By A. Gaffar Peang-Meth
Pacific Daily News
Despite the highs and the lows in 2009, the old year has come to an end and left us at the starting gate for a new one, from which we can build our new future using our productive, creative talents. Or we can choose to walk a familiar path of worn-out patterns and fossilized thoughts and actions.The new opportunity should boost our spirits.
Some pleasant things did happen last year. Members of a group of Cambodian expatriates in America's northwest, none of whom I have ever met, read my column in the Pacific Daily News and wrote to discuss the failure of the United Nations-supported Khmer Rouge tribunal to bring justice to the Khmer people.
Thus began a long-distance relationship. It was heartening to read the group's online discussion of old Khmer traditions and sayings, how and why they are, or aren't, useful in the 21st century. I saw critical thinking take root.
I was captivated by their discussion on an old Khmer saying, "Ngeuy skawk, Aown dak Kroab," or, "Vertical rice plants bear nothing. Leaning rice-plants bear grain." I contributed my ideas. And when the group's forum brought interested expatriates together to discuss another old saying, "Don't emulate a teacher's behavior; follow his teaching," I was asked for input and was pleased to respond.
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