/alien occupiers.”
Srey Chanthy
20 Aug 09
“Is the next generation of Khmer leaders going to follow the same
example like it has been? What should we be doing in order to avoid
hatred or fight among our own nationals and submissive to foreign
adversaries for his/her own benefit only? What mindsets should we
banish? I am sorry to ask so many questions. I believe that it is very
important to find out solutions if we want to build a better Cambodia
or make a difference and not to follow the same footstep of the
predecessors.”
Meas Wat Ho
20 Aug 09
“This analysis is not complete and not exact. Most people in the world
especially those large ones have had civil war or revolution, that
includes Cambodia's neighbors; China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
In the Chinese system ruled by the ‘mandate of heaven' principle,
dynasties were toppled by common people because they had not respected
the Chinese people. This also applies to the Vietnamese, when the
Nguyens North and South had fought each other in the 19th century
which ended up by the reunification of the whole Dai Viet under
Emperor Gia Long. Not to mention the European infighting in France,
Russia, Italy, Germany.
What makes the Cambodian case different is the fact that each time
there is an in-fighting, unlike other countries cited earlier, the
Cambodians always asked for help from their worst enemies, especially
the Vietnamese or the Thai, not to mention the French. This deadly
Cambodian habit of what D Chandler had called the "dependency
mentality" had always brought Cambodia more disaster than expected
good.
For instance, Son Ngoc Than asked the Viet Minh to help him fight
against Sihanouk; Pol Pot asked the Viet Cong to help him fight
against Sihanouk; Sihanouk asked the Vietnamese to help him fight
against Lon Nol and the Americans; last but not least, Hun Sen and Pen
Sovann asked the Vietnamese to help them fight against the Americans
and Sihanouk. Now, we all know what happen to Cambodia, when
Cambodians asked for help from the Vietnamese, not to mention other
foreign powers (Thailand, France) throughout the history of Cambodia
since the fall of Angkor in 1432.
Unless we can change this dependency mentality, Cambodia cannot
survive.”
Naranhkiri Tith, Ph.D
20 Aug 09
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