He didn’t attack you at all.

There simply are realities. And one of them is that for a non-Cambodian person from lets say: the west or any affluent country it is of course not as clear what Cambodia contains. How could it be? Our cultures are often as different as our climates. Our languages are so different, our histories are different. Our life’s are often so extremely different. And an American and a French just have more in common than a European and Cambodian. But it is about geography, economics, languages, social structures, politics, commercial differences, different priorities, completely diferent: so many things … Please don’t concentrate on what I forgot, it is such a long list of differences… BUT more importantly: we all understand at heart: we are all humans with essentially the same desires in life, and we all should have the same rights and opportunities for our futures!

Aaron was not trying to say that all there is to Cambodia is poverty, but poverty is ONE of Cambodia’s truths. And at the moment it is a strong and very present truth. But things get better, day by day.. Just like antisocial behaviour is one of many western countries truths, only here I am not sure anything is getting better…(I wish).

Why don’t you all stop arguing and reading just the worst in each other’s thoughts.?

And look at it this way: war torn, does it matter what the very exact definition of that word is? The war has done bad things. That is all that is of concern. But also that Cambodian people are pretty amazing at picking themselves up and being so pro-active and making the very most of the opportunities that they have, when they have them.

And whatever word you may disagree with: please stop right there. I think so highly of Cambodian citizen; to misinterpret anything I have said as negative or thoughtless or as an attack would be a shame.

(ah, and that Cambodian - chinese comment Aaron made: he was probably just very truthful about the particular person he met, and most probably didn’t mean to say that a Cambodian has to have Chinese relatives to be great… Aaron: you could have just left that out and saved some mis-understandings.. )

Being so argumentative and defensive is really not neccessary.

Am going to visit my friends in Siem Reap this november. I wish they and all their friends had the opportunities that they deserve, but the are safe and healthy.

Serbia and montenegro had a good football team. The had the best defensive record in europe before going to the world cup but crashed out in the group stage after losing all their group games. Their star players include Kezman, Vidic and Milosevic.

Aaron, you may wanna to look at your own country dark side as well, it may probably be more fasinating than Cambodia’s.

I don’t think it’s worthy to continue arguing with you.

My point here is simple: I absolutely disagree with those who brand my country “war-torn”. True we used to have wars (and let me assure you we didn’t invite those wars into our country. Go find out more who bombed Cambodia during the Vietnam War or who supported the Pol Pot regime behind the scene and you’ll see that those wars happened not because CAMBODIANS chose to have them, but rather because we were unfortunate enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.), but we’re no longer having them. South Korea and North Korea went to war with each other and came out of it together. Fifty years later the South’s far ahead of the North in terms of economic prosperity. Why is this the case? Is it because they fought different war? Or is it because of the fact that the South’s government is more efficient than the North’s dictatorship?

I hope you get my point here: Cambodia is what it is today because the leadership is inept. I don’t blame the wars for our problems. Other countries went to wars and then they moved on. I want my country to do the same. Those who call Cambodia “war-torn” please note this: you’re not doing us any service by calling us so. In fact you’re being irresponsible by trying to paint Cambodia in a misleading way and driving out potential investors in the process. I never ever denie that we have problems, but I will always disagree with those who call our country “war-torn” on the simple fact that it’s inaccurate.