From what my friend told our class about the effects of the 1970 invasion of Cambodia (the one that led to the Kent State shooting), I was surprised to see him so friendly.
Given the same circumstances, I doubt I'd be so forgiving. Because of the covert U.S. bombing missions -- the ones that were either officially denied by the U.S. or disguised with false coordinates in official reports -- my classmate's father could not finish school.
I'm ashamed that what happened to the Cambodian people was in part because of our actions, but I am grateful for my classmates's ability to see beyond the past and accept my friendship in the present.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Past and present
Today, I took my Cambodian classmate out for his first trip to KFC. While we were there, we ran into a Vietnam veteran, and started up a conversation. My classmate asked me to take a picture.
From what my friend told our class about the effects of the 1970 invasion of Cambodia (the one that led to the Kent State shooting), I was surprised to see him so friendly.
Given the same circumstances, I doubt I'd be so forgiving. Because of the covert U.S. bombing missions -- the ones that were either officially denied by the U.S. or disguised with false coordinates in official reports -- my classmate's father could not finish school.
I'm ashamed that what happened to the Cambodian people was in part because of our actions, but I am grateful for my classmates's ability to see beyond the past and accept my friendship in the present.
From what my friend told our class about the effects of the 1970 invasion of Cambodia (the one that led to the Kent State shooting), I was surprised to see him so friendly.
Given the same circumstances, I doubt I'd be so forgiving. Because of the covert U.S. bombing missions -- the ones that were either officially denied by the U.S. or disguised with false coordinates in official reports -- my classmate's father could not finish school.
I'm ashamed that what happened to the Cambodian people was in part because of our actions, but I am grateful for my classmates's ability to see beyond the past and accept my friendship in the present.
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