Even The Crazy Man Wept
Description
Even The Crazy Man Wept challenges the reader to see, in response to the genocide in Cambodia and its aftermath, compassion, sadness, love and righteous anger expressed by a remarkable man who shared his life with the poor during this time. The events and names in this book are real. For over 30 years Bob, a Jesuit Brother, has committed his life to living among the poor of Cambodia. He has been with them during their plight as refugees in camps on the Thai - Cambodian border. He has lived and 'walked' with them on the fearful return into their war-ravaged homeland. He has seen and experienced 'first-hand' the effect the war - and 'peace'- has had on them. He is with them now.
Bob wrote down these experiences. He wrote down his inner soul-searching response to the inhumanity of war and its consequences to individual lives.
Even The Crazy Man Wept is a compilation of Bob's writings. They are unique. They are personal. They are deeply challenging. Many are an uncensored cry from the heart; anguish from a spiritual man seeking to challenge the evil of war and bring love and peace to mankind.
Finally, in respect to Bob it needs to be stated that this book is not about him! That would be the last thing he would want or agree to. Instead the book is about situations in the world that should not be tolerated. It is hoped these personal tales and reflections can inspire the reader, whoever you may be, to be a peacemaker.
We cannot be 'Bob' but we can learn from his selfless service of love to others.
It's a remarkable lesson - a lesson for today.
More details
Person
Dr. Edwin Pugh has a longstanding involvement in humanitarian aid and social justice. He and his wife, Kim, lived and worked on the on the Thai-Cambodian border for two years (1990-1991). As part of a United Nation's relief effort they helped provide health services to Khmer refugees. Since then Edwin has done many further consultancy visits to Cambodia. From 2008 Edwin and Kim have taken teams annually from the United Kingdom for short periods of time to work with the charity 'TransformAsia' in Cambodia. Edwin has also helped to establish a United Kingdom based health charity, 'Transform Healthcare Cambodia' which sends teams of clinicians to help, support and train Cambodian colleagues, in aspects of health care.
Edwin was a professor and medical consultant and previously a Director of Public Health in the United Kingdom. In addition to Cambodia, during the early unstable days of the Rwandan genocide, in 1994, Edwin led a team to provide emergency aid and services to the displaced people spilling into the former French Congo.
Through his humanitarian work with refugees and displaced people in war zones Edwin has a 'first-hand' understanding of the human cost of conflict. He has sought to highlight the need for us all to understand the suffering of individuals within the context of war, including the need for peace and reconciliation to heal those affected and help rebuild their lives and communities.
