A Keene State College Alumni who survived the Cambodian genocide was welcomed by the Cohen Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies on Friday, March 8, to deliver his debut lecture, “A Place Where Ice Falls From the Sky.”
Bodie Barton, ‘97, spoke to an audience of over 30 people in the Mason Library about his childhood experience in a forced labor camp. The lecture lasted one hour and was organized by KSC’s Holocaust and Genocide Studies (HGS) Department.
According to Barton, he was forced into labor camps when he was a child by the Khmer Rouge (officially the Communist Party of Kampuchea), who were responsible for the deaths of an estimated 3 million Cambodian people between 1975 and 1979. Barton and his only surviving brother were adopted and given a new life in the United States through the efforts of religious and humanitarian organizations. His parents, as well as other siblings, died during the genocide.
Barton had never given a public lecture before the event but wanted to educate audiences and provide an opportunity to transform his story into a learning experience.
“The killing fields will always be a reminder of the past. But I was rescued, and I want to give back by living with compassion, and translating my story into something we can learn from. I try to tell people that what I’ve been through makes me appreciate life. No matter how tough things get, nothing will ever measure up to what I’ve already survived. I want to help people learn about what happened, instead of dwelling on it. I’m here today as a victor, not a victim,” said Barton.
Barton said that he was thankful for the opportunity to tell his story at KSC, and would like to see other survivors have the chance to speak about their experiences through the school’s platform.
“When we share that pain, it’s very human. It connects consciousness and promotes healing,” he said. “The Cohen Center has given me a chance to talk about what happened, and it’s been a therapeutic experience. When we are listened to, we foster a sense of belonging”.
Head of Special Collections and Archives and Associate Professor of History Rodney Obien worked with Barton to bring his story to the Cohen Center.
“I’ve been working with [Barton]for the past few months to help him develop his presentation,” Obien said. It’s been very cathartic for him, and this process has helped him come to grip with things that have been buried. Many of the things we’re talking about are coming to the surface for the first time.”
Obien expressed how special it is to hear from a living survivor of the genocide.
“A lot of the materials we have are from people who have passed away. Being able to work with someone who’s able to talk about these things in real-time, and provide that personal and emotional context is irreplaceable … Their voices matter, and they provide witness that these atrocities happened, and we can never allow ourselves to forget,” said Obien.
HGS major and senior Gabby Costa attended the lecture to gain a perspective on the Cambodian genocide.
“I thought it’d be good to get another perspective on things. The Cambodian genocide isn’t as talked about as it should be, and it’s a point in history affecting so many different people in so many different ways,” Costa said. I’m truly grateful to hear his testimony, and I hope this highlights for other survivors the ability to heal from these horrifying atrocities.”
Barton was accompanied by his daughter, Vitheavy Barton, a senior studying graphic design at KSC. The lecture was her first time hearing her father’s story.
“I knew about the Khmer Rouge, and that he had been through some tough things, but this was the first time he’s opened up about it,” Vitheavy Barton said. “ It really puts things into perspective, and it’s heartbreaking to hear the details. I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t made it to America, and it gives me a new appreciation for just how great of a father he is.”
Ryan Pacheco can be contacted at
rpacheco@kscequinox.com
