S 3 E: 21 Echoes of Cambodia's Killing Fields

Send us Fan MailPlease welcome guest speaker Julie Botom-Richny Chhay.  Julie shares her family's experience during the Cambodian genocide, drawing parallels to current genocide in Gaza and how generational trauma continues to impact survivors and their descendants.• Cambodia's genocide under Pol Pot's regime killed nearly 2 million people between 1975-1979• The Khmer Rouge specifically targeted educated people - teachers, doctors, artists, and even those who wore glasses• Julie's mother survived being attacked and left to die in the woods at just 8 years old• Refugee experiences at the Thai border included further violence against those seeking asylum similar to North Korea• Children were deliberately separated from families and indoctrinated to view the regime as their true family with parallels of immigrants in the US.• Cultural erasure included banning traditional music, dance, and other art forms central to Cambodian identity• Intergenerational trauma manifests in complex family relationships and continues decades after the violence ends• The targeting of education, suppression of information, and divisive politics follow similar patterns across different genocides• Modern censorship includes selective blocking of information about ongoing genocides on major platforms like Google• Survival stories remind us that behind statistics are real human lives forever changed by political violencehttps://youtu.be/mNDolWiY440?si=oErM1k0Exy2mTqkXOpinion | ‘Do Not Forget Gaza’: The Last Words of a Martyred Journalist | Common DreamsIsrael’s “final decision” for conquest and occupation of Gaza - World Socialist Web SiteS-21, Tuol Sleng - United States Holocaust Memorial MuseumU.S. Involvement in the Cambodian War and Genocidewalrus_cambodiabombing_oct06.pdfCambodia’s ‘Killing Fields’ artist dies | Features | Al JazeeraCambodian Genocide: S21 Prison Tuol Sleng Museum and Killing Fields Phnom Penh - FeetDoTravelFACT SHEET: Genocide in Gaza — the Biden Administration’s Role and Legacy - Institute for Policy StudiesWe urge you to reflect on these historical patterns as they emerge in current conflicts, and to recognize that peace requires us to confront uncomfortable truths about both past and present atrocities.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/no-time-to-dieLicense code: S4CEQWLNQXVZUMU4Artwork and logo design by Misty Rae. Special thanks to Joanna Roux for editing help.Special thanks to the listeners and all the wonderful people who helped listen to and provide feedback on the episode's prerelease.  Please feel free to email Matt topics or suggestions, questions or [email protected]