Making my blood boil
Did they do it deliberately to raise my hackles? The Phnom Penh Post gave a whole page to focus on Christian missionaries in Cambodia in their Wednesday edition, which was guaranteed to make my blood boil. Even mentioning them is bad enough but to give them a whole page with a photo of two clean-cut, white-shirted Mormon 'butter-wouldn't melt' hometown boys on their cycles and quotes like; "My purpose is to welcome others to come into the Word of Christ. I wouldn't be here if I didn't love it." I abhor them and their crap. Apparently 13 million people worldwide believe their bullshit, with 8,000 of them here in Cambodia. And they're just one of the Christian groups infesting the country, converting unsuspecting locals in their wake and reporting their successes back to HQ. They haven't knocked on my door yet but when they do there'll be fireworks.
Luckily they didn't knock last night, as I didn't even have the energy to open the door! Yesterday afternoon I got off work a couple of hours early to play football at the Old Stadium for the Bayon Wanderers midweek team against regular opponents Devenco. I am still weeks away from anywhere near proper fitness and I was blowing out of my arse at the final whistle, even though I only played about sixty minutes in two spurts. Up until now I didn't really appreciate the impact that my seven-year lay-off has had on my body. It's got used to not running, not breathing, not stretching, literally not doing anything sporty and its fighting back as I try to get it approaching my former fitness levels. Niggling injuries haven't helped, neither has an irritating chest cough but excuses aside, I have to be realistic and tell myself that I will never regain the speed and agility that I used to possess - well, I would say that wouldn't I. No-one else thought I was fast or agile but I think you get the picture. Oh, and the result, we lost a close-fought game, 2-1.
Luckily they didn't knock last night, as I didn't even have the energy to open the door! Yesterday afternoon I got off work a couple of hours early to play football at the Old Stadium for the Bayon Wanderers midweek team against regular opponents Devenco. I am still weeks away from anywhere near proper fitness and I was blowing out of my arse at the final whistle, even though I only played about sixty minutes in two spurts. Up until now I didn't really appreciate the impact that my seven-year lay-off has had on my body. It's got used to not running, not breathing, not stretching, literally not doing anything sporty and its fighting back as I try to get it approaching my former fitness levels. Niggling injuries haven't helped, neither has an irritating chest cough but excuses aside, I have to be realistic and tell myself that I will never regain the speed and agility that I used to possess - well, I would say that wouldn't I. No-one else thought I was fast or agile but I think you get the picture. Oh, and the result, we lost a close-fought game, 2-1.
posted by Andy Brouwer at
5:25 PM
16 Comments:
Take it easy, Andy. Eventually, they will meet the same fate of 1950s American US"AID" workers distributing fertilizers among the Khmer peasants to double the rice production. When they returned to monitor the following crop, they discovered the Khmers had planted only half of the original area. If fertilizers double the production, then it's enough to seed only half of the area... This the ethics of these quakers and the spirit of capitalism will never understand. --- ANON-ENTITY
I'm all talk Anon, hahahaha.
I get easily riled when I see these do-gooders cycling around the streets of Phnom Penh. I think deportation orders should be compulsory for anyone wearing a crisp white shirt, a cycle helmet and carrying a bible in a small daysack!
By the way, I didn't reply to your other post last week as I couldn't find it once I'd accepted it! I don't think I've deliberately blocked any of your comments, even though I don't always agree with them...however, its my Blog so I reserve the right to allow/deny any comment.
They are not bad people, just misguided and brainwashed.
A lot of Khmers that go along to the Mormon church don't fall for it.
They just go for the freebies...
they sound like robots and automotons, of course they are brainwashed, but that failure to grasp reality is very dangerous.
i understand too that many khmers are what the article called 'rice christians' and will change their faith to whatever serves their purpose. if i was living on a couple of thousand riels per day I'd be willing to say just about anything to guarantee my next meal, and my children's meals.
anyone who can keep a shirt that white in a country this hot and dusty should not be trusted!!
yes yes yes, I suggest another law that imposes an initial fine (at least 2,000 riels) for anyone caught wearing a clean, well-pressed white shirt, but if they have a bible on their person and are freshly-shaven and keep mentioning God in every sentence, and are on a bicycle, then immediate deportation is the only remedy. That'll reduce the traffic on Phnom Penh's streets to a trickle.
Yep, that good old fashioned 'unconditional' fundamentalist Christian 'love' at work again. You can see what it did to the Native peoples here in the States, Hawaii, etc. Agree with you on all fronts Andy. Thanks for calling it like it is.
Anti-Mormon bombast is no different than the anti-semitic crap that took the world by storm in the 30's & 40's. It's not like they are coming in with guns and bad ideology...like say those atheistic communists of the 70's. Hating people for wanting to spread the peace they find in their religion is normal behavior, and your apparent disgust is difficult to understand. I am no Mormon, but I can attest that every Mormon I have known has been above average in character. Robotic? No more than your knee-jerk & pedestrian criticisms.
Dear Anon, as an atheist I can see straight through all this crap and anyone that needs God to that extent in their life or mentions HIM in every sentence is blinded by the bullshit they've been fed. Its that simple.
You are talking bollocks regarding your historical references, I'm happy for Mormons or anyone else to stay in their own backyard and brainwash themselves, but when they bring their crap to the other side of the world is when I get pissed off. The locals are Buddhist and that's what I want them to remain, and to strengthen, especially after they've had to endure so much pain already.
Your comments are welcome but leave your name next time.
Hi Andy. Speaking as a spiritual-but-not-religious person, I understand where you're coming from. I highly recommend the book "I Don't Believe in Atheists" - the author Chris Hedges writes about "fundamentalist atheists" (which you are not) and he tells us what's wrong with all stripes of fundamentalism (such as that espoused by the Khmer Rouge and other extreme groups). I think you would enjoy the read.
I studied abroad in Cambodia during 2006 and I completely agree with you. (And I share your experiences as a white person who loves Cambodia!!) I lived with a Cambodian family and my next door neighbor was a Cambodian who had converted to the Morman church. I definitely object to anon's comment about Antisemitism. I do not want to eliminate Mormans for being Morman, I just want to eliminate their practice of aggressively brainwashing Cambodians to convert based on offerings of free English classes and clean facilities for soccer leagues, etc. If the Mormans were truly to be messengers of a higher power, they would offer these things to EVERYONE.
Is the Bayon Wanderers using "clean facilities for soccer leagues" donated by Mormons???!!! That's what I didn't understand in the 1st place... It seems utter non-sense, after Mr. Brouwer's vehement rebuttal. - Tom Rosseti
Tom darling, if I knew what you were babbling on about I'd be happy to offer up a worthwhile response, but I don't, so I won't.
Sorry,Andy, i shall admit I was a lñittle bit drunk when I read these comments and involuntarilyt jumped one or two lines... I got the point now. Surely they are CIA agents, Directorate of Operations personnel undercover of Mormons, no doubt. But all things considered, I dont see any reason at all why the Bayon Wonders shd refuse an offer of clean facilities. The way I see things, I wouldn't do absoluteny any distincction at all, wheteher they are undercover agents or real boring robotic Mormons as they used to be wherever... Take their offer and be pragmatrix, man! I want to see you scoring more often! - Affectionately, Tom
Hi Andy,
that's why I said the other day I definitely deserve a namecheck in TO CAMBODIA WITH LOVE: every comment I post sparks a huge controversy: nothing more than 13 comments following mine! And say anonymous contributions are often underrated...
Next time you refer to me - if you please - use capitals: ANON-ENTITY, not just "Anon"...
One of the main reasons I need to get the hell out of the 'good 'ol US of A' for at least a month every year (and to a Buddhist country as well :). I like a lot about the states (outside of our current president, the neocons, 'religious right' (oxymoron if there ever was one...) and, 'God' forbid, current 'older presidential contender'...) but it is ironic what's ended up happening here, given that it was a country founded by people trying to get the hell away from the ones you've rightly called the true shit on. Keep seeing "straight through all the crap" and calling the bollocks like it is Andy. As Thomas Paine said (and to paraphrase the Buddha), "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance".
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