Everything Everywhere - Latest Comments in Visiting the Killing Fields

Re: Visiting the Killing Fields

LEfromAlaska — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 18:50:13 -0000

I was working for the Census as an enumerator last June. A lot of people slammed the door in my face. But one fellow who I woke up invited me in and gave me all of the information for the form and then more. He told me it was time for his medicine. Then he told me how he and his wife were there in the Killing Fields working 12 hour days on 2 tablespoons of rice. His English was fair, but he kept saying, "they killed me and then they killed my wife" The guards struck each of them on the back of the head with a shovel and left them for dead. Somehow they were able to escape. Part of the story which I wish I had written down, was of him dressing as a woman to get past guards. The look in his eyes as he told me this will never leave me. I thanked him and left.

Re: Visiting the Killing Fields

Michael — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 06:39:45 -0000

Yeap. Felt pretty much the same way when I went and killed the rest of my day. I actually did not know much about the Khmer Rouge so I decided before I went to Cambodia to read 'First They Killed My Father' and my entire time visiting those places, that's all I could think about. Having these horrible images of how their life may have been like. It wasn't even that long ago. Just knowing that anyone over 35 was affected, made things worse for me. My tuktuk driver had his entire family killed when he was a kid.

Re: Visiting the Killing Fields

busby seo test — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:18:59 -0000

Its about politics, and i dont know whats in their brain when they killed other people

Re: Visiting the Killing Fields

SEO Test — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:39:33 -0000

Okey megan i agree with you in what u said. about Cambodia would have been like today if it had never happened.

Re: Visiting the Killing Fields

megan — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 03:13:05 -0000

I visited both the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng while I was in Phnon Penh last month. I found it very confronting and heartbreaking, and I had to wonder how the rest of the world can sit back as this happens over and over again.

Like you, I couldn't stop wondering what Cambodia would have been like today if it had never happened. Wandering the streets of Phnom Penh, looking at all the gorgeous buildings that have been left to decay...It's something to think about.

Re: Visiting the Killing Fields

Busby SEO Test Contest — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:35:58 -0000

Wow... I can imagine how cruel this people can be.

Re: Visiting the Killing Fields

Jenny — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:54:29 -0000

My memory of Pol Pot dates back in history class in gradeschool.

Re: Visiting the Killing Fields

vutha — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:25:46 -0000

I felt shocked when i visited this site. My grade grandmother was killed during Pol Pot regime.

Re: Visiting the Killing Fields

Chamroeun — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:51:51 -0000

So great

Re: Visiting the Killing Fields

Santel Phin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:39:41 -0000

i lived here in Phnom penh for 15 years, but i not yet visit the place. i know the history, i read it quite well from the book, i heard it often from my parents.

i would prefer to keep it in mind that here is the history and there was the place where people kill people. maybe one day i will have enough courage to visit,

i would say there are many other places in Phnom Penh and in Cambodia that always wlecome tourist and people are really friendly. i am a bit sad that the museum got such a bad feeling and experience to the tourists ... maybe we should put some precaution.

but for sure Cambodia is a beautiful country and a nice place to live.

Re: Visiting the Killing Fields

Janet — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:18:35 -0000

Wow... It's amazing how cruel people can be.

Honestly, I'm not sure I'd be able to handle visiting that place.

Re: Visiting the Killing Fields

Jay Lardy — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:50:13 -0000

Your reactions gave me a chilling flashback to my visit to Auschwitz and Berkenau in college. I actually blocked out a chunk of my trip - I have pictures of rooms I have no recollection of visiting. Human-kind's capacity for inhuman cruelty is staggering.

Re: Visiting the Killing Fields

Billigflug — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:18:47 -0000

Fearful...

Re: Visiting the Killing Fields

Ladyexpat — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:32:10 -0000

I had a difficult time with both places. I have since gone through Phnom Phen again, and refused to go back to either place. As I said to my friend, these are places that everyone should see once, but only once. I will have those scenes in my head forever.

Re: Visiting the Killing Fields

GAP aka Le Gourmand — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:01:39 -0000

thx for this interesting article. I published it in my german blog too:
http://www.legourmand.de/?p=909
The pictures on flickr from the prison are the most crewl thing I have ever seen. Cambodian Auschwitz.

Re: Visiting the Killing Fields

DrManette — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:22:29 -0000

The most unfortunate thing about all the genocides besides the Holocaust is that they are both overshadowed and basically unknown. Cambodia, Rwanda, Darfur... the list goes on, yet how many people even know where any of these places are? Even the Holocaust is unknown to a vast amount of people, and then there are those who deny its existence. This pattern of mass killings will just keep on going if people keep forgetting.