Sandals sold in Vietnamese market .
Pairs of sandals (flip flops) having our national symbol Angkor Wat are sold at Vietnamese market in Vietnam. And now I'm wondering our King Sihamoni or Prime Minister Hun Sen has anything to say at all regarding this. Perhaps they pretend to hear nothing.
Even if our king or PM don't come out to say something, I feel this is wrong and very distasteful for Vietnam to market our national pride and symbol. This would be equal to having Vietnamese flag or picture of Ho Chi Minh on rolls of toilet paper. ---Vanak
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I think both of them will keep quiet and ignored this kind of national insulting from Vietnam or Thailand, however, our PM is only strong for suppressing his own people who have different ideas from him/his regime. I hope to see the fall of the regime after the 2008 ellection.
It's easy to see how the symbol of Angkor Wat printed on the insoles of sandals would offend some Khmer (and even some non-Khmer) people. Angkor Wat is the highest expression of Khmer civilization. In contrast, the soles of the feet are the lowest part of the body, and considered unclean in the Buddhist religion.
But HM King Sihamoni is also held in the highest regard, and to me at least, the King seems way too important to comment on such "low" matters as flip-flops in the market, no matter what's printed on them. I hope he remains above the fray.
What's more difficult to understand is the belief (as expressed above and elsewhere, not by Vanak) that the design, production and distribution of the these sandals are part of a multi-country conspiracy intended to insult Cambodia. That is truly paranoid.
Do those folks really think that the Thais and Vietnamese have nothing better to do than sit around all day thinking up crack-pot ideas to antagonize the Cambodian people? And that the sandals thing is the best they could do?
How about Angkor Beer, Angkor Cigarette(not sure)?
Thanks Anon@6:39 for your comments.
Thanks DAS for elaborated more on the shoes (feet) that is lowest part of the body.
Good point KK@111 on Angkor Beer and Cigarette.
I used the word "distastefully" to discribe the enterpreneur who came up with the shoes.I didn't think it's much of a conspiracy scale to insult Cambodia. Now when I thought more about it I would favour to put Angkor Wat on cigarettes, beers, shirts, gloves, socks, shoes, hats...anything we could think of. Let us all know it. The image of Angkor Wat...let us all eat, smoke, wear on our shirts,arms, feet and heads so we all know Angkor Wat in Cambodia. :) :)
As regarding to the HM former and current king (Sihanuok & Son), they truly are too busy on other affairs than to comment on such lowly matter. Perhaps their more important and urgent issues are where to distribute scarfs (kroma), packets of MSG, and kilo of rice to today ? Or how about on directing a movie ? --- these are far more important .
By the way giving scarfs to villagers does nothing to alleviate poverty.
Again, thank you all for your discussion.
Vanak,
PP
Vanak wrote: "This would be equal to having Vietnamese flag or picture of Ho Chi Minh on rolls of toilet paper."
it would be great if somebody would make these items for sale, I would imagine they would make a lot of money.
This is what Indonesians are dealing with now. Some of our country's cultures are claimed by malaysians as their national culture, just because many indonesians are working there. Non sense. I agree with you, national pride is something to stand for.
Khmer people should feel proud to have Angkor Wat picture, the symbol of Khmer nation, are more popular than ever. Nothing wrong with the Wat picture was put in a product, indeed it already was a win for Cambodia or Khmer people. Eifel Tower, the Pyramid, the Great Wall, and the statue of liberty could be found in thousand kinds of product all over the world.
In USA people are proud to wear "American flag" underwear. Myself I'll never do it because I'm not American.
You guy are too much into politic or too conservative. Angkor Wat was once one of seven Wonders, and it belonged to Khmer and the world in general. mulling over, please.
I really don't understand why the symbol of AW printed on the insoles of sandals is considered an insult. In Canada kids love Micky and Mimmie, so they have all kind of things with the mouse on it, such as the chair, toilet, shoes, flip flop, bed sheet, kleenex, pants, etc. anything you can name it. We have Maple Leaf on flip-flop, chair, underwear, etc.
Angkor Wat is one of the world wonder, but if it's not worth to put it in any product in Canada and USA in order to have a big sale. Simply because Angkor Wat is not popular enough, at least for now.
Take it easy!
Too bad!!! it is a bad habit of cambodia to do such thing before the national election. i don't surprise with that. Actually there are so many other things they have done to take down their opponents that you don't know. People afraid to say it oun in public even they want to make it public.
All in all i really feel disappointed to my country. I just can hope that everything can be a bit better.
Virak!! your blog is great!! i want to exchange link with your blog. what do you think?
Cambodia.
Thank you for visit and comments. Please do link my blog.
Thank you.
Vannak.
check out this good video
--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rckr7TiXJ3I
Thanks
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PClprwKEmeI
Good video of Khmer kroharm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndwNotIUgpE&feature=related
Blog By Khmer,
It is so ridiculous! You guys are too sensitive for such a matter. Open your mind and see the world! Don't you know that is one way that more people know about Angkor? I have been to Vietnam recently and had lots of good, kind friends. All of them suggested me to visit Cambodia, especially Angkor. They all told me that people in Cambodia are friendly and open too. I am not sure if you guys are typical Khmer or not? Do people behave like this in Cambodia? If yes, I have to think twice before deciding to spend our holiday there this Oct.
Before I go to visit a country, I often read quite a lot about that country from different points of views. Then I found this blog. I have to say that somehow you seem a bit xenophobic! In one post you mentioned your Vietnamese friends said that if there would not be a border between Cambodia and Vietnam, your feeling seemed angry? And you did not understand why they were quiet after your response? I can answer to your question! Because they never thought that you are so narrow-minded! In all the cities in Vietnam, when a foreigner (wherever they are, from a richer or poorer country) say he/she consider Vietnam his/her homeland (and even spend their life there!!!), the locals are very happy with that. So I am wondering if I apply this sentence in Cambodia (as I did in Vietnam), what would happen to me?
BTW, I found your blog interesting to read. Especially your perfect English sometimes makes me suspect that you are living in an English-speaking country, not in Cambodia?
Hello 4:39am:
Regarding having imprinted image of our Angkor Wat on shoes, at first I thought It's bad. Then I began to feel differently. As you can see the above 4th comment of my response.
Quote:
"I didn't think it's much of a conspiracy scale to insult Cambodia. Now when I thought more about it I would favour to put Angkor Wat on cigarettes, beers, shirts, gloves, socks, shoes, hats...anything we could think of. Let us all know it. The image of Angkor Wat...let us all eat, smoke, wear on our shirts,arms, feet and heads so we all know Angkor Wat in Cambodia. :) :) --end quote.
Allow me to post again, Vietnam has their intension to annex Cambodia as their state. Call me a xenophobic, but Viets are opportunists. They will have to try harder to convince us Cambodians that they are true friends to us.
And finally, thanks for your compliment of my English. My self learned English skill is attained from reading a lot of English literary books. My English is not perfect as you said. I try hard to write and still make a lot mistakes. Many people just like you thought that I don't live in Cambodia.
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