Khmer Rouge 4-23-11

Today we visited S-21 a school that was transformed to a prison during the Khmer rouge. The Khmer rouge was much like the Holocaust, the ruler Pol Pot transferred people in to kill Cambodians. They first went for the intellectual, ones who went to school because he thought they would be too smart for the country. Also, babies because they thought they would grow up and have revenge against Pol Pot. Pol Pot wanted to wipe out all the people so he could have people with fresh minds and ones who would follow his rules.During this time many fled the country but only a few made it. The torture at S-21 was so cruel and depressing. Some things the soldiers would do were drown people. Tie their hands behind their backs and drown them in a bucket of water until they would suffocate and die. Beat them in the heads with shovels until they would bleed to death. Pull finger nails off and pour alcohol while doing this just to play with them. Make them sniff up rubbing alcohol and cause them not to breathe. Pull the woman's nipples off then rape them. Although two of the leading ways to Cambodians deaths during this time was starvation, and diseases. This was much like the Holocaust also referred to as a genocide. That explains why there are so many orphans here because their family's got killed and when they came back there was no one for them. It  happened not to long ago, the late 70's.It is a wonder to me why no one teaches it in history. Before going on this trip I had no idea about it and many don't. This type of genocide was shocking and should be remembered by everyone. It is a wonder how Cambodia is as happy and peaceful of a country as it is. I believe it is because of forgiveness and sometimes to get on with  your life. You need to forgive and forget that is the only way.