Author: Charles Dittmeier

Enough already!

COVID-19 has affected people all over the world and in many different ways. Last week I had a funeral in Phnom Penh and afterwards met a young couple, the man from the United States and the woman from Malaysia. They were married in March and came to Cambodia for a honeymoon–and are still here. Because of travel restrictions due to the pandemic, he cannot go to Malaysia and she cannot go to the United States. Seven months now….how long is too long?

Maybe they don’t understand?

In most countries it is common practice to protect the identities of those who are minors or vulnerable children or who are only alleged to have committed a crime. In such cases the faces of the people are pixelated or otherwise obscured in photos in the newspapers and their real names are not used so that they cannot be identified. Here in Cambodia it is the common practice to pixelate the face or place a black stripe over it, but then they also put the person’s name with the photo! So why obscure the face?

An Election Prayer

Let us pray . . .

For the world and its leaders, may all those in authority have the courage to walk the path of peace.

For our nation in this time of election and transition, may we be gifted with a spirit of reverence for what is right, charity for those with whom we disagree and concern for the common good.

For all who serve in our national and local governments, may they commit themselves to building a more perfect union.

For reconciliation among families and friends, may we learn to love each other not despite but because of our differences and may we focus fully on the work that continues beyond this election–the work of building God’s beloved community.

For those most affected by the choices we make, those who are made poor, those seeking safety in our land, those who are ill or without homes, those without food or meaningful work, and for all whose lives are undervalued, may they find welcome in our hearts and in our country.

Amen

Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Fading Tradition

You often don’t notice them as your ride by on modern Phnom Penh’s busy streets, but there are still quite a few old traditional wooden houses around. Often a shopfront has been added to turn what used to be just a family house into a family business so that from the street only a concrete facade is visible. As the city develops, though, these house are doomed.

A landscaping business almost hides this old house near the Maryknoll office
In the old traditional style, each room has its own peaked roof.
Here is a concrete room added to the front of the wooden house to create a business.
This used to be a neighborhood of wooden houses, but now all the adjoining traditional houses have become multistory apartment blocks.
How long will this little wooden house last on this corner?

Trouble mounting up

Recently the rubbish collectors went on strike in Phnom Penh and the resulting mounds of trash are indicative that it was a long work stoppage. The problem was compounded by the fact that in Phnom Penh people just use plastic bags for throwing out trash, and there are no ordinances or rules for putting out garbage so the streets become the natural receptacles.

Notable Quotes

It is not just partisan politics for a party to deliberately and systematically seek to suppress minority votes, it is also a heretical denial of the biblical assertion of the image of God in every one of us that entitles us to equal dignity, equal rights, equal citizenship, and equal opportunity.

Rev. Jim Wallis, in Christ in Crisis

Coronation Holiday

Cambodia is awash in holidays. The United States has 11. Cambodia has more than 23. The number has changed some in the past year or two as the government recognized there are too many such days and removed one or two, but there are still too many. Today this roundabout is decorated for the anniversary of the king’s coronation. And then tomorrow we have the first day of a three-day holiday for the Water Festival!