tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20463731.post116228775682024437..comments2023-10-14T04:28:27.524-07:00Comments on Only In Cambodia: On deceptiononlyincambodiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383227435717100589noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20463731.post-25825803047342733022007-08-30T23:56:00.000-07:002007-08-30T23:56:00.000-07:00Dear Anonymous,I don't disagree that everyone lies...Dear Anonymous,<BR/>I don't disagree that everyone lies, no matter what country they are from. However, deception is not a superficial judgment. Decent people should not have to lie. And if you really read my post you could see that is was/is a real issue that I have to deal with. I am truly sad that for many Cambodians living in the town/city, because deception does lay inside their heart. I know because I see it in the classroom, the marketplace and elsewhere. This is, as you said, a reality of the the devastation of the 4 years of brutality by the Khmer Rouge, a fact that I DO NOT dismiss lightheartedly. I am aware and often ponder the weight of that period's impact on the nation's culture to this day. I have lived continuously in Cambodia for four years (and Asia for five). It definitely makes an impression on someone. I cannot evade my own upbringing in a Western civilization, but rather have to deal with the contrast of Asian life and come to some sort of an understanding in my brain. I don't doubt your love of Cambodia. Please don't dismiss my love of the country, too. After all I would not be living there if I didn't love it.onlyincambodiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15383227435717100589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20463731.post-39820145384909372172007-08-30T20:31:00.000-07:002007-08-30T20:31:00.000-07:00Firstly everybody lies, and yes so do Americans an...Firstly everybody lies, and yes so do Americans and Westerners its just not so open in the west. As a half Cambodian half Australian who has lives in Cambodia and Australia, I have to admit that YES Cambodians (including my own family) seem to openly accept lying and manipualtion, but also being in Australia people also lie and manipulate (just not so openly). You have to also take into consideration the historical background in Cambodia. During the Pol Pot regime, Cambodian culture and tradition was turned over its head. People were taught to dob each other in, parents, children ect. It was all about survival and yes to survive that regime people had to make terrible decisions and choices. And because of the current situation of poverty and massive corruption (government and police ect) it is a difficult environment to try to undo the social damage that was done. I'm going to Cambodia in October, because I love the country and people. I do not judge people with surface and superficial and western ideals of what a decent person is, but what lays deep inside at the heart of their being.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20463731.post-1162515160914047092006-11-02T16:52:00.000-08:002006-11-02T16:52:00.000-08:00just stopped by to say hi. I am sorry you are fe...just stopped by to say hi. I am sorry you are feeling blue. I had me some excellent yellow curry the other day and I thought of you.Carmenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01687973133021607701noreply@blogger.com