Wednesday, January 28, 2004
Living as an Individual
In the East and in the West, there have been political, religious, social and cultural leaders who used to show expertise at controlling the public. Evil and crafty leaders of the world took advantage of human nature vulnerable to temptation and susceptible to powerful influence, causing the public enthusiasm and organizing it so as to suit their end's fulfillment. The public with enthusiasm, when organized and controlled, used to get wild more often than not and take on the characteristics of mass hysteria, destroying the civilization itself. The mankind, although enlightened by the knowledge of human tragedy and awoken to the insight into the human nature, is still weak to hybrids of crafty manipulation. We the people of the world should awaken themselves to the human dignity as an invaluable individual, not to the senseless hysteria of the manipulated mobs.
In the East and in the West, there have been political, religious, social and cultural leaders who used to show expertise at controlling the public. Evil and crafty leaders of the world took advantage of human nature vulnerable to temptation and susceptible to powerful influence, causing the public enthusiasm and organizing it so as to suit their end's fulfillment. The public with enthusiasm, when organized and controlled, used to get wild more often than not and take on the characteristics of mass hysteria, destroying the civilization itself. The mankind, although enlightened by the knowledge of human tragedy and awoken to the insight into the human nature, is still weak to hybrids of crafty manipulation. We the people of the world should awaken themselves to the human dignity as an invaluable individual, not to the senseless hysteria of the manipulated mobs.
Monday, January 19, 2004
Two Kinds of Male Population in Korea
There are two categories of male population: those who give women stability and those who give them pleasure. From what moment of what date in what year the bizarre categorization began to be accepted in the consciousness of the general populace I have no idea. Fact is that the phenomena, if not universal, exist.
Power plays a major role in human relationships. In modern civilized societies it tilts in women's favor while men grieve of the loss of influence. There emerge women as a new class of power armed with wealth, leisure and resources to exercise their enhanced power.
Where the notion of fidelity recedes the ways and means of infidelity take their place. Recharged by workouts in a gym and refreshed by cool showers after brisk strokes in a swimming pool, "resourceful women" are in for adventurous outings. So-called soap operas (serialized television dramas), with combative women dramatists bent on indoctrinating and inciting the very women populace much too hot to hit the road lined with amorous adventures, with whispers of self-justifications, that is, ammunition for infidelities.
Ludicrous aspect of society is that there have been another class of leisured men who have been developing skills to satisfy women's ids, anticipating encounters with women with blossoming libido. Interest and calculations of both parties converge. They deserve the designation of "niche people" because they are looking for the niche target, which might be up for grabs.
The male population, who used to put their noses to grindstones to support their families, have more often than not turned out to be losers in dealing with the ids of their legal spouses. Blame the tension and stress heaped upon them. They are appropriately designated as "the drooping folks."
Herein the battle for male turf arises. The male species, who used to have no other resources but shapely figures and techniques to satisfy female ids, take part in the battle, claiming triumphs. What they are good at has been wooing, seducing and gratifying wavering and wandering souls. Their routines have usually consisted of the programs in which they have had their bodies keep fit and cocky.
There are two categories of male population: those who give women stability and those who give them pleasure. From what moment of what date in what year the bizarre categorization began to be accepted in the consciousness of the general populace I have no idea. Fact is that the phenomena, if not universal, exist.
Power plays a major role in human relationships. In modern civilized societies it tilts in women's favor while men grieve of the loss of influence. There emerge women as a new class of power armed with wealth, leisure and resources to exercise their enhanced power.
Where the notion of fidelity recedes the ways and means of infidelity take their place. Recharged by workouts in a gym and refreshed by cool showers after brisk strokes in a swimming pool, "resourceful women" are in for adventurous outings. So-called soap operas (serialized television dramas), with combative women dramatists bent on indoctrinating and inciting the very women populace much too hot to hit the road lined with amorous adventures, with whispers of self-justifications, that is, ammunition for infidelities.
Ludicrous aspect of society is that there have been another class of leisured men who have been developing skills to satisfy women's ids, anticipating encounters with women with blossoming libido. Interest and calculations of both parties converge. They deserve the designation of "niche people" because they are looking for the niche target, which might be up for grabs.
The male population, who used to put their noses to grindstones to support their families, have more often than not turned out to be losers in dealing with the ids of their legal spouses. Blame the tension and stress heaped upon them. They are appropriately designated as "the drooping folks."
Herein the battle for male turf arises. The male species, who used to have no other resources but shapely figures and techniques to satisfy female ids, take part in the battle, claiming triumphs. What they are good at has been wooing, seducing and gratifying wavering and wandering souls. Their routines have usually consisted of the programs in which they have had their bodies keep fit and cocky.
Sunday, January 11, 2004
Why Not Melt into the Mainstream?
My earlier brothers and sisters, why not melt into the mainstream of the United States, your adopted country? Why not make decent lives based on the perfect assimilation? Why not offer complete allegiance to the United States? You are supposed to settle in there, root and all. You must not take advantage of the citizenships of the super power for your convenience's sake nor for the sake of success in careers back home. The United States is not supposed to be a haven for debtors. You should not have mishandled the corporate finances nor thought that you might be able to get away with them, by escaping to and hiding under the gargantuan umbrella of super power sovereignty. In brief, the United States must not be a safe haven for heinous criminals.
My former fellow brothers and sisters, you must not turn your backs on the U.S. after you have enjoyed all the perquisites arising from your lives in the U.S. and after you have benefited from all the comforts and conveniences there. Kim Dae Jung has been a paragon of flagrant apostasy. He had had his life saved by the courtesy of the U.S. government and its people. He had been bestowed with every gamut of kindnesses from political asylum to influential connections. Had there not been favorable considerations from his supporters in the public and private circles there his rise to the presidency of South Korea would not have been feasible. Mr. Kim had taken on the attribute of unthankful betrayer by taking too soft a measure both in approaches to DPRK's (North Korea's) Kim Jong Il and in dealing with anti-American student demonstrations.
A lot of so-called Korean-Americans make the most of their advantageous positions of super power citizens to do business in Korea, to seek tax shelter, and to avoid military conscriptions. U.S. citizenships are not supposed to become shields for your risky lives or crimes. U.S. citizenships are not like movements of your residences at all. They are something of an utterly different dimension. They are solemn pledges of your loyalty to your adopted country. Therefore, The peripatetic and straddling Koreans are recommended to stop short of such opportunistic behaviors.
Speak and learn English with gusto. Converse with people using the English language. Post your business signboards expressed by means of English characters. Don't look down on Afro-American or Hispanic neighbors. Think of them as your parents, brothers and sisters. Don't migrate to white neighborhoods after having gained fame and financial successes at black neighborhoods. You ugly Koreans, why challenge law and order of the U.S.A? Why incur conflicts? Why gather wild ginseng in the U.S. mountains without official permission? Why trespass in the National Parks of the U.S. and hunt bears and extract bear galls and trade them?
My earlier brothers and sisters, why not melt into the mainstream of the United States, your adopted country? Why not make decent lives based on the perfect assimilation? Why not offer complete allegiance to the United States? You are supposed to settle in there, root and all. You must not take advantage of the citizenships of the super power for your convenience's sake nor for the sake of success in careers back home. The United States is not supposed to be a haven for debtors. You should not have mishandled the corporate finances nor thought that you might be able to get away with them, by escaping to and hiding under the gargantuan umbrella of super power sovereignty. In brief, the United States must not be a safe haven for heinous criminals.
My former fellow brothers and sisters, you must not turn your backs on the U.S. after you have enjoyed all the perquisites arising from your lives in the U.S. and after you have benefited from all the comforts and conveniences there. Kim Dae Jung has been a paragon of flagrant apostasy. He had had his life saved by the courtesy of the U.S. government and its people. He had been bestowed with every gamut of kindnesses from political asylum to influential connections. Had there not been favorable considerations from his supporters in the public and private circles there his rise to the presidency of South Korea would not have been feasible. Mr. Kim had taken on the attribute of unthankful betrayer by taking too soft a measure both in approaches to DPRK's (North Korea's) Kim Jong Il and in dealing with anti-American student demonstrations.
A lot of so-called Korean-Americans make the most of their advantageous positions of super power citizens to do business in Korea, to seek tax shelter, and to avoid military conscriptions. U.S. citizenships are not supposed to become shields for your risky lives or crimes. U.S. citizenships are not like movements of your residences at all. They are something of an utterly different dimension. They are solemn pledges of your loyalty to your adopted country. Therefore, The peripatetic and straddling Koreans are recommended to stop short of such opportunistic behaviors.
Speak and learn English with gusto. Converse with people using the English language. Post your business signboards expressed by means of English characters. Don't look down on Afro-American or Hispanic neighbors. Think of them as your parents, brothers and sisters. Don't migrate to white neighborhoods after having gained fame and financial successes at black neighborhoods. You ugly Koreans, why challenge law and order of the U.S.A? Why incur conflicts? Why gather wild ginseng in the U.S. mountains without official permission? Why trespass in the National Parks of the U.S. and hunt bears and extract bear galls and trade them?
Wednesday, January 07, 2004
Odd Footages Loom Large
Footage One: The cattle in the U.S. are a pitiful lot. They have recently been put to a test which could clarify the infection of mad cow disease. What a horrible scene. In an investigation into the source of the infection (several ranches in Alberta, Canada) 1,400 cows were allegedly slaughtered and tested for the disease.
Footage Two:North Korean (DPRK) people were slowly moving, with ration tickets in their hands, in a long file for rice allotment. They looked to be apparitions from another world--haggard, expressionless and listless. In the midst of progression for survival, they might have been questioning, albeit muted, the Labor Party slogans that have guaranteed the wellbeing of the people.
Footage Three: Passengers, who had just de-boarded an American flight, were approaching the exit gate. Officials from the U.S. Immigration Office were on hand to stop the progression of passengers from Asian countries. However, they nodded Singaporean and Japanese passengers to pass. Checking our passports and visas from South Korea, they stopped us, saying, "We're very sorry to give you a little inconvenience. You have to go through the new screening measure of photographing and fingerprinting. Doesn't take much time."
South Korean passengers, me included here in Seoul, were thinking aloud. We wondered how they could do that to us. We have not kicked their pets, nor spitted on their streets, nor spanked their faces, nor vandalized their properties, not to mention air raids at dawning hours.
Footage One: The cattle in the U.S. are a pitiful lot. They have recently been put to a test which could clarify the infection of mad cow disease. What a horrible scene. In an investigation into the source of the infection (several ranches in Alberta, Canada) 1,400 cows were allegedly slaughtered and tested for the disease.
Footage Two:North Korean (DPRK) people were slowly moving, with ration tickets in their hands, in a long file for rice allotment. They looked to be apparitions from another world--haggard, expressionless and listless. In the midst of progression for survival, they might have been questioning, albeit muted, the Labor Party slogans that have guaranteed the wellbeing of the people.
Footage Three: Passengers, who had just de-boarded an American flight, were approaching the exit gate. Officials from the U.S. Immigration Office were on hand to stop the progression of passengers from Asian countries. However, they nodded Singaporean and Japanese passengers to pass. Checking our passports and visas from South Korea, they stopped us, saying, "We're very sorry to give you a little inconvenience. You have to go through the new screening measure of photographing and fingerprinting. Doesn't take much time."
South Korean passengers, me included here in Seoul, were thinking aloud. We wondered how they could do that to us. We have not kicked their pets, nor spitted on their streets, nor spanked their faces, nor vandalized their properties, not to mention air raids at dawning hours.
Sunday, January 04, 2004
Wrecking Balls of Family Disintegrations
On What Counts?
The culprit, i.e., the alleged suspect: a father and a household owner. The injured victim: his second son. Charges: attempted murder and first-rate battery with serious physical harm.
Cause and Effect
Mr. Lim (53), living outskirts of Pusan, the southernmost port city of Korea (the Republic of), witnessed a very bizarre scene in his own house. He saw with his bare eyes two human shapes tangled in sexual orgy in the early dawning hours (2003.0102.0430). They were his second son (21) and first daughter-in-law of his, that is, wife of his first son. He "blew his top." Picking some weapon, knife or something whatever you name it, he raced at his son and attacked him, inflicting serious injury. In the melee, the police were called in. The furious father was arrested "red-handed."
Wrecking Balls of Family Disintegrations
In a certain sense and to a certain extent, ours might be the nation of 'sexaholics.' The nation has been beleaguered by things obscene and depraved. As a result, infidelity has become a norm and divorces have become rites of passage. Decent codes of life are missing; social standards are ineffective; values are crumbling; household owners and the elderly are powerless and above all, the corrupt and greedy media keep wrecking the foundations of still decent family structures.
Soap operas have been a major culprit. They have transmitted too permissive attitudes into members of society. The psyche of the soaps, whose writers have almost all been "flamboyant female singles", have been obsessed with the notion of taking revenge on the "male-oriented and male-domineering society." In due course, they have played a major role in the demolition of "traditional values."
The tenacious efforts of soap operas and feminist-oriented best-selling novels, who have taken the most female perennial readership of 300,000 to 400,000, (whereas the male population does not read), have succeeded in changing the infrastructure of Korean society. On the basis of permissive infrastructure, they have built the society of foremost divorce rates and the collective boycott of baby births.
They keep going. Their progression has not stopped nor slowed down. They have inspired public infidelity (in MBC's The Neighborly Woman). They have urged the young couples to experiment with cohabitations as a preceding step to legal marriages (in MBC's A Cat in a Penthouse.) The cinematic media have also incited extra-marital affairs as a natural course of life. (The Saga of a Hot Family)
On What Counts?
The culprit, i.e., the alleged suspect: a father and a household owner. The injured victim: his second son. Charges: attempted murder and first-rate battery with serious physical harm.
Cause and Effect
Mr. Lim (53), living outskirts of Pusan, the southernmost port city of Korea (the Republic of), witnessed a very bizarre scene in his own house. He saw with his bare eyes two human shapes tangled in sexual orgy in the early dawning hours (2003.0102.0430). They were his second son (21) and first daughter-in-law of his, that is, wife of his first son. He "blew his top." Picking some weapon, knife or something whatever you name it, he raced at his son and attacked him, inflicting serious injury. In the melee, the police were called in. The furious father was arrested "red-handed."
Wrecking Balls of Family Disintegrations
In a certain sense and to a certain extent, ours might be the nation of 'sexaholics.' The nation has been beleaguered by things obscene and depraved. As a result, infidelity has become a norm and divorces have become rites of passage. Decent codes of life are missing; social standards are ineffective; values are crumbling; household owners and the elderly are powerless and above all, the corrupt and greedy media keep wrecking the foundations of still decent family structures.
Soap operas have been a major culprit. They have transmitted too permissive attitudes into members of society. The psyche of the soaps, whose writers have almost all been "flamboyant female singles", have been obsessed with the notion of taking revenge on the "male-oriented and male-domineering society." In due course, they have played a major role in the demolition of "traditional values."
The tenacious efforts of soap operas and feminist-oriented best-selling novels, who have taken the most female perennial readership of 300,000 to 400,000, (whereas the male population does not read), have succeeded in changing the infrastructure of Korean society. On the basis of permissive infrastructure, they have built the society of foremost divorce rates and the collective boycott of baby births.
They keep going. Their progression has not stopped nor slowed down. They have inspired public infidelity (in MBC's The Neighborly Woman). They have urged the young couples to experiment with cohabitations as a preceding step to legal marriages (in MBC's A Cat in a Penthouse.) The cinematic media have also incited extra-marital affairs as a natural course of life. (The Saga of a Hot Family)
Friday, January 02, 2004
Vandalisms toward Allied Neighbors
There might be high-voltage energy in them. Some irresistible impulse, too. Or, inexplicable anger. But intermittent vandalisms toward international neighbors are too much occurring at areas way above the periphery of local U.S. Army compounds.
Its consequences have been somewhat horrible. A cabal of young American boys, who have been dependents of United States Army soldiers stationed in Korea, have been going berserk. Rowdy teenage boys used to make a covert yet rough inroad, under cover of night, into local neighborhoods and smash car windows with baseball bats.
What has made these young people harbor animosity and put the hatred into physical attack? Conversations in their usual familial gatherings, that is, table talks, I presume, might have played a pivotal role in fermenting hostile behaviors. Deprecating utterances and derisive expressions, from the older family members, bordering on racial slurs, would inevitably indoctrinate their young toward devastating vandalisms.
There might be high-voltage energy in them. Some irresistible impulse, too. Or, inexplicable anger. But intermittent vandalisms toward international neighbors are too much occurring at areas way above the periphery of local U.S. Army compounds.
Its consequences have been somewhat horrible. A cabal of young American boys, who have been dependents of United States Army soldiers stationed in Korea, have been going berserk. Rowdy teenage boys used to make a covert yet rough inroad, under cover of night, into local neighborhoods and smash car windows with baseball bats.
What has made these young people harbor animosity and put the hatred into physical attack? Conversations in their usual familial gatherings, that is, table talks, I presume, might have played a pivotal role in fermenting hostile behaviors. Deprecating utterances and derisive expressions, from the older family members, bordering on racial slurs, would inevitably indoctrinate their young toward devastating vandalisms.
