ebooks First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers (P.S.) by Loung Ung in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Worthy and Unworthy TragediesBy R. L. HuffHaving seen the Angelina Jolie film adaptation I became curious as to the original memoir. Reading this one I find all the problems associated with this genre in the Western press. As to the film; there are a few embellishments not appearing in print: the bare-knuckled Khmer Rouge “feminazi” military trainer; or KR soldiers discussing the bombing of their villages. I suspect these are Jolie-inspired tweaks. I understand that some Cambodian-Americans were highly critical: that Ms. Ung was accused of exploiting memories they all shared for personal gain; or that she herself embellished this memoir beyond what a young girl could possibly remember. Some of this seems mean-spirited – few Khmer-American immigrants likely possess the literary skill to write a book in English; so I can give her the benefit of the doubt as to her right to write or the authenticity of her experience.My criticism comes as an American reader; for whose benefit such Cambodian literature is aimed. Despite the lurid title (re: “Not Without My Daughter”) – and despite that it was her sister who died first – Loung Ung has graphically described the tragedy of a small middle class city child snatched from a privileged life by the jaws of war. She suffered greatly in these years; as did Cambodia itself; closely surviving incidents and memories of the kind most would rather forget. The reviews are full of the predictable American moral outrage. My response is that when you bomb a place back to the Stone Age – as the US SAC often boasted – it’s naturally overrun by cavemen and cannibals. What else would you expect? The Taliban and ISIS are recent examples of the same.The purpose of this Cambodian literature for Americans is to deflect criticism of its own Indochina behavior (My Lai was just a “fluke” of an otherwise Just Cause); and to retroactively justify not only the Vietnam War but so-called present and future humanitarian interventions (except for the Vietnamese “youn” invasion of Cambodia itself in 1979 – since it was done by Them and not Us; their motives couldn’t have been worthy). It’s convenient that Loung Ung was only five when her ordeal began: an innocent for whom all this just blew in from nowhere; as we are also taught to believe by our policy establishment. As usual; the memoirist is also of a former middle or upper class; someone “just like us.” Rice-pickers rarely leave written records; of course; unless someone takes time to track them down in their native setting and write for them.For Cambodians; dumping on the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot nicely covers the fact that Cambodia was embroiled in a civil war; not entirely of its own making. Unfortunately; Ms. Ung's father was a former secret policeman and army officer; his executioners took a different view than his beloved daughter. A Hitlerite figure like Pol Pot nicely scapegoats lingering recriminations on all sides. The genocide claim also serves said purpose; though the ugliness recorded here and in other examples of KR literature differs not at all from eyewitness accounts in Bangladesh; Central America or the Yugoslav lands.Read as one Cambodian-American’s personal tragedy it’s a moving story. As another American literary exercise in moral posturing it comes off like its predecessors: an example of a "worthy" atrocity against which we can muster all our sense of outrage; as opposed to "unworthy" ones committed in our interests which we are obliged to defend.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The details and story in this book were so moving and painful to read and learn aboutBy ToddMMy fiance is Cambodian; and most of her family fled the country during the chaos as the Khmer Rouge regime took over. She was only sibling of 12 born in the states; and one of her sisters was lost in the chaos when they were leaving and they were never able to locate her. I wanted to read this book to try to understand their story; and it is quite simply heartbreaking. I remember seeing them talk about the Cambodian Crisis on the news in the 70's when I was a kid; but I never knew how horrific the events were in actuality. This book captures this so well; and also shows how courageous the author and her siblings were; as they tried to survive each day for many; many years after their lives were ripped apart. The details and story in this book were so moving and painful to read and learn about; that it brings tears to my eyes just writing this; and I'm thankful that I was able to read this and learn about my new families past and about the history that brought the woman I love into my life. Her family is so loving and joyful and welcoming; and they have told me many times how grateful they are to live in America; and how thankful they are for everything they have worked for and built in this country. This book; and the authors story remind me and inspire me to be thankful for what I have and for the life I have had the privilege to lead.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good readBy Brenda gibsonInteresting read...i never read things about Cambodia so this was very informative. Since I lived during that time. I recognized the names of places and to the group's they talked about. I don't know that I will see the movie because it didn't seem movie worthy...but again I have recommended it to others.