U.S.: International Police Dog?

Bret Stephens' article entitled "From WikiLeaks To The Killing Fields" that appeared in July 27,2010 issue of Wall Street Journal is full of errors. I nearly defecated on my pants upon reading his article.

What he is actually saying is that the American presence in South East Asia during the tumultuous years of the 70s is not only justified but it is warranted. He posited that the Khmer Rouge genocide wouldn't have happened if the Americans did not leave Cambodia.

This for me is an unacceptable rationale.

Let me remind Mr. Stephens that U.S. bombings that killed innocent civilians, the Agent Orange, and supporting a corrupt Lon Nol government actually helped the insurgents by cultivating discontents among ordinary Cambodians who may have stayed neutral if members of their families were not killed because of American aggression.

Moreover, he attributed "the killing of an estimated 165,000 South Vietnamese in so-called re-education camps; the mass exodus of one million boat people, a quarter of whom died at sea; the mass murder, estimated at 100,000, of Laos's Hmong people; and the killing of somewhere between one million and two million Cambodians" to the withdrawal of American troops. (Wall Street Journal, July 27, 2010)

I am wondering if Mr. Stephens is ignorant of the atrocities of the American troops that killed millions of civilians or he is just having a dementia.

Because of this, let me remind Mr. Stephens about the Agent Orange that still is creating havoc to some Cambodians, Laotians, and Vietnamese until now.

Let me remind Mr. Stephens about the American bombings of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam that killed millions of civilians. Let me remind him too that so many of these bombs are still here in Cambodia and are killing innocent civilians up to now. These UXOs (Unexploded Ordnance) did not explode when American warplanes dropped and still poses a threat to unsuspecting victims.

The idea that Americans are needed in Afghanistan and Iraq makes me puke. The United States really has this messianic complex and they think that the world will be chaotic without them.

On the contrary, the world will be a better place without the American troops who are committing atrocious crimes in the Philippines, in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Just two weeks ago I posted a news clip about the American troops who arrogantly disrespected our national anthem and the Philippine flag (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20100719-282027/American-soldiers-disrespect-to-RP-flag-in-AFP-camp-probed). And just only a few days ago, American soldiers harassed a Filipina and shouted invectives to a Filipino military officer (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100721-282380/5-US-soldiers-probed-for-rowdy-behavior-in-Zamboanga-concert).

I am wondering what is happening now in Iraq and Afghanistan were American troops are present. I am also wondering if Mr. Stephens is turning a blind eye on these.

Yes, the Khmer Rouge did an abominable act. But there is nothing that can justify the presence of American troops in sovereign and independent states.

I can only hope that the United States will back off from being a self-imposed international police dog.

Labada

(tula para sa isang kaibigan)

Kahapon
Ibinabad ko sa sabon
Ang t-shirt na bigay mo.
Umaasang maalis nito
Ang mga mantsang nanikit
Dahil sa ilang taong pasakit

Kagabi
Kinusot ko ito nang ilang beses
Hanggang maramdaman ko
Ang hapdi sa aking mga palad
Hindi ko ininda ang sakit
Kahit may mga dugo na
Ang mga sugat ko
Dahil umaasang maililigtas ko pa
Ang ating pagmamahalan

Kanina
Ikinula ko sa init ng araw
Umaasang muli kong mararamdaman
Ang init ng iyong pagmamahal
Kapag isinuot ko ulit
Ang bigay mong t-shirt

Ngayon
Nasa SM ako
Isinusukat ko ang matingkad na blusa
Ngayon ko lamang ulit napansin
Pagkaraan ng maraming taong kita’y kasama
Na bagay pala sa akin
Ang matingkad na blusa

Mamaya
Itatapon ko na ang t-shirt na bigay mo

Paalam, irog ko.

Nompang Pate

One thing that I thank God for for bringing me here is that I can really enjoy cheap foods.

One of my favorites here in Cambodia is Nompang Pate. Nompang Pate is a baguette with strips of pate. The usual length of a baguetee here in Cambodia is about twelve inches. Pate is similar to luncheon meat. Home made liver spread is also applied on the baguette which is sliced into two. It is also eaten with fresh onion leaves and pickled cucumber.

And guess how much is the nompang pate? You can enjoy the goodness of nompang pate with 3,000riel (0.75USD).

I Covet Your Prayers

For more than a month now, I've been teaching English class in the church. This is our way of getting connected with the youth in our community.

From 4PM to 5PM, I am teaching a class of 8 students.

We've been using the Bible in our reading activities. We already taught them two Christian songs.

Now, I do admit that I cannot do it with my own strength. Therefore, I am asking you to please... please... pray for each student. They are Voleak, Sieng, Ghech, Huang, Sok Leap, Monineth, Phalla, and Sopheavy. Please mention them when you talk to our Lord.

Please pray for God's leading as to the perfect time were I can share to them the Gospel and challenge them to trust the Lord.

Please pray that they will always have the enthusiasm in coming to church for their English lessons (and of course, Bible lessons).

Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!

Pissed off?

Are you pissed off with me? It seems you are.

I don't care.

You have the right be be pissed off. But don't impose on me your self-righteousnes.

Actually, I am also pissed off with your holier-than-thou attitude. You project that you know the Bible from the first letter to the last.

That I think is the very reason why you are aghast when I utter "out of this world ideas". But my ideas are mine and I don't care how people will react to it.

You know why so many people are against Christianity? One of the reasons probably is that there are Christians who are so righteous that they always see the wrongdoings of others. They will bombard others with their unsolicited pieces of advice. They will not run out of opinions. And they usually quote the Holy Scriptures.

I tell you, the world will be better without you.

You see God as vindictive and a God who loves punishing people?

I see God as a loving God who understands my shortcomings.

I see God as a God who looks at what Christ did on the cross for me everytime He notices that I am doing things that are unholy.

I see God as a forgiving and understanding God.

So, I really don't mind you. In fact, I think you are an unnecessary termite.

But please!

BACK OFF!

Bong Maly

How will you teach a 47-year old lady who cannot recognize the alphabet and distinguish sounds of vowels and consonants? That really is a daunting task for me.

But I will not give up.

I've been teaching Bong Maly for two weeks now.

Bong Maly helped us a lot in the church. She is very active in the ministry. She invited a lot of people to attend our activities. She is also tireless in sharing the Gospel.

She is like the "Chosen Lady" that Apostle John wrote in his epistle. The only difference I guess is that she is married.

More than a month ago, she shared to our Pastor her desire to work and help her husband. Our Pastor recommended her to work in one of the Christian NGOs here in Cambodia. There is one obstacle though. That NGO prefers someone who can speak English.

That is why I am committed to help her in learning English.

We are now studying various sounds of consonants and vowels. We are following Montessori method which was developed by Maria Montessori. We actually started with the sound of M because according to Maria Montessori the sound of the letter M is the easiest to learn.

Slowly, we are now blending sounds together. We now have around 20 words in CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) pattern that we are trying to memorize.

Guess how many words in CVC pattern that she can read? One. That is right. One. The word "sit".

But I am not giving. I am very positive that she can learn the English language. With perseverance and prayers to God, we will be successful.

I will really be happy if she can get that job in that Christian NGO and if she can communicate with her bosses there in English.

Please help me God.

Betrayal

I hate betrayal!

Sad to say I was betrayed a lot of times. There are two types of people who are prone to betray people. First, those who are powerful. Those powers-that-be. Those who think that they don’t need ants or insects like me to live in this world. They are so proud of themselves. That’s why they look down on me condescendingly. Second, those who are also dirt poor like me who think that they are something when in fact they are nothing. They look down to us poor and simple people because they think that we, simple people, cannot contrbute something to them. They just ignore us because they think that we are just a waste of their time. Sadly, I met so many people who are in the second category.

But just okay. I will just treasure those who are real friends who accepted me not because they think that I can give them something. Those people whose friendships are an end-in-itself and not just a means-to-an-end!
Thus, I will just smile.

Maybe you are asking: Why "betrayal" as a title? Because I felt betrayed by people who are supposed to love me unconditionally but yet they are the one who look down at me.

Live and let live!