Most of my extended family were executed during the war. For as long as I can remember, it was always just the five of us – it was the five of us that my parents fought to keep alive, and when we took our first steps off the plane onto American soil in 1981, it was just the five of us (my parents and my two siblings). Growing up, I was always aware of why there was just the five of us and so the value of family and community was not a hard one to grasp. I was very fortunate that in my household, dialogue about the war, my parents’ losses, and experiences, was something we talked about often. My father wanted us to know and to never forget our story, to be empowered by being refugees of the war (as we were no longer victims, but survivors). It is a past that makes us unique among our American peers. My father was quite an exception to the typical Asian male – as my siblings and I spent many Saturday mornings watching cartoon in our parents’ bed all the way up to our teen years. He would tell us that he loved us and that we could accomplish anything we put our minds to. In us he embedded strength and courage (a message I carry with me and echo in my song Believe - “We survived. We made it here alive. Believe in you!”). Him and my mother had beaten the odds and fought long and hard to provide for us the opportunity to live in a free country, a country where one can overcome hardships and succeed… they fought hard so that we can live “The American Dream.” Coincidentally, It was just a few days ago that I was in New York City listening to my NPR piece on my father’s legacy and the dream he dreamt for me. All my thoughts and emotions began to intersect and I find myself at a place of reflection and gratitude. 

Though I knew about the plight of our people, it wasn’t until after watching this film that I truly felt the pain, the suffering, the bravery, the resiliency of my parents along with so many other Cambodians all over the world. I felt more than ever, a deep pride for what it means to be Cambodian American. After spending a couple hours in thought, I went to bed with a sense of peace. If you are Cambodian and you are standing today, you are a symbol of hope and peace - an inspiration, a light that shines endlessly.