Epilogue

The story of the Khmer Rouge is truly terrifying.  A radical government came chillingly close to achieving a goal that is unimaginable to most: genocide.  Hundreds of thousands of lives were destroyed, families were torn apart, and the fact that it happened only just over 30 years ago is honestly shocking.  As I have learned more and more about this subject, I cannot help but link it to the previous dystopian unit.  Too many times did I read something about this regime that was frighteningly similar to something I read in 1984 or Brave New World.  Children who rat out their parents, torture, brainwashing, absolute control, all of these aspects seem like they are fictional but undoubtedly are not in this situation.  Also, to explore the effects something like this has on the the human mind has been eye-opening.  To think that people lived through this, survived it with themselves somewhat in tact is a true feat of human nature, and should never, ever be soon forgotten.