One of my favorite ironies of Korean political life is watching “progressives” bash anti-North Korean hardliners for being “anti-unification,” while they themselves advocate policies intentionally designed to postpone unification for as long as possible. The Flying Yangban gets to the root of this irony in a slightly-lengthy-but-fun-to-read post that I really should have linked to yesterday. Just a snippet:
Let me put it another way. [Unification Minister] Jeong’s little lies in that interview reveal the Big Lie of the Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun administrations; the Big Lie being that they seek peaceful reunification with North Korea. In fact, they do not.
Now here is the truth:
The Ministry of Unification is anti-unification. Jeong Se-hyun is anti-unification. Roh Moo-hyun is anti-unification.
Feel free to read the rest on your own.
PS: Potty-mouth, Andy? That’s the last time you get train-bought Chonan walnut snacks from me. Meanwhile, It Makes A Difference to the Sheep has me listed as a “foul-mouthed expat.” For fuck’s sake, is my language that vulgar?
6 Comments
Regarding “potty-mouth”:
I read your blog everyday. The analyses are lucid and interesting.
Unfortunately, the use of “colloquialisms” distracts the reader.
Their use in a serious article tends to be counterproductive.
Very often I’ve been unable to show your articles to religious groups.
Michael Sheehan
On the other hand, Michael can’t use my stuff because it tends to be either flippant or verbose crap.
Maybe you should set up a PG-13 site for family visitors. On the other hand, I can understand that your choice of words is simply a reflection of the fact that you are latitudinally deficient.
In any case, you gotta be you.
Don’t change a thing. Naughty words show a bit of emotion and make it fun to read. As above, you gotta be you - otherwise, the next step is over-thinking everything and the next thing you know keeping a blog is no longer fun (or as fun for those of us who already enjoy your writing style).
Semi-Related story: I have a few pops one night and decide to inaugurate a new feature: The Friday or Saturday night posting of a nice nudie-pic (behind an appropriate “NOT WORK SAFE” link, of course).
Second week rolls around, I have my few pops, prepare the post…and don’t hit the upload button…’cause that day, guess who had decided to link to me and add me to his blogroll? REVEREND Donald Sensing. Now, believe me, I’m very, very pleased to be on that particular blogroll, and I have no idea whether the Rev himself would care or not, but I just couldn’t get by the thought of he and all his readers (and there were a lot of hits) rolling in and seeing, at the top of my blog, a post like “Lookee here, here’s a noice pair ‘a ta-ta’s…hyukhyukhyuk…” Uggg…so I sat there for five minutes trying to decide whether to post or not.
No, I didn’t do it.
Marmot,
I have to agree with Michael about your sometimes being a little too “colloquial.” Occasionally a colorful phrase here and there is a great way to make a point, but what makes your blog amusing and interesting is not your use of expletives, but your wit and clear understanding of the issues.
I enjoy your blog and am not offended by your language, but if your goal is to get your message out to as many people as possible, I think you will find that it can be done just as easily and more effectively by saving your more colorful language for those special occasions where it will really punctuate the point you are trying to make.
Sincerely,
Gerry Bevers
Thanks for the advice on the “coloquialisms.”
You know, it could be worst (or better, in my opinion) - I could be posting the occasional “boobie shots” ala The Gweilo Diaries. Try showing my blog to a religious group then (although Akira Fubuki’s set does have a certain “divine” quality to it).
(WARNING: Link not safe for work, school, or for those with heart problems)
Nice link.