Speeches
Ambassador Rodley’s Remarks at First Annual Mark Twain Creative Writing Contest Awards Ceremony
U.S. Embassy, Phnom Penh
June 06, 2009
I would like to thank HE Excellency Mak Vann for attending today and the Ministry of Education for their assistance in making the Mark Twain Essay Writing Contest become reality. I would also like to thank the faculty and students from Sisowath, Bak Touk, Wat Phnom, Santhor Mok, and Toul Tum Poung high schools, who are in attendance here today. Without your hard work and your teacher’s encouragement this event would not have been possible.
Since my arrival last year I have noticed that the Cambodian arts scene is experiencing a bit of a revival. In fact, just last week I hosted a reception at my residence and had the chance to talk to many of the artists, sculptors, musicians and dancers who are leading the movement. While it was a wonderful opportunity to meet with such a talented group of people, I did notice that there were not any authors represented.
The visual and performing arts are an important reflection of any culture, and are able to tell the story of a country and its people through their unique mediums. However their audience tends to be rather small. On the other hand the audience for literature is vast, both within Cambodia and in the world, and therefore the stage for young Cambodian authors is limited only by their imaginations.
I have noticed both in the English and the Khmer press recent reports that readership is on the rise in Cambodia. Students like yourselves are looking more and more for books in Khmer that tell the story of your lives. I also know that many of the stories that were submitted for this contest do just that, they tell your stories in your own words and reflect the real joys and hardships of modern life in Phnom Penh and throughout the country. I hope that you continue to pursue the craft of writing in the future, and that for some of you this contest was the first step in a career as an author.
Writing is a powerful tool that has the potential to form and change opinions. I believe that Cambodian authors will play a critical role in how the world views your country in the future. I also believe that some of the young authors here today will be a part of that process. Thank you again for being brave and submitting your work to us, and we look forward to hearing more from you in the future.
