I was walking through a Canadian museum where haunting black and white photographs filled every wall.
The photos were of people...
…lines and lines and lines of people.
The faces were staring down at me with hauntingly beautiful eyes. Some of the eyes held sorrow, others worry. But each of those faces told the brutal story of Cambodia’s history – Pol Pot’s savage killing of the nation’s people.
“First They Killed My Father” is Loung Ung’s story.
She was one of seven children, living happily in Phnom Penh. Her father was a high-ranking government official.
Life was a wonderful adventure –
until the alarms started...
until the trucks started rolling in...
until Pol Pot’s Khmer Army stormed the city
and forced everyone out.
It was 1975. She was five.
Suddenly, Loung Ung’s life of privilege was her biggest threat. She was taught to lie. She rubbed charcoal into her face, to cover her pale skin.
She learned that neighbours couldn’t be trusted...
That everyone was a possible spy.
She learned that people could be taken away – suddenly and without warning.
She learned that, sometimes... these people didn’t come back.
Slowly, day by day, food became scarce and hunger set in.
Slowly, one by one, members of her family were killed.
Eventually, the only way to survive was for the children to separate.
Loung Ung’s siblings were sent to labour camps. She was sent to train to be a child soldier.
Finally, Pol Pot was defeated.
Finally, the country was able to step towards the future.
Finally, Loung Ung was heading towards her family reunion.
Now, Loung Ung is living in America. Loung Ung’s sister, Chou still lives in Cambodia.
Leaving for America was Loung Ung’s happiest and most awful day. She was chosen to leave Cambodia - instead of her sister. She lived with guilt for years. The sound of a balloon popping or a car backfiring was enough to send the memories of bullets flying into her thoughts.
By writing “First They Killed My Father”, she relived all of the memories, helping herself to move forward. By writing this book, she has explained a tragic history in simple terms, filled with sorrow and fear.
The book is beautiful - in all of its brutality.
After a life of war, living a life of fear and sorrow is like giving in to the soldiers.
Loung Ung refuses to give in.
Her favourite quote is one of Albert Einstein’s – “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
Everything is a miracle.
What a wonderful way to approach life.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4373.First_They_Killed_My_Father
http://www.harpercollins.com.au/author/authorExtra.aspx?authorID=50016322&displayType=interview
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