The Korean government decided Sunday to offer US$30 million in aid to the United States in order to help the country recover from the destruction visited upon the Gulf Coast by Hurricane Katrina. The government will also dispatch a 50-man search and rescue team to the affected area, and consideration is also being given to the dispatch of military personnel (which would require National Assembly approval) should a request be made by the United States.
South Korea’s offer of US$30 million is, as far as I know, the second largest offer behind Qatar’s offer of US$100 million, and dwarfs the offers made by other nations in the region (Japan, for instance, will send US$200,000 and has offered US$300 more). Considering how the Korean economy has seen better days, Seoul’s offer is beyond generous and I can only hope the U.S. media gives it more attention than from what I’ve seen so far.
This is a tumultuous period in the history of the Korea-U.S. relationship, but I guess it’s times like this that you get a sense of who your friends really are. Regardless of your take on the Korea-U.S. alliance, Seoul’s policies vis-a-vis Pyongyang or a slew of other pending bilateral issues, I think Americans out there — especially those with an interest in Korea — really need to send a big “Thank You” to Seoul for offering a helping hand at a time when the United States perhaps needs it the most.
SPECIAL REQUEST FROM THE MARMOT
Anyway, if you are reading this, I encourage you to send a message of appreciation to the Korean embassy in the United States at consular_usa@mofat.go.kr, or, perhaps even better, to the Korean consulate-general in Houston (con-hu@mofat.go.kr), which is handling the relief effort in the devastated areas.
This is definitely one time that Korea’s support should not go unacknowledged.
174 Comments
What the hell country is Qatar? I think it’s not even a rich country (just saying, I’m not jealous).
That is certainly generous and appreciated. However I think “beyond generous” might be a bit too strong. Especially when you consider how much money the US pisses away in Korea each year. Itaewon landlords alone overcharge the US government at least 30mil annually.
The US government should accept the money and do it graciously. Give Korea a nice thank you from Bush and the appropriate level political ass kissing. Though don’t expect much media attention, 30mil is a drop in the bucket and a story for page 17.
My ????? is done and done.
I agree with marmot. It ain’t much, but given the state of the union these days, I’m happy to see Korean students simply not lecturing us on global warming…
Katz, Qatar’s very rich. In the world of ‘football’ (soccer), they pay lucrative money to bring the has-beens and some superstars to play in their league.
As for the 30 mil, it’s a very nice gesture. Louisiana’s friggin crazy right now, and needs help badly with the gas situation and all. I mean 3-4 dollars PER gallon?? Drill Alaska for god(s)’ sake!!
/selfish
Still, I’m a bit confused with how Korea found the 30 mil for this charity. My hope is that they’ll do stuff like this regularly not only for the worldwide problems but mainly the national problems.
Donate through the Red Cross everyone, and leave feeling good.
Kuwait is donating US$500 million (not to belittle Korea’s donation, just reporting details). US$200,000 from Japan? What’s up with that?
The consulate-general estimates that there are some 3,500 Koreans residing in Louisiana, among them about 1,500 in New Orleans and some 500 in Baton Rouge.
Now does this figure include all of the illegally smuggled hoes manning the massage parlors on Chef Menteur Highway, or is it just their US citizen pimps?
‘does that include korean hoes?’ mark
i’ll bet you know all about korean hoes, mark.
US$200,000 from Japan? What??s up with that?
It’s US$500,000 but yeah, what is up with that? I heard eve China donated US$10 million. Can anyone confirm that?
*even
I hate not being able to edit/delete blog posts.
Let’s try this:
wet your panties.
Is that why the vice squad is on to me?
guess not.
maybe its just the Korean face loss sensometer.
Have heard nothing of any donations from Kuwait, despite pretty elaborate searching. Can anyone confirm?
China donated $5 million.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/.....index.html
I know it’s vogue among some of the commenters here to suggest that no one in Korea feels any gratitude toward the U.S. for its role in keeping South Korea free, so I thought I would post a notice about a photo exhibition at the Korean War Memorial honoring GI contributions to children’s welfare during and immediately after the war.
A more detailed message is here.
Chariot wrote:Have heard nothing of any donations from Kuwait, despite pretty elaborate searching. Can anyone confirm?This post on my blog contains a link. Just do a word search for Kuwait if you don’t want to read all the drivel I wrote.
Now does this figure include all of the illegally smuggled hoes manning the massage parlors on Chef Menteur Highway
Mark, why don’t you just write “whores” so that we non-USA people would understand as well and don’t think you’re talking about farming equipment.
Korean aid for Katrina victims
The Marmot notes that the Republic of Korea has pledged $30 million in assistancce to the United States to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and is encouraging Americans to write to the Korean embassy or Korean consulate to thank them for …
Kushibo:
It is worth bearing in mind that the exhibit you mention - GIs and the Kids - A Love Story: American Forces and the Children of Korea 1950-1954 - was created by an organization of American veterans themselves. It memorializes the efforts of ordinary GIs who
saved the lives of over 10,000 children, helped support over 54,000 in more than 400 orphanages, many built or repaired by our servicemen. In the three years of the war we donated over two million dollars for orphanage aid from a pay of less than $100 a month. We wrote home to mom, pop, neighbors and friends seeking donations and the folks back home responded by sending thousands of tons of aid for the children and their care givers.
It’s certainly laudable that the Korean War Memorial and the Korean Welfare Foundation have agreed to co-sponsor it, so that it can be seen in Korea. And that is a testament to the fact that there are indeed many Koreans who are grateful for US help during the war.
Is it also interesting, though, that ROKGOV isn’t doing anything like this or that those of us who will attend will turn blue if we hold our breath for the appearance and comment from any significant ROKGOV representative? Hell, they don’t show up for the memorial services of their own servicemen KIA or even know their names.
Anyway,as I indicated, and because most of the men in my extended family fought in the war, I’m going for the opening @ 11:00 o’clock on Wednesday and would be happy to meet anyone out there for lunch afterwards.
Especially when you consider how much money the US pisses away in Korea each year. Itaewon landlords alone overcharge the US government at least 30mil annually.
Gift horse. Mouth. Et cetera.
“That is certainly generous and appreciated. However I think ??beyond generous?? might be a bit too strong.”
I think what Marmot really means is that his love of Korea is so strong that he would like to see Korea and the United States get along closely together as friends. I can understand and appreciate his feelings because I feel the same way too.
Kimbob:
I think there are a lot of us who share that hope.
It ain’t going to happen, though, unless ROKGOV and the elites that struggle to control it stop playing fast and loose with facts; pandering to Korean sentiment for short term, feel-good political advantage; and conveniently forgetting that equality requires reciprocity and mutuality (which ain’t 3000 troops hiding inside a base in a safe-zone in Iraq and 5 million in disaster relief for the Big Easy.)
Be aware with ROK’s promise. ROK has secretly reduced the total “announced” amount of the South Asian Thunami Donation from $5,000,000 to puny $600,000. Even worse, it hasn’t fully paid yet after 8 month since the disaster.
http://ocha.unog.ch/fts/reporting/reporting.asp
I think what Marmot really means is that his love of Korea is so strong that he would like to see Korea and the United States get along closely together as friends.
Well, yes, that, and the fact that US$30 million is a shit load of money, especially compared to Australia’s US$10 million, China’s US$5 million, Taiwan’s US$2 million and Japan’s US$200,000. And that’s in no way meant to belittle the aid packages offered by any of those states — the offers are generous, every little bit helps, and I’m not in the business of telling donors that their contributions are too small. It is meant to show, however, that Korea could have kept its contribution in line with those other states, but didn’t. There are a lot of states that probably “owe us,” so to speak, that aren’t chipping in US$30 million, including those that could very well afford it.
Apollo, South Korea’s aid promise was $50 million over a period of number of years. It was not supposed to be a one time lump sum payment.
From your link, I came up with a total of $6.1 million for the year of 2005, with the year not finished yet.
Marmot for the defense of Taiwan, Australia, Japan, etc, I think they probably figured that the US is a rich country, and a country that is able to rebuild Iraq. They probably think that giving money to countries that are much more poorer will be a better use of their aid money.
S.Korea on the other hand, is in a different position simply because of the frayed relationship with the US. They needed to step up to the plate.
Good on the Korean government for their generous offer. I worry about the search and rescue team, though. The locals shoot at Americans trying to help them, who knows what they will do to Koreans.
Mark, why don??t you just write ??whores?? so that we non-USA people would understand as well and don??t think you??re talking about farming equipment.
What?! And here I thought he was talking about planting seeds
nice gesture indeed, although it doesn’t rate quite as high for me as it does with others. still, my letters of appreciation have gone out, and i’d like to give a big thanks for the email addresses provided.
apollo, i also have had difficulty verifying your stated facts. where exactly are you pulling your numbers from in the database?
as for the non-farming variety of hoes, i just read an estimate (gov’t asian gang activity report) that the korean gangs running brothels in the bronx are bringing in over $16,000 per month. that’s just a bit more than a kangnam 10% girl makes in a month…
Mark posted a quote: “The consulate-general estimates that there are some 3,500 Koreans residing in Louisiana, among them about 1,500 in New Orleans and some 500 in Baton Rouge.”
The most useful thing Korea (and all other foreign countries) could do with their money is to supplement their US consular/embassy staff with some specially designated personnel, authorized to dispense funds to take care of their own nationals who are resident in the affected areas.
Anybody knows if this is in fact what the ROK 30 million is for? The common presumption here seems to be ROK ( other foreign countries’ aid donations) will be donated to some general fund, either into the US Treasury or to private US charities.
(Continued from my last post):
If the ROK 30 mil is earmarked for their own affected citizens, I don’t see that elaborate thanks to the ROK embassy in the US are called for.
I’d reserve such thanks for any privately organized donations from ROK citizens. The US TV networks currently are full of 800-type telephone numbers and newly organized web sites to receive such donations; indeed, you can find mention of them on well-trafficked US political web sites (the equivalent of this one).
Is anything like this happening in the Korean language blogosphere? How about it, those of you who read Korean?
What the hell country is Qatar? I think it??s not even a rich country (just saying, I??m not jealous).Qatar is a country that just celebrated its Independence Day here in Seoul (September 3). Oddly enough, I just got back from the observance of such at the Shilla Hotel. They gained independence from Britain back in 1971 and went from being a nation that made money from pearl-diving to an oil-producing nation that is plenty rich.
They get my appreciation for their generous donation — as does Korea.
No, thank you. I??m not stupid as you.
What the hell country is Qatar?
It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt. - Percy Bysshe Shelley
short monday links
It begins… Hong Kong’s Disneyland has started dress rehearsals, Little Cart Noodles takes an advanced look. (via Caleb): Chris at Ordinary Gweillo looks at an SCMP report on the park.: Hongkongers can’t get enough of taking photographs. But they do…
“It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt. - Percy Bysshe Shelley”
So you must be stupid when keep your mouth shut as your saying.
Nice to see the sizeable donation from ROK. It is nice to see South Korea getting more and more involved in international aid and helping those in time of need. South Korea is a top 11 economy and needs to be involved. They did a terrible job of it 10 years ago but over the past few years South Korea has made some strides in the area of charity.
Iceberg, I’m fairly certain that quote is from Mark Twain. As for the other its intended audience, I’m fairly certain the prognosis is Down syndrome
Paul H hit a key point. Does anybody know what the ROK 30 million is for? Is some or all of the money earmarked specifically for Korean victims of Katrina?
The Korean government should read this board before sending the money. Once again, we see an unappreciative lot of people whose only purpose in life is to shit on Koreans whenever possible (except their korean wives and half korean children, of course). Let’s look at the scorecard, shall we?
South Korea donates 30 mil to Katrina victims. Japan contributes two hundred thousand.
South Korea contributes 3,000 troops to Iraq, Japan gives 700.
South Korea contributes half a million troops to Vietnam for the American war. Japan contributes none.
Till the 90’s, South Korea still third world. It remains much smaller than Japan and yet gives far more. All a waste of time.
‘They won’t send any government officials to pay respect to Americans who died in the Korean war.’
Korea is paid up on paying respect. No need to thank any longer. And besides, those Americans who died in Korea were paid for their services by way of a paycheck.
Lastly, shakuhachi, whatever happened to you in Korea to make you so bitter is one of the few things that makes me feel proud of the Koreans.
ps the response of the federal government to the Katrina disaster had been nothing short of third world. But then, what can you expect form the busher of Baghdad?
south korea contributes half a million troops to vietnam for the american war. japan contributes none.
Oh dear…..I wonder why?
Nulji,
What??s with the Korea vs Japan scoreboard? Is charitable giving some sort of competitive event?
As an American, if Korea donates 30mil to help the victims of Katrina I??d say ??thank you very much??. If Korea is donating money specifically for Korean victims, I??d say ??thank you??, because it is still helping the cause. However, I??m not going to trip over myself running to the nearest consulate to express lavish thanks.
The person who made the comment about the gift horse is correct. I know I should not be so cynical about Korea??s motives, but something like this seems odd. This is a massive problem, but the US has the resources to get through it. That 30 mil might be better used to aid malnourished and starving North Koreans.
The ROK government did NOT announce that it decided to give $30 million- it announced that a TOTAL of $30 million would be donated from South Korea- The government is only in for $5 million of that, and the remaining $25 million is from, “the ROK Red Cross and South Korean businesses with ties to the U.S.” (YTN News, 7:00am, Tues).
The $5 million is appreciated, but I’m not getting out my kneepads just yet.
Be aware with ROK??s promise. ROK has secretly reduced the total ??announced?? amount of the South Asian Thunami Donation from $5,000,000 to puny $600,000. Even worse, it hasn??t fully paid yet after 8 month since the disaster.
apollo, its no secret that they increased it to 50mil from 0.6mil, not secretly reducing to 0.6mil from 50mil.
Katz sez:
What the hell country is Qatar? I think it??s not even a rich country (just saying, I??m not jealous).
Katz, I have a few awesome recommendations for you.
http://www.google.com
http://www.naver.com
Now what you want to do is “click” your mouse button on one of those “web addresses”. Then you’ll see a “search window”. Go ahead and type “Qatar”… then press “enter”.
Fun, huh?
I sent along a thank you to the Koreans.
There are always problems between humans that come up here and there. It’s simple manners to accept a gift graciously.
Thanks again to the Korean people and their government.
That’s right. Let’s just ignore the racist crowing of “nulji” and his ilk and thank the Korean citizens and their government graciously for their generous offer of assistance and support. It is very touching and I hope such a gesture inspires good feeling among Americans toward South Korea.
I sent off a ?? ??? ??? ?? ??? ??? ??? ??? as well. Even though America is starting to look “foreign” to me after years of not being there, the bungling of the Bush administration looked all too familiar, and with national resources stretched thin, we can use any funds we can get now.
“Katz, I have a few awesome recommendations for you.
http://www.google.com
http://www.naver.com
Now what you want to do is ??click?? your mouse button on one of those ??web addresses??. Then you??ll see a ??search window??. Go ahead and type ??Qatar????? then press ??enter??.
Fun, huh?”
No, thank you. I’m not stupid as you.
ROK donation of 5 Mil or however much it ends up being is noble. Even if the pledge turns out to be nothing more than that, I still say it is noble because there are plenty of people out there who will attack the government for being friendly to the US (ROH did get in on a semi-anti US platform).
I am very disturbed, however, to see comments that suggest that Korea no longer needs to remember the sacrafices of others in their defense, particularly so with the idea that South Korea has paid the debt with money. I am not saying that Korea sold its soul by having American and other nation’s soldiers fight and die defending it but I am saying that that sacrafices needs to be remembered. Koreans conduct chesa (memorial services for ancestors) for people just because they lived-is it too much to ask to think about the people who were forced to go and fight (and for some, die) for a country they neither new nor loved (although I believe that many did come to love Korea)? Is that too much to ask? I do not dispute that a certain percentage of the population (I think it is increasingly shrinking with time) is still grateful for the sacrafices and efforts that were put forth in the defense of Korea that enabled the free existance of South Korea. By the same token, however, there are plenty of Koreans that are quick to fault those same people for the deaths of Koreans during the war and for the political division of the peninsula. There are more still that look upon the current relationship with the US as antiquaited and unfair. Undoubtedly those sentiments are used for political gains where possible (Roh). Regardless of the overall political outlook that people decide to take on this aspect of Korean, on a human level there is a need by all of us to remember the heroic sacrafices made by those brave soldiers. In my opinion, that is not a debt that can paid off with money but rather by remembering and honoring it.
“I am very disturbed, however, to see comments that suggest that Korea no longer needs to remember the sacrafices of others in their defense, particularly so with the idea that South Korea has paid the debt with money.”
Are you referring to nulji’s comments above? If you are, that’s only his opinion, I wouldn’t lose sleep over it.
Katz, if you don’t want to be treated like an idiot by the people that participate in this forum, it would serve you well to do a little research on your own rather than ask questions that everyone else here would expect from a 5 year old. This is particularly poignant given all the news ralated to Qatar and the middle east that has been so abundant over the past few years.
The quote is very similar to an Abraham Lincoln quote. Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
It’s unbelievable having such stupid people in this forum that attack me without reason and still from unknown people that doesn’t even know me and for something that I didn’t even started. Two middle fingers to you.
Knowing that these hypocrites that reprehend me in these jokes are capable to do more evil. If not they would be laughing. Pay attention in what I’m saying people.
Better not to hyperlink and be thought and amateur than to screw up the link and remove all doubt.
Here is a working hyperlink to the Lincoln quote. Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
Also appropriate to people who think we give a shit: “He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals”: Ben Franklin.
The Korean National Red Cross has set up a special fund for donations to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. They most want cash, but they’re also making requests for other items (though I haven’t had time to translate the list yet). The information is on the Korean-language site, but not yet on the English side.
Go here for details.
I am going to say it. Katz is schizophrenic.
katz isn’t schizophrenic-that’s giving him too much credit. he is in fact mentally retarded. kinda funny watching him try to make a point though…
Down syndrome.
Trisomy-21
A new low has been reached by those who comment on the Marmot’s Hole today. Both foreigner and KrZ should be ashamed of themselves. I am disgusted.
‘who’s keeping a scorecard between japan and korea?’
you must be new to these kinds of boards since the expat just loves to use japan as a club against korea. i’m just turning the tables.
‘koreans should appreciate the americans who died on their behalf.’
well, believe it or not, i agree with you. but then, i have to take note that very few americans appreciate the fact the 5,000 korean soldiers died in vietnam on behalf of the us. even marmot descibes those koreans as mercenanries and implies that the us need not aknowlege them. indeed, i’ve never seen an american program in which the korean contrubution is even mentioned. what you say works both ways.
“A new low has been reached by those who blah blah blah” sez the new troll in town.
Foreigner
A sarcasm detector?? Yeah THAT’S useful.
Throwing an actual disability that people suffer from around as an insult is ignorant whether it’s sarcastic or not. I’m not a troll. I don’t hide my identity and I am not saying this just to get a rise. I truly am disgusted by behavior like that.
Nevermind, he was serious. Joel, it’s not like we’re writing a comments thread for submission to the Journal of Expatology for chrissakes. Lighten up, retard is common parlance for a socially inept person, such as Katz.
#8:
“Otherwise, Korea will be like the wheel that never stops squeaking when it comes to whingeing about quid pro quos.”
= Nulji
’nuff said.
Foreigner, KrZ = I’d appreciate it if we could maintain at least a semblence of decorum on my weblog. Thanks.
Nulji = Would you be kind enough to provide me with a link to where I described Korean troops that fought in Vietnam as “mercenaries?”
“Nulji = Would you be kind enough to provide me with a link to where I described Korean troops that fought in Vietnam as ??mercenaries???”
That was me, Nulji. I said that.
Of course it’s great that Korea has pledged US$30 million for Katrina victims’ relief. But frankly, I think Korea can do its countrymen and its national image a great service by dispatching teams of its fine and well-trained (US-trained, mostly) physicians to attend to the suffering poor black citizens of New Orleans. Goodwill earned through a display of compassion and caring with a Korean face could go a along way to diminishing black hostility toward Korean merchants in America. Extend the hand of friendship.
S. Korea Gives Aid for Katrina
Although US-S.Korean relationship is perhaps at an all-time low, the two nations are still allies. In a gesture of that relationship, S. Korea is providing aid for Katrina victims:The Korean government decided Sunday to offer US$30 million in aid to th…
Perhaps I overreacted. If so then I apologize. I had just come out of a class of “progressive” adult students who had unanimously tried to persuade me that aborting a baby with disabilities was the recommended course of action. Because raising such a baby would be “too difficult.” I say if you want easy don’t have kids to begin with, but anyway it doesn’t help that my little sister has Down syndrome and I am already a little sensitive about the term being used in such a derogatory fashion. It just seems with comments like Katz’s that are so riddled with errors one could find serious objective criticism to render rather than stoop to name-calling.
Nice try people. Now I’ll gonna ask why do you hate me. While some attack me without reason some attack me by interest. I notice that some people that hate me now are using this to attack me.
“It just seems with comments like Katz??s that are so riddled with errors one could find serious objective criticism to render rather than stoop to name-calling.”
I don’t give a shit how my comments sound. The meaning is that matters. Unfortunately I didn’t had the same privilege as you but at least I speak two or more languages than most of you. Am I try to justify myself? Ha.
Correction: *trying.
Joel, I don’t think you overreacted. I have a cousin who is severely retarded, and though it’s not Down’s Syndrome, I agree that using such words as insults goes too far.
Anyway, Marmot, don’t you think it’s about time you changed this post’s title to “Thanks for nothing”…?
Katz - I’m not criticizing your language ability. I admire your attempt to communicate on an international forum in something other than your native tongue. As a student of Korean I understand how difficult studying and mastery of another language can be. I’m criticizing comments like this:
What the hell country is Qatar? I think it??s not even a rich country (just saying, I??m not jealous).
We live in a highly globalized society and this is a largely international forum. Not knowing about a country that has a GDP per Capita that is higher than South Korea’s ($23,200 versus $19,200) and is located in one of the most volatile and currently vitale areas of the world makes you seem uninformed and hence easily overlooked. Next time that happens consider personal research to rectify what you don’t know rather than broadcasting it. It will draw less criticism and it will make you more informed.
“What the hell country is Qatar? I think it??s not even a rich country (just saying, I??m not jealous).”
I’m sure nobody was offended by this. Since I used to live in another country I didn’t had much news about a country named Qatar nor in school I learned much about it. But I prefer to ask people first rather than using a stupid search tool. I think that’s more sociable and pleasurable.
There aren’t that many countries out there. It’s relatively easy to keep them all stored in local brainspace to the point where you can fill in a blank map of the earth, and mention one or two things about each one. Then again, the geographic knowledge of your average American is appalling. I am constantly faced by Americans who, when I mention I live in the Republic of Korea, are shocked that I have chosen to live “in a 3rd world country.” Extremely disheartening to experience the plague of ignorance out there.
Since I used to live in another country I didn??t had much news about a country named Qatar nor in school I learned much about it. But I prefer to ask people first rather than using a stupid search tool. I think that??s more sociable and pleasurable.
???
Stupid search tools…
Katz, if you ever have a question about anything, feel free to ask me. I’ll tell you everything you need to know…hehehe…
I??m fairly certain that quote is from Mark Twain.
Foreigner, you may be correct, but I got that quote from the “World of Quotes” website. You can find it using a stupid search tool.:-)
“There aren??t that many countries out there. It??s relatively easy to keep them all stored in local brainspace to the point where you can fill in a blank map of the earth, and mention one or two things about each one.”
Not that I never heard of a country named Qatar but if you can cite each country one by one in fact there are no many countries in this world specially when you cite a small country named Qatar whose neighbor is the famous Saudi Arabia, and other countries of that region like Yemen, Oman, Iraq United Arab Emirates etc.
“Katz, if you ever have a question about anything, feel free to ask me. I??ll tell you everything you need to know??hehehe???”
Of course I would have freedom not to ask you but if I asked would be “Are you k?”.
I’m ‘k’ my man. I’m ‘k’…
So f* you. You’re not welcome here. Moreover you don’t have right to opine.
I love you Katz, don’t be angry.
Sugar Shin: are you still resident somewhere in Europe?
Quote from your post (#94):
“The donations are SYMBOLIC. The biggest economy and most powerful country in the world doesn??t need any penny or assistance from all those countries mentioned above. Maybe there??s only a need for more responsibility, competence and compassion by the bunch of inept losers and ignorants in da White House.
30,000,000 $ are more or less a significant Korean way of saying: ‘Damned, US buddies, at the end we??re still allies and friends, huh? Aren??t we?…’??
“Damned, US buddies,…” Probably a typo on your part but I still enjoyed that particular sub-portion of your quote.
I suppose it’s just about impossible for a stand-up ROK citizen (or an expat from ROK) to say anything positive about the good old US of A, without simultaneously delivering a “kick in the shin” as well (or perhaps I should say a “kick from the Shin” in this particular case).
I suppose this approach is necessary for all young Koreans in order to prove one’s nationalist credentials? And it’s necessary for me as a US citizen to be sympathetic, understanding, etc etc.
Well, let’s hope that if the ROK ever finds itself in dire need, the current US administration will be able to transcend its “incompetence” and “irresponsibility” to get there in time.
Casual insults such as yours certainly don’t enhance my eagerness to see this happen, but maybe you’d prefer that the US just leave the ROK before we can screw it up too? Well, if so, I hope we can soon oblige.
For those here who might be interested in a more balanced (and IMO factual) view of the hurricance response, I think it is found in this current quote from the “Powerline” blog:
“…The derision directed by some Europeans, including German Chancellor Schroeder['s response to Hurricane Katrina] contains two elements. The first is hatred of President Bush. The second is the alleged superiority of the European big government, dirigist model. As to the second, it’s worth recalling that France, the embodiment of the dirigist model, experienced many deaths when a heat wave struck Paris a few years ago. The French government’s response generally was considered scandalously inadequate, even though it’s far easier to act in the heat than when a city is underwater and large areas over three different states have been battered.
There are, of course, trade-offs when it comes to allocating duties among local, state, and federal entities. State and local governments, especially those in some cities, tend to be plagued by corruption and incompetent leadership. New Orleans is the embodiment, or rather the caricature, of this. Federal agencies usually aren’t particularly corrupt and they tend to attract more able leaders, but they are plagued by red tape and the related symptoms associated with large organizations of this kind.
These problems are inherent, and thus will persist long after the inevitable commission has issued its reports and the findings have been implemented. Nonetheless, given what terrorists may be able to accomplish in the near future, we need quickly to find some answers that will enable us to do better next time. For starters, big cities need to elect more Giulianis and fewer Nagins. At the federal level, the best approach is to identify the glitches that occurred at FEMA and address them within the context of FEMA as it exists now…”
Katz-
I think that??s more sociable and pleasurable.
If you find being mocked and insulted to be sociable and pleasurable it appears you have come to the right place.
What’s with the lack of entries lately? Even the last two are a little redundant/mundane. Did the guest bloggers take a hike?
Now you gone too far. Why are you using something which I was referring to something different?
They say the devil’s in the details, and I am glad that people are astute enough to demand how the money will actually be used. But i wonder, do these same people have the same mental acumen when it comes to aids that is given to other countries? Especially economic aid with strings attached?
Ahh. But I guess this makes me a leftist.
Katz:
I haven’t twisted your words in the slightest. Perhaps you have misunderstood what I have said or not understood what everyone else has said.
But I prefer to ask people first rather than using a stupid search tool. I think that??s more sociable and pleasurable.
You prefer to ask people. You asked people here. People here called you names and insulted you and your intelligence. Yet you still say you prefer to ask people. If that is the case one must infer that you like the results it yields.
Well that must be interest. Because someone started and others began to attack me as well. Are you k? Would you shut up? If you hadn’t started this would have ended.
I agree with Kushibo (#75). I don??t think that Joel overacted. I have a niece who is severely retarded too. I am getting sensitive to those words.
When I read #1, I honestly found it very disturbing. But I assumed that the person who wrote might be very young Korean, who went to school in Korea. There is word ???????? in Korea. Koreans somehow learned to disrespect and look down on people from ???????? (since elementary school).
Anyway, #1 may not mean to offend the country in his original language (in Korean?), but in the process of translating (?), the meaning of ??offense?? came in. Understanding language is more than learning grammars and rules of it; we should understand culture and people of the language. Since the writer of #1 said that he didn??t mean it, let??s give him a little break.
My younger brother is mentally retarded yet I have no qualms about using the term in an inflammatory manner. I love my brother, and, indeed, I am probably a retard when compared to a killer whale who has a brain mass several times my own, or a genius such as Einstein who condensed observations so eloquintly. Insults are of little consequence to the thick-skinned.
“Insults are of little consequence to the thick-skinned.”
I hope you are referring to someone else. I didn’t write my first comment to offend anybody. For sure someone’s intentions reflect what he/she writes be harsh or delicate words.
‘where did i say that?’ marmot
are you saying you never wrote that koreans soldiers in vietnam were mercenaries? you did write that. you wrote it on this board. if you think i can find exactly where it is, i’m sorry; i’ve been reading your blog for some time. you did write what i say you wrote.
‘koreans need to do something for blacks.’ condescending lawyer
imagine a white telling us what we need to do for blacks. do you realize how much suspicion there is right now amongst the black community that they were laregly ignored because they were black, poor, and vote democratic? perhaps you should spend more time thinking about how white folk can repair their image amongst our black brothers and sisters. koreans did not create black ghettos. you look in the mirror to see who did that.
The donations are SYMBOLIC. The biggest economy and most powerful country in the world doesn’t need any penny or assistance from all those countries mentioned above. Maybe there’s only a need for more responsibility, competence and compassion by the bunch of inept losers and ignorants in da White House.
30,000,000 $ are more or less a significant Korean way of saying: “Damned, US buddies, at the end we’re still allies and friends, huh? Aren’t we?”
For heaven’s sake, even piss-poor Bangladesh donated money for US hurricane victims. The amount of money can be insignificant - the thing that counts is the gesture.
Well that must be interest. Because someone started and others began to attack me as well. Are you k? Would you shut up? If you hadn??t started this would have ended.
Katz, take a deep breath and relax.
??koreans need to do something for blacks.?? condescending lawyer
I assume this is a paraphrase of Brendon Carr’s post in #70. Wow! Quite a stretch.
I assume this is a paraphrase of Brendon Carr??s post in #70. Wow! Quite a stretch.
No fooling. But, consider the source.
Well, I did get caught up in the fray, and I apologize. Marmot, you can’t police this blog all the time, but it would be nice if you got rid of someone who writes “two middle fingers to you” and so forth, and never once adds anything of interest to the commentary. It’s funny that you indulge that person his/her Tourette’s-like comments (gee, I hope I didn’t offend anyone with distant cousins afflicted by this!) for days on end, but then scold other people who are fed up with it–and yes, that was a bit immature of me, but as I said it’s really tiring to slog through all that crap to read other comments by people who’ve been here much longer that I am interested in reading.
My younger brother is mentally retarded yet I have no qualms about using the term in an inflammatory manner. I love my brother, and, indeed, I am probably a retard when compared to a killer whale who has a brain mass several times my own, or a genius such as Einstein who condensed observations so eloquintly. Insults are of little consequence to the thick-skinned.So from now on we can call you a pasty, big-nosed gringo cracker?
My sixty-something aunt who raises that now-twenty-something cousin has about as thick a skin as anyone I know. She would take offense at you using “retard” or “Down’s Syndrome” as insults.
Maybe people are being too sensitive, maybe not. Your argument reminds me of the contoversy of Blacks using the word “Nigger.”
I’m curious if you don’t get bothered when xenophobic Koreans say racist epithets about you?
Sugar Shin wrote:The donations are SYMBOLIC. The biggest economy and most powerful country in the world doesn??t need any penny or assistance from all those countries mentioned above. Maybe there??s only a need for more responsibility, competence and compassion by the bunch of inept losers and ignorants in da White House.I don’t agree that it’s merely symbolic. Some of the “aid” is in the form of supplies and materiel, and even personnel. People have been so focused on how the $30 million is so meaningful or meaningless (really, Marmot, you should change this thread’s title to “Thanks for nothing”), but South Korea is sending fifty search-and-rescue people. The Koreans, Canadians, and others doing that are playing an importantn role. They are needed, no matter how big and rich the U.S. is.
I do agree with Brendon that doctors and nurses would be a good idea, too.30,000,000 $ are more or less a significant Korean way of saying: ??Damned, US buddies, at the end we??re still allies and friends, huh? Aren??t we???No, Sugar Shin, it’s a ploy to get the U.S. to give more money to the over-charging Itaewon landlords and the juicy bar “hoes.” It’s all meaningless, because all Koreans just hate America and always will.For heaven??s sake, even piss-poor Bangladesh donated money for US hurricane victims. The amount of money can be insignificant - the thing that counts is the gesture.I do agree with you for poor countries. Most countries in general, I guess.
Right after 9/11, Libya was (I think) was the first Arab country to express dismay over what happened. Libya! (If they weren’t the first, they were one of the first). This reflected a change of heart Libya had started to have that the Clinton administration, and later the Bush administration, had started to foster. It may have been genuine.
I can’t participate much today but for one factoid:
Qatar is famous primarily as the home of the Al-Jazeerah television network.
And one opinion:
I think Brendon has exactly the right idea.
Actually, calling katz retarded is an insult to the mentally challenged.
Bush to lead inquiry into Katrina.
Donate to Korean Red Cross fund for victims of Katrina.
“Actually, calling katz retarded is an insult to the mentally challenged.”
Oh, man, how did you identify yourself?
I don??t agree that it??s merely symbolic. Some of the ??aid?? is in the form of supplies and materiel, and even personnel. People have been so focused on how the $30 million is so meaningful or meaningless
I agree with Kushibo. $30 million is a lot of money. It wont be symbolic to the people it helps.
@ Kushibo
Flying a handful of doctors and nurses over the whole Pacific, when ten thousands of homegrown doctors and nurses live nearby in neighbouring federal states is not that clever. Organizing the plenty of people and resources, that the US truely has, could have been done at the time of need by the Department of Homeland Security. But they haven’t seen the catastrophe coming… yeah, alright, what the heck are those guys supposed to do? Taking a nap, or what?
@Paul H.
Nope, no typo. Didn’t mean “bodies” but “buddies” as I typed it. And yes, I’m still residing in good ol’ Germany - look at that nice flag.
The first reaction of Chancellor Schr?der was to send re-construction teams, airplanes full of supplies, a medical Airbus, donate money and throw parts of the strategic oil resources on the market following a request by the US government. I don’t have “kicked” the whole US in my comment above - only the responsible idiots in charge. Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rummy and the rest of the inept lot: “Sorry, couldn’t see that coming out that way. Where’re the homeless citizens that we can hug in front of the TV cameras, huh?”
bush is finished.
so are your dreams of world domination.
‘bredan’s idea is a good one.’
sure it is. but his reason for doing so is wrong. the koreans shouldn’t have an agenda that goes beyond sending doctors and nurses to treat people of ALL colors.
ask the lawyer if he’d like to take a wrong turn off the highway and end up in a ghetto. i already know his answer for i know the hypocrite who sits on high horse.
ask the lawyer if he???d like to take a wrong turn off the highway and end up in a ghetto. i already know his answer for i know the hypocrite who sits on high horse.
If you knew how many times I’ve gotten mugged in the cities for just such an occurrence, you’d know that I’m not afraid to be there. But who the hell wants to go to the ghetto anyway? Black folks with a dollar or two certainly don’t — why should I? (Dave Chappelle’s gotten hilarious mileage out of that very idea.)
I’m not advocating that Korean medical teams turn away white patients, but only a jackass could deny the powerful goodwill effect within the black community — a large portion of which which suspects (not without good reason) that Koreans hate their black asses — of kindly Korean hands cradling black babies. Oops, looks like a jackass just did…
Just as seeing planes with “Luftwaffe” on the side unloading supplies makes me glad, I would like to see the taeguk of our Korean friends emblazoned on the expeditionary medical teams’ matching vests and hats.
Anyway, nulji, you’re a well-known troll who hassles people behind the shield of a fake name, so who gives a shit what you think?
The typo I referred to was “damned” (vs “damn”).
Keep your aid, if the price of accepting it is having to endure such insults.
Of course, if you indulged in similar rhetoric during the Clinton administration (ie when “they” bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, let Bin Laden get away, etc etc) I’ll concede that you are an “equal opportunity” America basher. I tend to doubt this though.
You can’t get away with trying to separate many of us from our government; you’ve been spoiled by your