Current Events part 2

American beef: a study in illogic

Background: hoof-and-mouth is found in American beef, Koreans decide that the government is not doing its job of inspecting beef imports from America. Beef imports are about to be renewed, and people take to the streets. News media goes on a feeding frenzy: "there's a 94% chance of contracting vCJD from American beef" and "and an American died of vCJD"; both were false. Bloggers were no better: one rumour was that Americans sort their beef and send the bad beef to Korea.

The government renegotiates with the US, the US accepts the new contracts, and most people leave the protests. The remaining go on to deface public & private property, continuing to cut off downtown Seoul & disrupt public transit.

Conclusion: OMG. Are we freakin stupid?! When I was describing it to my K-A mother, she remarked that Koreans are susceptible to overlooking logic in preference of emotion; and I think that's a pretty good assessment of this case. Yeah, sometimes we have to make a point to the government, and illegally occupying a few streets to ensure personal safety should not be prosecuted.

But those who remained after the renegotiations are just a bunch of rabble-rousers: losers who are exploiting the circumstances to give themselves a sense of power, or conniving rats exploiting the circumstances to promote their political ideologies. They should all be sued and jailed: for preventing area residents access to emergency care by blocking streets, for assaulting police officers, for damaging private & public property, for hurting area businesses by discouraging patrons, and for targeting private businesses that were on their blacklists. Then after their sentences conclude they should be beaten by private citizens for all this, and for damaging Korea’s economy (fiscal credibility and FDI plummeted) and for making Korea appear to the international community as a group of self-centered hormonal apes on speed. Media who practiced biased reporting should have their licenses on probation; they should be so scared of handling controversial issues that they lose millions of dollars because their stories are centered mostly on water-skiing squirrels and cat fashion shows (needed an Anchorman throwback there, hahaha). As for those inciting hysteria online—they’re a bunch of cowards, hiding in their parents’ basements behind fake internet ids. They would yell "fire!" in a theatre, but it's just so much safer and more comfy for them to do it from the privacy of their parents' homes.

And to those in general who were swept away in the hysteria: seriously. 33,000 American soldiers died in the Korean War, we spent millions in economic & food aid, just so we could play the part of mad scientist and send our diseased beef (pre-sorted, of course) to poison and kill South Koreans? South Koreans who comprise one of our strategic allies in NE Asia and in the NK denuclearization/human rights talks? Especially now that there’s a pro-American president in office? Or was it all to make a few bucks on the beef sales? What an investment! What logic!

I just had a breakthrough re: this year's Halloween costume

Further Remarks: Korea has started a space program, it's created multiple Free Economic Zones, one of its own is the UN Secretary-General, and it has recently produced several world-class athletes—all these indicate that Korea wants to step up as a global player. Yet incidents like these prevent the international community from taking the country seriously.

Equally as important for Korea, though, is that incidents like these present Korea in a negative light to the rest of the world. Not only do they hurt the country economically, but they could also compromise its position in disputes, such as its claim to Dokdo: Japan's quiet reserve would appeal to the world much more favourably than Korea's raucous demonstrations.

Korea is an economic miracle. Its companies are some of the richest in the world. Despite its development, it still boasts a low crime rate. Its students are found in America's top universities and are known for their discipline and dedication. This is a country full of respectable and mature adults. People work hard, and save a lot of money. Yet there are a few radicals who will sacrifice anything for their own personal gains (I actually mean in addition to the corrupt CEOs). Korea needs to learn how to control these elements before they jeopardize the nation's economic and political interests.

Current Events part 1

I must admit, I’ve rather ignored the politics/current news aspect in my blogging. I’ve been self-centered in my blogging, focusing on me & my travels instead of including the world around me. Actually, I’ve been extremely self-centered in my blogging, focusing on me & my travels and not really doing any blogging. Today, for the day, that shall end.

Korea, and NE Asia in general, have been the focus of domestic and international attention for the past few months, and I have not even begun to address these issues. In my defense, however, I must point to the fact that work and my personal life have kept me very busy, especially these past two weeks. I just completed two weeks of English camp—2 90-minute classes each weekday morning—and, like a dolt, I had the novel idea of making up my own lesson plans and syllabus instead of relying on prepared plans. Needless to say, I was busy: most days saw me crawling into bed around midnight or one, most of my evening having been spent on the next day’s lesson.

But again, I’m digressing from my original goal and focusing on myself. Back to current affairs. In the last few months, we’ve seen the approach (and now arrival) of the Beijing Olympics, a nationwide hysteria (& subsequent rioting) about American beef, Japan’s renewal of its plans to seize Dokdo, and a South Korean tourist killed in North Korea. I will address each of these in a separate blog, presenting the background and my unexpert (but extremely common-sensical) conclusion on the topic. This will be a short four-part series. Here's your first little treat.

Beijing Olympics: how did that happen?

Background: China got the Olympics, Olympic Committee officials said, to open China up. BS. In addition to NOT improving its human rights records at all, China has decided to delay broadcast to clean up any blemishes (people telling the truth about the country) and has restricted press freedom, which it explicitly promised not to do.

Conclusion: this isn’t the first time the glory of international bonding and competition has been tainted (think Berlin 1936), but it is dishonourable nonetheless. The Olympic Charter states, as a Fundamental Principle of Olympism, "Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on...respect for universal fundamental ethical principles." Since when do universal fundamental ethical principles include repression of religious freedom, political dissidence, the freedom of the press, and self-determination? Since when do universal fundamental ethical principles include repatriating refugees, knowing full well that they will suffer torture, incarceration, and/or execution? By choosing Beijing as the 2008 venue, the IOC has indirectly condoned these rights violations practiced regularly by the host country. I think inquiries should be made into both the integrity & intelligence of the IOC members.