Voice of Cambodian Children (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} khmerchildren) wrote,@ 2007-04-16 13:18:00 |
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RFA and Maha Ghosananda
by Sidney Liang
www.cambodianvoices.org
4-16-207
Today I just want to write to myself and talking out loud. You know, when you have something in your mind, you must say it out otherwise it eats you up from the inside out. I am unrest by the coverage or un-coverage of the Radio Free Asia (Khmer Segment) of Venerable Maha Ghosananda’s death. My broken heart and my strong headed opinion, I think that the action of RFA toward this story is questionable. Maha Ghosananda was the architect our Cambodian Buddhist religion or the revival of Buddhism in Cambodia. According to VOA, Ghosananda was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 for his efforts to rebuild Cambodian Buddhism after the fall of the Khmer Rouge, Does this mean anything to the reporters, managers, producers at Radio Free Asia (Khmer Segment)?
It is sadden that RFA-Khmer sent people to cover Cambodian New Year, Water Festival, and other cultural events in Lowell, Massachusetts but lack the wills and supports (or is it?) to provide appropriate coverage of Venerable Maha Ghosananda’s death for our beloved people of Cambodia. Even, the Voice of America provides enough, adequate and suitable coverage for Cambodian around the world, especially in our homeland. If you look at it closely, even professor Keng Vansak has more countless airtime on RFA. The death of Chea Vichea has more coverage and support, the shots of Peou Panha Pich has more coverage than Venerable Maha Ghosananda, oh! the jungle woman was covered and covered, not to mention the politicians that don’t or didn’t do much for the country except fighting each other, RFA-Khmer provide countless coverage…should I continue? Becasuse these are facts and I know I am not dreaming while writing this.
To date, I have not seen any intention from RFA-Khmer to do any story about Venerable Maha Ghosananda. At least do a highlight or a story about his life, his achievements, and his leadership. For his death, RFA only covered one time. Of that one time, it was an unsound and inappropriate coverage of the story. RFA-Khmer interviewed Venerable Hok Savann in Canada about the life and death of Venerable Maha Ghosananda in Lowell, Massachusetts. RFA-Khmer should understand that Venerable Maha Ghosananda provided hope and healing to many Cambodians in our homeland. Many lives will be affected by the lost of this important and noble man. He was one of the highest or the highest ranking and beloved Buddhist patriarch of Cambodia. If that bad choice of coverage affected me, guess how many other folks around the world will be disappointed by this.
I am just talking out loud and to myself. I know many folks are doing the same thing about this issue. All lives have meaning, whether you are king or just pheasant. Venerable Maha Ghosananda provide more meaningful livelihood to many Cambodians during the time of distress, needs, and lost of souls. He has salvages many souls and repaired many structures. RFA-Khmer, I think Venerable Maha Ghosananda deserves better coverage than you provided, you think?
After talking about it, I feel better now.
-Sidney
by Sidney Liang
www.cambodianvoices.org
4-16-207
Today I just want to write to myself and talking out loud. You know, when you have something in your mind, you must say it out otherwise it eats you up from the inside out. I am unrest by the coverage or un-coverage of the Radio Free Asia (Khmer Segment) of Venerable Maha Ghosananda’s death. My broken heart and my strong headed opinion, I think that the action of RFA toward this story is questionable. Maha Ghosananda was the architect our Cambodian Buddhist religion or the revival of Buddhism in Cambodia. According to VOA, Ghosananda was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 for his efforts to rebuild Cambodian Buddhism after the fall of the Khmer Rouge, Does this mean anything to the reporters, managers, producers at Radio Free Asia (Khmer Segment)?
It is sadden that RFA-Khmer sent people to cover Cambodian New Year, Water Festival, and other cultural events in Lowell, Massachusetts but lack the wills and supports (or is it?) to provide appropriate coverage of Venerable Maha Ghosananda’s death for our beloved people of Cambodia. Even, the Voice of America provides enough, adequate and suitable coverage for Cambodian around the world, especially in our homeland. If you look at it closely, even professor Keng Vansak has more countless airtime on RFA. The death of Chea Vichea has more coverage and support, the shots of Peou Panha Pich has more coverage than Venerable Maha Ghosananda, oh! the jungle woman was covered and covered, not to mention the politicians that don’t or didn’t do much for the country except fighting each other, RFA-Khmer provide countless coverage…should I continue? Becasuse these are facts and I know I am not dreaming while writing this.
To date, I have not seen any intention from RFA-Khmer to do any story about Venerable Maha Ghosananda. At least do a highlight or a story about his life, his achievements, and his leadership. For his death, RFA only covered one time. Of that one time, it was an unsound and inappropriate coverage of the story. RFA-Khmer interviewed Venerable Hok Savann in Canada about the life and death of Venerable Maha Ghosananda in Lowell, Massachusetts. RFA-Khmer should understand that Venerable Maha Ghosananda provided hope and healing to many Cambodians in our homeland. Many lives will be affected by the lost of this important and noble man. He was one of the highest or the highest ranking and beloved Buddhist patriarch of Cambodia. If that bad choice of coverage affected me, guess how many other folks around the world will be disappointed by this.
I am just talking out loud and to myself. I know many folks are doing the same thing about this issue. All lives have meaning, whether you are king or just pheasant. Venerable Maha Ghosananda provide more meaningful livelihood to many Cambodians during the time of distress, needs, and lost of souls. He has salvages many souls and repaired many structures. RFA-Khmer, I think Venerable Maha Ghosananda deserves better coverage than you provided, you think?
After talking about it, I feel better now.
-Sidney
