Awesome post. I took a couple of short trips to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh and thoroughly enjoyed both for different reasons. Of course Angkor Wat for the temples and ruins, but also the Killing Fields for the opportunity to reflect on the murderous potential of authoritarianism and communism.
Posted using Partiko Android
I agree totally. I visited the killing fields outside of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, both are incredibly sobering, the toughest part for me was visiting Tuol Sleng in Phnom Penh though, I may do a post just on that at some point.
What is really hard to think about is that the people who did this weren't "monsters", they were humans. We tend to demonise the leaders of these totalitarian and genocidal movements until they are no longer thought of as human, but they are "us" and the capacity to do what they did is a human capacity.
Definitely makes you want to learn from the past and keep our authorities in check.
I agree on all points.
I made a post about Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields some time back. In travelling you see it everywhere - - the Derg in Ethiopia for example.
Posted using Partiko Android
Amazing!
Cool and an interesting post