They can't stop us, on the road to freedom.

They can't stop us, cuz our eyes can see.

Men with insight. Men in granite.

Nights in armor, intent on chivalry.          van morrisson

KSaron,
My dear friend. Let me give you a quote from MLK,

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of
comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and
controversy.
US black civil rights leader & clergyman (1929 - 1968)

we grow from our sufferings, why don't we hold a discussion from time to time in the shoutbox? i dont like to talk in forum that much...focus on individuals...stop changing people, but ourselves.

People will find inspiration in successful Khmers (assuming they act professionally & not high and mighty) who put back to the community/race,

yeah, I'm waiting for that day to come. I'm a pessimist when it comes to a lot of khmers.

I agree with everyone: reformation, even a small one, will take time and will progress slowly. There's not much an outsider (ex-pat) can do to change the mentality of a group of people - much less a large population of a third world country. All we can do is help in our own little way and hope that eventually people will understand the difference between right and wrong, black and white and learn to help themselves.

i heard the same thing from you for the last so and so year....  

sorry, I didn't mean to say you can't change people at all. What I meant by "you can't change people" is that you can't force change or expect changes because ultimately, they are the ones who choose to change themselves, not really under your will. But you are right  that it takes a lot of work to change. It's not only going to take a lot of work on their part and your part but also going to be very frustrating on your part. Yes, I agree, it's better just to close your eyes than fight. That's my view too until I can help them. If not, I rather not know.

KS,

you got a grand heart and i think i may know you a bit online. for that i am grateful...to some degrees i think i can understand the frustration that goes on when one tries to tackle the problems of cambodia either politically and or economically...cambodia looks hopeless. but, i for one, does not give up hope. while i don't do anything to help cambodia much, given the oportunity, i will. however, i also depend on their own intelligence and effort. they must see for themselves what is right vs. what is wrong...in a country that is so devoid of rigthness and ever so hopeless, there is a glimmer of hope to be found. it is dim and few cannot see it, yet. they mustn't until the time is right. that is the way it should be.

forge on with your endeavors...one can only do what is within one's enlightenment and means. no one can tackle the world, but only his immediate world. like a wave effect, the good will resonate where it counts.

Agent, I think people are capable to change but it's not easy and that I know.  Just noticing myself that I have changed, changed in how I see and believe in Khmer.  Khmer has changed and I see very little dignity in them in what they have become.  More and more have become the things I don't want to see and for that I am letting go.  I am another soul that is caught and flowing with the current.  It is easier to close my eyes then to fight it.

Oh, I'm not assuming you haven't done anything for the Khmer community because I know you have. You can't change people; only thing you can do is help them, that's really it. All you can be is the change that you want to see in this world (ok that sounds lame, but I got this from Ghandi).

Better Khmer nation? Why not focus small, like better Khmer community in America, or better Khmer family, or better Khmer person? Something we have a little more control of. I think if we start small it'll cause a domino effect towards a better Khmer nation. People will find inspiration in successful Khmers (assuming they act professionally & not high and mighty) who put back to the community/race,

 goodbye to politics?