For most people in my hemisphere, April means flowers blooming, kids playing outside, people resuming their favorite outdoor sport and perhaps a little puddle hopping. However, for me, it means talking about Genocides for nearly two weeks straight.
Luckily, I also get to talk about heroes for two weeks straight.
Don't worry, believe it or not, this post is not going to be a complete downer.
How can that possibly be? How can lessons (or a post) about the most horrific thing humans can do to other humans not be utterly miserable?
Every year, I open the unit with a conversation with my students. I warn them that we are about to cover the darkest parts of human history. I know they feel uncomfortable, anxious and even scared. So before I let that set in too deeply, I remind them of a couple of very important things.
First, I explain that even though this is a terrible topic, it is also an essential one to learn about. Very early on, my students learn that one of the reasons people study history is to repeat the good and avoid the bad things that have happened in the past... if at all possible. We can't simply hide from the worst parts of history or pretend they didn't happen. We must learn from them.
George Santayana
Second, I tell them my trick for getting through this unit. I usually open by saying, "Look everyone, you have known me for 8 months. You know I'm an emotional guy. I'm not afraid to cry and I'm not afraid to show my joy. I have to teach this topic 4 times a day. In addition, I have had to teach this for 18 years. And yet, this emotional guy can still leave here every filled with hope for humanity."
Then I explain why.
I tell my students that in these horrible tragedies, I look for the heroes. I remind them that for every monster like Hitler, there are hundreds or thousands of heroes who did what they could to help others in their most dire time of need.
This is the opening of the documentary Boatlift.
It is one of the most heroic things I have ever seen.
During the unit, we talk about Oscar Schindler's heroism in Poland during the Holocaust and Paul Rusesabagina's valor in Rawanda. Today I found another hero to add to the list.
One of the 20th century Genocides that we learn about occurred in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. This Genocide was perpetrated by the communist leader Pol Pot and his followers within the Khmer Rouge. Pol Pot wanted to "restart history", turn away from modern technology, and return to a purely agrarian society. He forced citizens to work on farms for nearly 18 hours each day. Because food was strictly rationed, many people died from over work and starvation. Others were executed for being enemies of the revolution. One common "crime" against the regime was to be well educated. In the end, between 1.5 to 3 million people died as a result of the Khmer Rouge's polices and tactics.
I will teach my students those facts (and many more). In addition, I will also teach them about a discovery I made today.
Today I learned about Van Chhuon, a "regular" person who did what he could to save the lives of 100 families during the Cambodian Genocide.
Sadly, I could not find a photo of Van Chhuon. I can only imagine that the people he saved see him like this... no matter what he looks like.
After the Khmer Rouge took over the country, they set up communes comprised of 10 villages. Each village chief reported into the commune chief. This commune chief then reported to the Khmer Rouge leadership. Because the Khmer Rouge equated poverty with virtue, they believed the poorest man in all of the villages would make the best commune chief. In Kuok Snuol, the poorest man was Van Chhuon.
As chief, Chhuon could have assured his and his family's safety by turning in members of his commune to the regime. He could have kept a close watch on his villagers to ensure they weren't eating too much or hiding food. He could have made sure there were no teachers among them who might do the unthinkable and educate any of the peasants. He could have left prisoners in jail. He could have taken the easy way out.
He didn't.
Instead, Chhuon prevented his people from starving by showing them how to hide food. He hid fugitives and lied to the soldiers about their whereabouts. He personally entered a prison to plead for the life of one of his villagers... and took him home.
He did what he could to achieve the impossible. While nearby communes routinely lost 80 or more people, Chhuon lost one. He still feels terrible about that one. Heroes are people who do what they can... but they strive to do it all.
In 1979, Vietnam overthrew the Khmer Rouge.
Van Chhuon started a new life.
Thirteen years later, Van Chhuon asked a couple of his old friends from the village to help him build a house in Siem Reap.
Forty-five answered the call.
A hero is a man who does what he can... a survivor is the one who remembers it... forever.
Sources
http://combatgenocide.org/?page_id=68
https://listverse.com/2014/07/27/10-heroes-who-stood-up-to-dictators-and-genocide/
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/khmer-rouge-village-chief-who-saved-his-people-death