Taking a moment to think
First, it starts with the post found by clicking on either of these cranes:
Second, it's me reminiscing about some imparted live experience.
Admittedly, I've never lived through war. I don't know what it is to live under the oppression of a dictator, under the fear of torture, or under the threat of sudden bombing or shooting. I've never had to scavenge for food or work myself to the bone for a tiny portion of rice. I've never had to try and escape my birthland and sleep amongst corpses and disease-infested body remains during such attempt. In fact, I was born after my family successfully took refuge in Canada and lead a very quiet life with little to no hardships.
The older generations of my family however, starting with those my sister's age, came from either China or Cambodia. The grandparents (both sides) escaped China to avoid the Japanese invasion, but then everyone from their generation down to my older siblings (both living and deceased) and my older cousins who lived/were born in Cambodia were under the rule of the Khmer Rouge had to face the hardships I first mentioned. Mom gave birth three times while in Cambodia, but her youngest at the time (my older brother) was underweighed and died not three days after his birth since mom hardly had any nourishment at the time of her pregnancy and was forced to work even when she was ill/pregnant. Later, my second oldest sister passed away from illness while they were trying to leave Cambodia for Thailand in order to get to refugee camps. One of my older cousins also stepped on a landmine and met an unfortunate end. I was told that a lot of my family members went missing, either because they were in a different refuge camp and subsequently lost contact with my side of the family or just went MIA during the regime. When everyone came to Canada, or left for the U.S./New Zealand, they had to start from nothing, having lost their papers, diploma, personal belongings and savings. The younger generation (i.e. my two younger uncles, my older cousins and my sister) was given an opportunity to study and get good careers. The older generation ended up with little jobs, scraping what money they could save to pay for the costs of living and getting the younger generation what they needed for their education.
I can't say I fully understand the impact such events has on a person since I haven't experienced it at all. I can't say I miss my missing family members when I've never met them. I can't either say that I have the drive my older relatives have to succeed and do well for themselves. Instead, I've been spoiled and given so much choice and freedom that I can say I'm ashamed of how I take my life for granted.
Despite all that though, I don't wish to experience war nor do I wish it on anyone. It's horrible enough--though an abstract concept--to learn about what others lose (their possessions, their livehood, their humanity sometimes) during that. It's bad enough that I won't ever get the chance to experience having more than the one older sibling and lost my last two living grandparents while they lived here. I know I don't want to chance losing anyone else that I love to war either.
It's too much to ask that everyone gets along and stops fighting whenever conflict happens. Some people have a really radical way of thinking while others are dedicated to defending others against such individuals. There are reasons why war happens and why soldiers are being sent out to participate in them. But still, there are people who are swept into those unfortunate moments and suffer the consequence of other people's actions.
This little post won't help with the situation of the oppressed, but... it's at least something. There are ways to help these people, even the slightest bit, and that usually starts with actually thinking about the situation and doing what we can to help.
Second, it's me reminiscing about some imparted live experience.
Admittedly, I've never lived through war. I don't know what it is to live under the oppression of a dictator, under the fear of torture, or under the threat of sudden bombing or shooting. I've never had to scavenge for food or work myself to the bone for a tiny portion of rice. I've never had to try and escape my birthland and sleep amongst corpses and disease-infested body remains during such attempt. In fact, I was born after my family successfully took refuge in Canada and lead a very quiet life with little to no hardships.
The older generations of my family however, starting with those my sister's age, came from either China or Cambodia. The grandparents (both sides) escaped China to avoid the Japanese invasion, but then everyone from their generation down to my older siblings (both living and deceased) and my older cousins who lived/were born in Cambodia were under the rule of the Khmer Rouge had to face the hardships I first mentioned. Mom gave birth three times while in Cambodia, but her youngest at the time (my older brother) was underweighed and died not three days after his birth since mom hardly had any nourishment at the time of her pregnancy and was forced to work even when she was ill/pregnant. Later, my second oldest sister passed away from illness while they were trying to leave Cambodia for Thailand in order to get to refugee camps. One of my older cousins also stepped on a landmine and met an unfortunate end. I was told that a lot of my family members went missing, either because they were in a different refuge camp and subsequently lost contact with my side of the family or just went MIA during the regime. When everyone came to Canada, or left for the U.S./New Zealand, they had to start from nothing, having lost their papers, diploma, personal belongings and savings. The younger generation (i.e. my two younger uncles, my older cousins and my sister) was given an opportunity to study and get good careers. The older generation ended up with little jobs, scraping what money they could save to pay for the costs of living and getting the younger generation what they needed for their education.
I can't say I fully understand the impact such events has on a person since I haven't experienced it at all. I can't say I miss my missing family members when I've never met them. I can't either say that I have the drive my older relatives have to succeed and do well for themselves. Instead, I've been spoiled and given so much choice and freedom that I can say I'm ashamed of how I take my life for granted.
Despite all that though, I don't wish to experience war nor do I wish it on anyone. It's horrible enough--though an abstract concept--to learn about what others lose (their possessions, their livehood, their humanity sometimes) during that. It's bad enough that I won't ever get the chance to experience having more than the one older sibling and lost my last two living grandparents while they lived here. I know I don't want to chance losing anyone else that I love to war either.
It's too much to ask that everyone gets along and stops fighting whenever conflict happens. Some people have a really radical way of thinking while others are dedicated to defending others against such individuals. There are reasons why war happens and why soldiers are being sent out to participate in them. But still, there are people who are swept into those unfortunate moments and suffer the consequence of other people's actions.
This little post won't help with the situation of the oppressed, but... it's at least something. There are ways to help these people, even the slightest bit, and that usually starts with actually thinking about the situation and doing what we can to help.