This book is definitely not a history reference. The first chapter will put off any serious scholar of Cambodia with its gross errors. I was surprised that David Chandler provided a supporting statement for the jacket given the book’s many factual and stylistic errors.
[…] Norani Abu Bakar is a Post Graduate Fellow at Yale Centre for Faith and Culture (YCFR) and the Asia Project Director of Pathways for Mutual Respect (PFMR). She can be contacted at [email protected] and blogs at Loving God and Neighbors. […]
[…] Joshua Woo Sze Zeng’s “Apostasy in Malaysia: The Hidden View,” has showcased the scholarship of some renowned Muslim scholars and leaders, their perspective […]
ASEAN is a matter of prestige and legitimacy. They were never going to blackball Burma anyway, only the US could get in the way.
Sanctions on the other hand relate to more down to earth money matters, and it’s two birds with one stone what the govt is trying to hit. Than Shwe’s favourite grandson has already made a trip to gay Paris they say.
The latest is ASSK has decided to re-register the NLD and contest the by-elections, another more or less foregone conclusion given the lack of options. A slippery slope to turn collaborator, corrupted by power (they’ll probably give her some obscure ministerial post like culture), or inside the fortress walls like a Trojan horse (less likely to survive and not rumbled) only time will tell.
This clear-headed, excellent review is fairer to Brinkley than Brinkley is to Cambodia. Brinkley is a hanging judge, who came to Cambodia convinced beforehand , without much evidence,that the country was accursed.
How does anyone know whether the current situation has been handled competently or not? What is the benchmark? You don’t know if anyone could have “done better”. Hindsight is always 20/20. Opinions are like *rseholes – everyone’s got one.
The family home in Rangsit has been under water for weeks – some reports have said up to 2m. We don’t know, as we can’t get there. We’re not expecting any help from any official sources – they’re more likely to be an impediment. All we want is access to the stuff we need to clean, repair and rebuild without hindrance.
I endorse this review completely even though I am cited as source in the text and the acknowledgements. Although many of the details are correct, Brinkley frames them into sweeping judgments about Cambodia and its future that his superficial knowledge of the country’s history and culture do not qualify him to make. And as the reviewer says these judgments are wrong on the face of it as one can see if he/she visits Cambodia today. This is a pity because the same basic information could have been used to write a constructive argument for targeted changes that would spur further development in Cambodia rather than confide it to the trash heap of history.
Good that you’ve taken this trite to task because it exposes myopic perceptions of Cambodia. Though I wonder if this book, and books like it even deserve to be reviewed. Sort of gives them a legitimacy beyond the airport book shop.
I don’t see that Arthur (c12) is “jumping to conclusions”.
“This government” is clear enough and “civilian government” is clear enough. Put it this way – the US Government (yes, for its own reasons) is saying that they like this “boat” the way it is and don’t want to see it “rocked”.
Arthur (c12) – that interpretation certainly seems to fit.
For further insight into US State Dept/Administration thinking, I recommend reading “Background Briefing with Senior Administration Officials” to be found at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/11/177158.htm *
There’s a lot of it (first section about the Philippines), but – as a reward for your persistence – there’s a great “mis-speak” that appears at the start of the Thailand section.
Hint: relates to the title of a political office.*
Arthur is jumping to conclusions I fear. Ms Clinton did not call for Prayuth etc to be put on trial for last years killings or others for Tak Bai etc.
The US always pretends to be pro civilian and pro democracy but is really only happy when these coincide with US strategic interests. Ms Clinton has probably satisfied herself that the US (CIA) – Thai alliance is unthreatened by the new government and hence her comments.
Flooding this year has affected 64 of Thailand’s 77 provinces, shuttered 10,000 factories, destroyed 15 percent of the nation’s rice crop and threatened the homes of 20 percent of the country’s 67 million people, and, the death toll rose to 567, according to government data. Fetid waters perfumed by human/animal feces and uncollected tons of garbage remain in many parts of the Bangkok and in deep unreached parts of Thailand.
But that is NOT important or urgent. What is important and urgent is to get the amnesty completed for Beloved Leader Thaksin.
Yingluck’s performance and priorities continue to astound and amaze.
It appears that the U.S. government/State Dept. has at long last abandoned the ex-Ambassador Boyce policy of Thai generals and royalists first and come down firmly on the side of Thai voters.
You mention belief in an afterlife/rebirth in connection with a Buddhist tradition about which you are dubious
Perhaps you should learn to do “intense meditation” This may provide an insight to the issue. Intense meditation is different from the general meditation taught at meditation centres.
Doing “intense meditation” causes one to have “visions” and experience detachment of consciousness. (OBE – Out of Body experience) This may only be a state of mind, but makes for a very interesting experience. Generally one can expect to experience that with about 2-3 months of deligent practice – good luck
Though poor Indonesian students can be proud to join the list of illustrious and more expensive luminaries such as Jeffrey Sachs. Thanks to lobby groups like FBC and APCO, working through major media agencies such as BBC, Malaysia is now the darling of many people.
It really is a storm in a teacup, especially given that paid protesters are so prevalent in Indonesia – surely the rich paying poor people to exert political pressure is far more controversial than giving some kids some lunch money to support sports teams and learn a bit about other countries in the region.
I couldn’t give a toss about the labels – the family house in Pathum Thani has been under water for over a month, and 5000 baht if you provide a shed load of dry paperwork isn’t any help. You can’t even get to the house to take the “glorious high definition technicolour” photographs required.
I have no axe to grind with Yingluck, but the assertion that the “worst is over’ is fatuous – lady, the problems are only just beginning …
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Review of Cambodia’s Curse
This book is definitely not a history reference. The first chapter will put off any serious scholar of Cambodia with its gross errors. I was surprised that David Chandler provided a supporting statement for the jacket given the book’s many factual and stylistic errors.
Freedom of faith for Malaysian Malays
[…] Norani Abu Bakar is a Post Graduate Fellow at Yale Centre for Faith and Culture (YCFR) and the Asia Project Director of Pathways for Mutual Respect (PFMR). She can be contacted at [email protected] and blogs at Loving God and Neighbors. […]
Apostasy in Malaysia: The hidden view
[…] Joshua Woo Sze Zeng’s “Apostasy in Malaysia: The Hidden View,” has showcased the scholarship of some renowned Muslim scholars and leaders, their perspective […]
Media, politics, Burma
Soe Thane,
ASEAN is a matter of prestige and legitimacy. They were never going to blackball Burma anyway, only the US could get in the way.
Sanctions on the other hand relate to more down to earth money matters, and it’s two birds with one stone what the govt is trying to hit. Than Shwe’s favourite grandson has already made a trip to gay Paris they say.
The latest is ASSK has decided to re-register the NLD and contest the by-elections, another more or less foregone conclusion given the lack of options. A slippery slope to turn collaborator, corrupted by power (they’ll probably give her some obscure ministerial post like culture), or inside the fortress walls like a Trojan horse (less likely to survive and not rumbled) only time will tell.
Review of Cambodia’s Curse
This clear-headed, excellent review is fairer to Brinkley than Brinkley is to Cambodia. Brinkley is a hanging judge, who came to Cambodia convinced beforehand , without much evidence,that the country was accursed.
The toll of flooding on lives and politics
How does anyone know whether the current situation has been handled competently or not? What is the benchmark? You don’t know if anyone could have “done better”. Hindsight is always 20/20. Opinions are like *rseholes – everyone’s got one.
The family home in Rangsit has been under water for weeks – some reports have said up to 2m. We don’t know, as we can’t get there. We’re not expecting any help from any official sources – they’re more likely to be an impediment. All we want is access to the stuff we need to clean, repair and rebuild without hindrance.
Review of Cambodia’s Curse
I endorse this review completely even though I am cited as source in the text and the acknowledgements. Although many of the details are correct, Brinkley frames them into sweeping judgments about Cambodia and its future that his superficial knowledge of the country’s history and culture do not qualify him to make. And as the reviewer says these judgments are wrong on the face of it as one can see if he/she visits Cambodia today. This is a pity because the same basic information could have been used to write a constructive argument for targeted changes that would spur further development in Cambodia rather than confide it to the trash heap of history.
Review of Cambodia’s Curse
Good that you’ve taken this trite to task because it exposes myopic perceptions of Cambodia. Though I wonder if this book, and books like it even deserve to be reviewed. Sort of gives them a legitimacy beyond the airport book shop.
Review of Cambodia’s Curse
Hardly a surprise that a book written by a Journalist – an American one, at that – would treat an incredibly complex issue tritely and superficially.
Good review of an appalling, badly written, poorly researched and politically biased book.
Big sister in town
Ricky (c13)
I don’t see that Arthur (c12) is “jumping to conclusions”.
“This government” is clear enough and “civilian government” is clear enough. Put it this way – the US Government (yes, for its own reasons) is saying that they like this “boat” the way it is and don’t want to see it “rocked”.
Big sister in town
Arthur (c12) – that interpretation certainly seems to fit.
For further insight into US State Dept/Administration thinking, I recommend reading “Background Briefing with Senior Administration Officials” to be found at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/11/177158.htm *
There’s a lot of it (first section about the Philippines), but – as a reward for your persistence – there’s a great “mis-speak” that appears at the start of the Thailand section.
Hint: relates to the title of a political office.*
* h/t to Bangkok Pundit who spotted this.
Big sister in town
Arthur is jumping to conclusions I fear. Ms Clinton did not call for Prayuth etc to be put on trial for last years killings or others for Tak Bai etc.
The US always pretends to be pro civilian and pro democracy but is really only happy when these coincide with US strategic interests. Ms Clinton has probably satisfied herself that the US (CIA) – Thai alliance is unthreatened by the new government and hence her comments.
The toll of flooding on lives and politics
Flooding this year has affected 64 of Thailand’s 77 provinces, shuttered 10,000 factories, destroyed 15 percent of the nation’s rice crop and threatened the homes of 20 percent of the country’s 67 million people, and, the death toll rose to 567, according to government data. Fetid waters perfumed by human/animal feces and uncollected tons of garbage remain in many parts of the Bangkok and in deep unreached parts of Thailand.
But that is NOT important or urgent. What is important and urgent is to get the amnesty completed for Beloved Leader Thaksin.
Yingluck’s performance and priorities continue to astound and amaze.
Big sister in town
It appears that the U.S. government/State Dept. has at long last abandoned the ex-Ambassador Boyce policy of Thai generals and royalists first and come down firmly on the side of Thai voters.
Bravo!
Big sister in town
As an update to what I posted in c2, the following was tweeted by US Ambassador Kristie Kenney on the HC/YS press conference:
Secretary Clinton says we are “proud to stand with Thailand” as you face devastating floods #ClintonBKK
“the United States stands firmly behind the civilian government of Thailand”. SecClinton says at press con w Thai PM Yingluck. #ClintonBKK
Words like “civilian” don’t appear by accident. Seems we’ve moved on from Thai politics just being “spicy”…..
Unpopular facts about one of Buddhist philosophy’s most popular doctrines
Billy Budd,
You mention belief in an afterlife/rebirth in connection with a Buddhist tradition about which you are dubious
Perhaps you should learn to do “intense meditation” This may provide an insight to the issue. Intense meditation is different from the general meditation taught at meditation centres.
Doing “intense meditation” causes one to have “visions” and experience detachment of consciousness. (OBE – Out of Body experience) This may only be a state of mind, but makes for a very interesting experience. Generally one can expect to experience that with about 2-3 months of deligent practice – good luck
Shock horror – Indonesians paid to cheer for Malaysia!
Malaysia Boleh (Malaysia Can!)
Interesting that Indonesia would do this.
Though poor Indonesian students can be proud to join the list of illustrious and more expensive luminaries such as Jeffrey Sachs. Thanks to lobby groups like FBC and APCO, working through major media agencies such as BBC, Malaysia is now the darling of many people.
Shock horror – Indonesians paid to cheer for Malaysia!
It really is a storm in a teacup, especially given that paid protesters are so prevalent in Indonesia – surely the rich paying poor people to exert political pressure is far more controversial than giving some kids some lunch money to support sports teams and learn a bit about other countries in the region.
The princess and the FROC
I couldn’t give a toss about the labels – the family house in Pathum Thani has been under water for over a month, and 5000 baht if you provide a shed load of dry paperwork isn’t any help. You can’t even get to the house to take the “glorious high definition technicolour” photographs required.
I have no axe to grind with Yingluck, but the assertion that the “worst is over’ is fatuous – lady, the problems are only just beginning …
Big sister in town
Clarification – Pannada Disakul charged with “cleaning up Chiang Mai” not the previous major