Visiting the Khmer Rouge killing fields

From 1975 to 1979 (yes, this recently!), the Khmer Rouge regime exterminated over 3 million people in Cambodia, notably ex government officials and "intellectuals" (teachers, educated people, people wearing glasses, etc). The method was ruthless: after some time in gruesome jails, weak prisoners would be transported in trucks to killing fields. Blindfolded, they would stand on the edge of a massive hole, would be strongly hit on the back of the neck and fall into their death graves (in case they weren't yet dead, some poisonous chemicals - also used to avoid the decomposing smell - and the burial would finish the job).

Digging to understand the context behind such cruelty, one might find a determined leader with a strong vision for his country. What Pol Pot wanted, seemingly, was a place based on agriculture, simple, where everybody would be the same and have enough - not a bad idea in itself.

Obviously, there was a lot wrong with the execution. The new regime didn't allow "dissidents", and we all know it's impossible to have everybody thinking the same. Even worse was the fact that, as most dictatorships, the system assumed all governmental decisions would be good; therefore all the force and power was concentrated and all civil mechanisms to guarantee basic values or legal actions to remove the leaders was nonexistent.

I guess we value democracy more and more when we are faced with these horrendous historical moments. Although it might be slower and more controversial in decision making - and in economic development, one may say - it theoretically never trespasses some essential values, such as (depending on the country) life, freedom, equality or family.

For the leaders-to-be, I guess there is a lesson to be learnt: the end does NEVER justify cruel means. We can never build an equal society with unequal respect to people's ideas and lives. In the end of the day, how can we foster happiness if not with love and consistent good actions?