Thread: Are you...khmer!?

alright thanks man... i just needs to learn how to read khmer and stuff... i only know how to speak basic stuff

Originally Posted by DoDonts

I guess I'm not Khmer because I can only speak it? Whose to say you are or aren't just because of small set backs? I'm Khmer because both my parents are Khmer, they have Khmer blood in them and so do I, and of course through the many centuries our blood is a little mixed with other ethnicities, but I'll just keep it simple, I am Khmer. Anyone that says different needs a foot up their arse, have a nice day.

...those mornings again.

well said dodonts, the first time i was over seas in cambodia i had issues with the same question, it's really a matter of self identity and the need for people to feel "better than thou" in some form or fashion. i mean if your American and are illiterate that makes you less of an American why? if your not educated and can't tell me who abe lincon is that makes you less of an American how? the same can be said for everyone in cambodia not every one there is educated, not everyone can read and write, and i'm sure not everyone there like many of us can recite our history or even tell you the khmer tale of creation.
i do appreciate the post if anything it will get people thinking. not saying i'm right i just trowing it out there. the biggest thing for me was this. in America i'm Cambodian and immigrant, i speak cambodian, look cambodian and am judge like i'm not an American. hell even failed a college eng lit class because the teacher wanted me to go to esl, but in cambodia i'm not cambodian. people look at me and think outsider. even through i can speak it,was born there and my parents are from there, it doesn't matter that i have relatives there, i'm still treated as someone who isn't khmer. so then i ask you if your shuned from both what am i?
in the end i guess it what you define your self. again AdvancedAngel i'm not trying to flame or dis here in fact i'm glad this came up as it will get people thinking and it's better to have asked your self these questions than to have not. i find you are always a stronger person if you can tackle this issue, and understand who you are despite what other people say.

oh no sophath2006 i completely agree with you, i'm just getting at the fact that it can't be defined, everyone will question your identity , including you yourself.my point being is that there is no answer to how "khmer" you are. it's self defined. by going out and saying i'm more khmer than you are because i can speak and write it, means nothing. yea you might be more culturally aware but in the end what does that prove. i agree my daughter will grow up knowing our language and i will teach her as much about our culture as my wife and i can, but really man, i am really better than the next guy? everyone has to go through life with what it troughs at you. my college roommate is khmer and can't read or write, has never been to Cambodia, but i tell you this he done more than his fair share in community service to young khmer kids in Asian youth centers. he's put in way more time than i have at many khmer centers and outings. hell he evens been to temples. point is he's more apart of the khmer community than i ever will be. he knows who he is and makes no calls to be anything else. these so called khmer traits what are they? the question is no simple thing. yea i'm khmer because i like rice, or because i gamble. my point is it's a big question with no right answer. and we should all think on it for our selves, and to try not to hold others to our own standards as to what khmer is. if that was the case i would have never been good friends with my roomate. in highscool, i was all khmer prided out. wouldn't look at you unless you could speak khmer, and understood what i was all about. you know what that made me, a bigot. took me some time before i understood that. being friends with my nonspeaking khmer roomate taught me alot. just food for thought. think on it.again don't take my words as this is how it should be. think on it for yourself and believe what you feel is right. god knows i'm wrong on many many things. lol i'll probly change my mind next week. also if i offend anyone say so and i will apologize. i'm glad this thread was started it's allowed me to put a lot thoughts to words. something which i don't do often.

i guess . . ., i'm not khmer because i can't hardly speak it or does that count as being khmer. . . i'm totally american even though i'm asian~~~ but i do understand it... btw I can't read or write it... poor me
lol right now i'm learnin how to speak mando n not khmer instead . . .

Im khmer but can't write or read it!!!! Wish i could read it so i can sing karoake!!