What has the past 50 years meant to my homeland

As far as the majority of world is ; concerned the date, April,12 1975 doesn’t hold any significance. For some around around the world this day can be considered special.

For a small number… 20 to be exact, this day represents our exit from our homeland and the start of our new lives. As much difficulty as we 20 orphans have faced, and as many hidden pieces of baggage we have, flourished and as one of our tour mates said, “just the survival of your four (pointing to John Christal, Kouy and I), have continues your lineages.” I’d never thought of our survival in those terms. Feel that this mindset could be something worth considering.  Between the five of us there are 19 kids in the next generation of this  family 

I know it won’t fix anything for me but reframing some of my toxic thoughts might help me build something new.  

The last 50 years for my home land has been know mostly for something other than the massive temples and building they built the thousand years before.

Most the last 50 years my was at war, and mostly with its self. With the final peace being agreed upon in 2014. 

The last 50 years has been a continuation of the two years before, with my people being dominated by outside force with no real benefit. The scars of colonialism, imperialism, capitalism and communism all exist here

The last 50 years should serve as a reminder to the rest of the world what resilience looks like. 

The past 50 years have give my people the hottest fires to mold and shape the steel encased souls of my people. 

The last 50 years never had a chance in its attempts to crush the wills of my people. With their heritage and history the world could take a lesson in forgiveness and empathy.   

The past 50 years as seen me return to my homeland twice, once with my beloved wife and once with three of my four kids. Each time I fallen more in love with this country, her people, and their smiles.  

Lastly, on this date 50 years ago I left Cambodia on a plane, of knowing if I would ever rerturn. And today April 12th 2025, fifty years later I put my daughter on my plane, know full well that she will return. She can feel the warmth of the people and the draw of the land.  

I believe this land is blessed and magical. I also believe the past fifty years should not define this land or her people. The 1000 years before the last fifty should have much more to say about this land and her people.  

I will never forget that this is my home and many unimaginable terror happened but I can also say the that the next fifty years need to the story of good fortune that my people deserve.