Comments on: Tragic Death in Daegu http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/ Korea... in Blog Format Wed, 3 Dec 2008 05:09:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Faizal Deen http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-170657 Faizal Deen Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:49:51 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-170657 Anyone remember Esmie Green? The woman from Jamaica who was allowed to die on the floor of the ER waiting room of King's County Hospital in Brooklyn? Well, she died and there's no changing that. BUT, the incident was dealt with swiftly and immediately with suspension and dismissal of all involved, including the Director of Psychiatry. My point in bringing this up? While in North America there have been brutal incidences of violence against humanity, there have also been systems of transparency that have served those who fight for justice for the victims of those crimes. That's what the West has been able to offer the world as part of the effects of social globalization that has accompanied the more dubious and problematic phenom of economic globalization. Now, I have lost count of the number of times I have seen Korean women brutally beaten by their male partners in the streets of Seoul and where nothing was done and no one stopped to help because it was just not their problem. I have also seen instances of racial and cultural violence and discrimination go untreated because, well, no foreigner has the right to seek duress for crimes that could have been committed against their very presence. All Ms White is asking for is a transparent investigation into the death of her son and why and how the events occurred. I have not seen a single sentence of blame come from her postings or from her calls to action. The fact is...something happened to her son that none of us can fathom because we weren't there. But other people were and I am sure there is at least one ajoshi who is absolutely aware of what transpired but will never come forward because this is a culture of collectives, not of individual agents and it will never be that way. This is why answers must be fought for. And Westerners are raised in cultures that are not fearful of transformation or of innovation. Fighting for justice for Ms White's son does not mean in any way the defamation of Korean culture or of Korean people. But an analysis of why that fight must become a fight in the first place cannot avoid issues of cutural difference. Anyone remember Esmie Green? The woman from Jamaica who was allowed to die on the floor of the ER waiting room of King’s County Hospital in Brooklyn? Well, she died and there’s no changing that. BUT, the incident was dealt with swiftly and immediately with suspension and dismissal of all involved, including the Director of Psychiatry. My point in bringing this up? While in North America there have been brutal incidences of violence against humanity, there have also been systems of transparency that have served those who fight for justice for the victims of those crimes. That’s what the West has been able to offer the world as part of the effects of social globalization that has accompanied the more dubious and problematic phenom of economic globalization. Now, I have lost count of the number of times I have seen Korean women brutally beaten by their male partners in the streets of Seoul and where nothing was done and no one stopped to help because it was just not their problem. I have also seen instances of racial and cultural violence and discrimination go untreated because, well, no foreigner has the right to seek duress for crimes that could have been committed against their very presence. All Ms White is asking for is a transparent investigation into the death of her son and why and how the events occurred. I have not seen a single sentence of blame come from her postings or from her calls to action. The fact is…something happened to her son that none of us can fathom because we weren’t there. But other people were and I am sure there is at least one ajoshi who is absolutely aware of what transpired but will never come forward because this is a culture of collectives, not of individual agents and it will never be that way. This is why answers must be fought for. And Westerners are raised in cultures that are not fearful of transformation or of innovation. Fighting for justice for Ms White’s son does not mean in any way the defamation of Korean culture or of Korean people. But an analysis of why that fight must become a fight in the first place cannot avoid issues of cutural difference.

]]> By: Funk Seoul Sister http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-155354 Funk Seoul Sister Fri, 23 May 2008 04:11:48 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-155354 [...] all over the Korean blogosphere and in several of the Korean newspapers. I won’t go into it in great detail but I do think [...] [...] all over the Korean blogosphere and in several of the Korean newspapers. I won’t go into it in great detail but I do think [...]

]]> By: philipj http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-154418 philipj Sat, 17 May 2008 14:12:43 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-154418 I am not sure where to send a message of condolence to Ms. White, so as it appears that she is following this thread, maybe here is the place, is anyone knows of a proper forum for a message of this type then please let me know. Ms. White, reading the tragic story of your son, I was shocked. I extend my sympathies to you and your family. I hope that you receive great support through this difficult time, and that in your son's memory, good things are accomplished. I am not sure where to send a message of condolence to Ms. White, so as it appears that she is following this thread, maybe here is the place, is anyone knows of a proper forum for a message of this type then please let me know.

Ms. White, reading the tragic story of your son, I was shocked. I extend my sympathies to you and your family. I hope that you receive great support through this difficult time, and that in your son’s memory, good things are accomplished.

]]> By: Piper http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-154390 Piper Sat, 17 May 2008 08:52:57 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-154390 <blockquote>Piper - at the US embassy this afternoon there was indeed a woman named Stephanie, dressed in black, asking people to sign papers printed with the questions so eloquently dealt with by the silver-tongued Colonel.</blockquote> Along with Koehler's confirmation, that seems to sort out the authenticity of the story. On another blog, they were saying that no-one was there. On the facebook page, everyone was writing that they couldn't make it. <blockquote>Piper, I’d really like to extend back to you your own disgusting sarcasm.</blockquote> No disrespect intended. There were so many inconsistencies in the story that I was calling it as a hoax. It seems I was wrong, so I apologise for that and aggravating your unhappiness.

Piper - at the US embassy this afternoon there was indeed a woman named Stephanie, dressed in black, asking people to sign papers printed with the questions so eloquently dealt with by the silver-tongued Colonel.

Along with Koehler’s confirmation, that seems to sort out the authenticity of the story. On another blog, they were saying that no-one was there. On the facebook page, everyone was writing that they couldn’t make it.

Piper, I’d really like to extend back to you your own disgusting sarcasm.

No disrespect intended. There were so many inconsistencies in the story that I was calling it as a hoax. It seems I was wrong, so I apologise for that and aggravating your unhappiness.

]]> By: Iceberg http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-154369 Iceberg Sat, 17 May 2008 05:58:48 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-154369 Could we get that open thread going so some of us can tell stacked, pawi, et al. what we think of their "analysis" in a more appropriate forum? Could we get that open thread going so some of us can tell stacked, pawi, et al. what we think of their “analysis” in a more appropriate forum?

]]> By: stacked http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-154367 stacked Sat, 17 May 2008 05:51:24 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-154367 @91, anger isn't going to lead this anywhere. No one cared = dead kid anger at people who dont care? Good luck. As tragic as this is, you are forgetting the reputation America has sown for itself. @91, anger isn’t going to lead this anywhere.

No one cared = dead kid

anger at people who dont care? Good luck.

As tragic as this is, you are forgetting the reputation America has sown for itself.

]]> By: Sonagi http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-154365 Sonagi Sat, 17 May 2008 05:43:25 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-154365 Thank you, Robert. I am sorry that Ms. White had to read tactless remarks from some EI commenters. Thank you, Robert. I am sorry that Ms. White had to read tactless remarks from some EI commenters.

]]> By: Robert Koehler http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-154363 Robert Koehler Sat, 17 May 2008 05:40:10 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-154363 I leave that option open, depending on their future behavior. I leave that option open, depending on their future behavior.

]]> By: Above Criticism http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-154361 Above Criticism Sat, 17 May 2008 05:31:47 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-154361 Johnson and Piper: I assume that in the event someone dear to you dies tragically, you won't mind hateful clowns like yourselves taking uninformed potshots in the name of "open debate." Sickening. (Mr. Marmot - No chance you could extend the ban to them too, I suppose?) Johnson and Piper: I assume that in the event someone dear to you dies tragically, you won’t mind hateful clowns like yourselves taking uninformed potshots in the name of “open debate.”

Sickening.

(Mr. Marmot - No chance you could extend the ban to them too, I suppose?)

]]> By: Robert Koehler http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-154360 Robert Koehler Sat, 17 May 2008 05:26:31 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/05/15/tragic-death-in-daegu/#comment-154360 Stacked --- There are times when it's better simply to say nothing. Stacked — There are times when it’s better simply to say nothing.

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