Good-Bye "God King"

Good-Bye "God King"

Picture: Author's record

For those who dislike the late former King, the most joyful day is here again. Their wishes are fulfilled and unfortunately their hatred will continue from here to eternity.

Nothing in this world that anyone can do to heal their injuries and hatred—for all they see is what the former King has done wrong.

They will consume much energy to talk about “evil” things that they think the King had committed. Among other things, they would criticize that the King was an absolutist; his behaviors had brought Cambodia down; his policies were self-destructive; his personal life had been nothing but a playboy; he had allowed Vietcong and North Vietnamese to station in Cambodia; He was siding with the Khmer Rouge; had kowtowed to Vietnam, China and never been friendly to the West, etc…

For those who look for the King’s positive side, they are deeply mourning the passing away of their revered “God King” with love, respect and compassion.

Regardless of what the King had done wrong, they will forgive and willing to forget. Their mind will be at peace and there is no hatred left. Perhaps they will be happier than those who possess hatred...

They would praise the King for his work to help gain independence for Cambodia; love him for giving Cambodia Peace for many years; admire him for standing strong against America; thank him for helping Cambodia to achieve a peaceful solution with the current regime, etc…

One chapter of Cambodian history is finally closed. The talk of the town will continue for a while and then Cambodia will move on without the former King. Another “God King” has not been created or born or perhaps Cambodians will become their own “King.”

The future of Cambodia will depend on whether Cambodians can learn from our adversity and defeat and figure out how to build a better Cambodia together.

Khmer people need to think right. With accurate thinking Cambodians will be able to see things clearly and in order to think accurately Cambodians must avoid negative emotions because such emotions will lead to more confusion. No one in this world can do things right when they are confused.

Universal law permits no one to become successful when he or she possesses negative emotions such as hatred, revenge, jealousy, anger, fear, greed and superstition, etc…For these reasons the best thing that we all can do is to stop recycling these destructive emotions.

Picture: Author's record

For me I would say farewell to the former head of State, the former Prince, and the former King…the history will judge him and he must deal with the law of Karma….the law of cause and effect or Karma which rules the Universe will determine the King’s fate.

Yes, I used to love him when I was once a young high school boy who was diving from the crowd to grab his hand under the hot sun;

...then I was disgusted with his policy and my blood boiled when I learned that he allowed the Vietcong and North Vietnamese to use Cambodia to fight the Americans;

Then…I despised him when the Khmer Rouge, his communist ally, sent me to be executed.

Then my heart melted when he decided to turn against the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in 1979…and the world knows the rest of the story.

…and then the one other thing that the King and I had in common was music. Music has no color and although he could not sing well, the King was a good musician… And for whatever will happen to Cambodia next, I will always like his music… and I will remember the times when he and I used to play together…

As for the King and I, he is gone and I hold no grudges: I am at peace.

R.I.P

Good bye "God King!"

Timothy Chhim

October 14, 2012
February 1, 2013