More on Attack on KH Editor

I find it interesting to say that Canada is more racist than Korea.
I’d like to see someone compare and contrast the two countries.
I have some questions…

How are biracial people treated in Canada?
Do Canadian schools teach kids that their blood is “pure” like they do in Korea?
Are hate crimes or suspected hate crimes tolerated in Canada? Would a racially motivated stabbing, like that mentioned above, even be investigated in Canada?
Does the Canadian media target certain minorities in their newspapers and news programs and racebait those groups? I know SBS is famous here for it.
Would a cartoon of three men belonging to a minority group chasing a “white” woman be published in a Canadian national newspaper?
What does the Canadian Constitution say about race?
What does the Korean constitution say about race?
If a Korean were stabbed in Canada and the attack was racially motivated, what would have or could have been done about it? Would anything have been done about it?
How many refugees does Canada accept compared to Korea? Anyone know?
What is the difference (social, political etc…) between the two countries in regards to the quality of life for immigrants and minority groups?
Is Canada more open to FDI than Korea?
Any Canucks around to answer my questions?

Victimhood is not the issue:

This is from the original Gypsy Scholar thing:

“Why didn’t you report it?” I asked.

“I’ve written enough articles about police inaction when foreigners are attacked that I knew nothing would be done,” he explained.

There is the racism.

Outstanding questions, number two. I for one know how easy it is to get hot-headed when these issues arise for us, but you seem to have outlined the core of our grievances here in a logical and cool manner.

When I reported to the police that my parked car (just outside my house) was hit, they suggested that I move to a better neighborhood. An eye witness said the man was drunk when he got out of the car briefly but didn’t note the license plate.

No country is racist, just as no country is not racist.

Well, if you consider that a country is a legal construct, basically a collection of laws that define all the aspects of a country; and if you consider that Korea’s laws discriminate against people based on race, not nationality; then, you must admit that Korea is a racist country. Made by racist people, on racist principles, for the propagation of racism.

Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

Well, I don’t know for certain, but I’ve heard that Korean citizens of non-Korean ethnicity, such as non-Koreans who have married Koreans, can only vote in local elections and can’t vote in national elections. That’s part of what I was referring to. Also, the extreme difficulty (or impossibility?) that it takes for those without Korean ancestry to get Korean citizenship.

This is more of an issue of Korean police being utterly useless more than racism. The only times I’ve ever run into the Korean police they’ve always been polite, friendly, considerate and absolutely useless (which can often be a good thing compared to the power-tripping asshole cops you usually get in the states).

“Korea is not a racist country, at least compared to Canada (where I’m from).”

This statement just proves that Canadians do take a lot of drugs.

“It is just as ridiculously stupid to say Korea is not a racist country as it would be to say Korea is a racist country. Both absolutes are worthless in terms of information value.”

The second absolute is pretty full of useful information.

“Korea’s laws discriminate against people based on race, not nationality;”

Wrong. People of same race as Korans may also run into harder times than Whites. Who do you think Koreans look down on more? Whites or ethnic Koreans from China/ or people from South East Asia?

The concept of “race” does not exist in Korean construct. It’s either “South Korean” or “non-Korean” – ‘us’ against ‘them’.

As for becoming a Korean citizen, it’s not as difficult or impossible as many make it out to be.

It will require five years of residence, proficiency in the Korean language, and understanding of Korean culture and history. Foreigners must pass an interview that tests their language proficiency as well as a written test on culture, history, and customs.

In other words, you have to prove that you can speak the language, and that you understand Korean history. I think this is an entirely fair expectation if you want to be a citizen. Canada and the US are anomolies. They hand out citizenship like candies to undeserved with predictable results.

#32, Interesting post, and I don’t think many people would realize that Korean-to-Korean discrimination, which I agree readily happens.

I think with Canada and the USA though, they’re easier with language knowing that there is enough ethnic support for someone from from any place in the world, assuming they (and usually do) go to the right city. Most countries offer some pigeon English experience due it’s prominence in business (among others) as well.

Dear Mr. Koehler:
I really love your blog.
As a fellow Long Islander (north shore, Suffolk) I’m proud to say I usually find your commentary on point and accurate. I check here nearly everyday.

But I was saddened by your recent posts about racism here.
(sorry, I don’t know how to make the nice quote boxes I saw on your post)

“Are you suggesting that Korean citizens of non-Korean ethnicity are legally discriminated against? Or are you simply referring to laws pertaining to overseas Koreans?”
I think that’s a little simplistic.

Perhaps you are right, it is ‘easy’ to obtain citizenship here. As far as I know, you mean for people who marry Koreans. For those who don’t… it’s a whole other story. Almost impossible, from what I understand.
Regardless, you missed the point. He didn’t say Korea discriminated against non-Korean citizens, but rather, non-Koreans.

Practically speaking, do you know how many (non-Han) people have obtained citizenship in this country WITHOUT marrying a Korean? I would imagine that number is VERY small.

And that’s true. Regardless of how easy it is for foreign, non-Han people to obtain citizenship, you can’t dispute that there is another, streamlined process for gyopos. Basically, you have 2 systems in this country: one for people with Korean blood and another for those without. That is racism.
That’s just talking about citizenship.
My gyopo neighbor can come here on an F visa, and teach, unfettered by immigration. He might not know a word of Korean, or anything about the culture. But his skin is the right color. Me, I have to get an E-2. And even though our qualifications are the same, I risk deportation, and have to take AIDS and drug tests, etc. Again, racism.
Both examples are, in my opinion, examples of institutionalized racism in the legal system. Admittedly, I know a LOT less about Korean law than you. So my analysis might be flawed. But in my understanding, there are elements of racism in the Korean legal system.
You didn’t mention, and I won’t go into here, the elements of societal racism (i.e. there is no social norm to accept people of different ethnic stock as Korean, despite their bona fides with respect to language and culture) that I believe actually affects foreigners more than legal racism.

I’m tired of hearing from Koreans about American racism. Not only is racism NOT INSTITUTIONALIZED in the US but to the contrary anti-racist measures are institutionalised, including civil rights law.

The next president of the US will be of mixed race. Could that happen in Korea? Ever?

The reason race baiting (accusing people of racism) is considered socially objectionable is that Americans abhore racism and are rightly proud of its history of achievements in the area of civil rights, which has set a global standard.

And whatever remnents of racism still exist are NOT directed at Asians. It’s basically a black white dynamic in the US. Koreans are NOT disliked for racial reasons. To the extent they are disliked, they have brought it upon themselves through their own behaviors.

If Korea was racist would the state pay a white guy in a Hanbok to sit on his ass all day promoting Korea?
You guys need to get a grip. Your home country may be predominantly white and you may not be entitled to the same privileges here your whiteness gets you there, but that does not make here racist. If you think here is racist and your own country is not, then , go on, think that way. paranoid freaks. always an excuse.

“If Korea was racist would the state pay a white guy in a Hanbok to sit on his ass all day promoting Korea?”

Ah, so is that what’s behind the Marmot’s frantic and defenses of Korea lately?

Racial epithets, Nazi signs painted at Korean-American church

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/2008/06/16/suwanee_korean_church_graffiti.html

I strongly condemn that church desecration regardless of who the perpetrators are found to be.

#36: “Regardless of how easy it is for foreign, non-Han people to obtain citizenship, you can’t dispute that there is another, streamlined process for gyopos. Basically, you have 2 systems in this country: one for people with Korean blood and another for those without. That is racism.
That’s just talking about citizenship.
My gyopo neighbor can come here on an F visa, and teach, unfettered by immigration. He might not know a word of Korean, or anything about the culture. But his skin is the right color. ”

Well, yes and no.

Many countries have streamlined rules for certain groups, based on historical ties, that could be regarded as not ‘fair’. For example, I believe it is much easier for citizens of British Commonwealth countries to get visa’s to other Commonwealth countries. And, until 9/11 citizens of the United States and Canada could pretty much freely enter each other’s country at will. I remember being waved into the U.S. with a bored glance and nary even a request for ID. That was based on historical ties and trust. Last, I am pretty sure that people who have a grandparent who was or is a citizen of the EU get preferential work visa status or even an EU passport. A buddy of mine with an Irish grandparent applied for something like that, I remember.

I just think every country has a right to control its borders any way it wants to, and giving a streamlined process to one group and a more difficult one to another is ok. Entering another country is not the human right some people feel it is.

I was saying that I disagree that any country fast-tracking or slow-tracking any group is racism. I wasn’t pointing out “the racism in western countries”, because to my mind that is not racism at all.

“For example, I believe it is much easier for citizens of British Commonwealth countries to get visa’s to other Commonwealth countries. And, until 9/11 citizens of the United States and Canada could pretty much freely enter each other’s country at will.”

These are not based on race or ethnicity, however.

Robert, was that you in that drama, ‘Here Comes Ajumma’?

I was going to post a comment – then decided others had gotten the point across and better than I was going to – and I left. But, then this occured to me:

For all the terribly empathetic, broad minded long-term expats, what would you tend to say and think IF:

instead of in Korea involving foreigners, this same incident had taken place in the US between three white guys and two black guys – during a period of racial tension being played out in the news every day…

….how many of you would go to such lengths to downplay the racial angle or to avoid a discussion about the level of racism in American society?

I thought back to the mid-1980s when one or two black young men were beaten to death with baseball bats in an Italian neighborhood in New York.

Were all Americans racist? No.

Was America a racist country – as it was before the Civil Rights Movement? No.

Did that event show that there was a serious racial problem in the US? %uck yeah!!

The problem with pulling the race card (charging others of racism) is that it seldom leads to a constructive discussion and tends to degenerates into a mutual blame game.

We can commonly agree that racism occurs worldwide and is not acceptible anywhere it occurs.

The main difference between the US and Korea with regard to racism is that America has already confronted (and continues to confront) the issue extensively and laboriously; the national consciousness has been raised to the point that racism in any form is simply not culturally acceptible or prevalent; and detailed, sweeping measures have been implemented to de-institutionalize racism.

The bottom line is that the overwhelming majority of Americans are not racist and abhor it in any form. Evidence of this is that American society has evolved to the point that an African American is the most likely candidtate to be elected the next President.

While criticisms of American racism have been leveled by Europeans and Asians, this degree of progress has so far not been matched by any other nation.

Criticisms of American racism by Koreans are undeserved. Non Koreans also see it as hypocritical considering the generally prevailing attitudes toward other races in Korea. However they are typically quite understanding of Korea’s special circumstances, and generally recognize that Koreans simply harbor a great many misconceptions about the outside world. A great many Koreans genuinely believe that anti-Korean racism is widespread among other races. While foreigners laugh about this, it is actually rather sad.

How can you dispell an illusion that is so widespread? The anti-beef protests demonstrate that it is exceedingly difficult for many Koreans to distinguish the facts from the illusions. This Korean naivete is attributable to Korea’s continued cultural and social isolation from the world mainstream.

As I continue to point out, there is only one solution – opening the Korean mind to other modes of thinking. How do you teach people to “think outside the box” or “think outside the race”, if you will? In my judgement, the single greatest element that has been neglected in the education system is critical analysis. If only critical analysis were to supplant rote memorization, all the problems that face Korean society today could be approached from a constructive, logical perspective and significant progress could be made.The Korean pattern of one step forward, two steps back could be reversed.

Koreans insist that they have a high internet connectivity rate. But this does them little good as they are ill equipped to handle the overload of information. They cannot yet reliably analyze information and distinguish the junk from the valuable, the misinformation from the facts. They make up their minds based on bare assertions supported by dubious data. In other words, they “pre-judge” (which is what prejudice is), rather than weigh the facts before arriving at an informed conclusion. How is it possible that Americans with their much higher internet connectivity rate yet manage to arrive at reasoned conclusions for themselves rather than following the crowd?

Instead of criticising President Lee for being autocratic, Koreans need to attack the real source of autocratic control in the nation – what I call the “wang ta culture.” The roots of this are found in a society that teaches intolerence of differing viewpoints. The remedy is to teach logic, debate and critical analysis. This is the key to solving Korea’s social problems.

I don’t think Korea is “racist” as much as it is “Korea is special and Korea is only for Koreans.” There is a difference.

If Koreans were “racist” in the true sense of the word, then they would be fervent advocates of uniting with other members of their same race such as Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, etc. and teaming up against their enemies of the enemy race (white, black, etc.). Clearly, that is not the case. Koreans don’t give a damn about race. They only care about themselves.

It’s really ironic…but single race following countries such as Korea are admired by white supremacists such as those Neo Nazis found posting on Stormfront. In short, Korean views are much more in line with Nazi white supremecists and Nation of Islam Black Supremacists, who actually respect Korea because of their adherence to the ideology of “A single pure race without any mixing”, a “noble” ideal which many whites and blacks feel has unfortunately been lost in modern multi-racial societies today as a result of liberal apologetic thinking in their own societies. I can’t even begin to count how many Nazi and Black supremacists have admitted that East Asian racist nations like Korea, Japan, or China are the countries they admire the most because of their adherence to the “no immigration, no race mixing” ideologies which rule these countries.

Thus, knowing this, the fact that so many Koreans admire Adolf Hitler as one of the figures of history (along with Kim Il Sung) which they most admire, is really not really surprising. Basically, David Duke, Pat Buchanan, Jean Marie Le Pen, Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, Farrakhan, and Pauline Hanson would probably find they have much more in common with Kim Jong Il, Roh Moo Hyun, and pretty much the majority of Koreans than they do with Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, or Martin Luther King Jr.

But in the end, it’s the choice of Koreans if they would rather be known as people who are respected by the world’s more racist leaders than those people who advocate harmony and co-existence among other nationalities and races.

Two more examples:

A black man is tied to the bumper of a truck and dragged to death in Texas…

Can such an incident prompt discussion about the level of troubling racism that still exists in Texas and the US?

Or — has American society moved so far past its period of significant racism that such a discussion is more negative than positive?

Same two questions for the next example:

A Japanese college student in Cali. is going to a Halloween party but goes to the wrong address. An off duty cop (I think it was) is the homeowner and confronts the Japanese guy with a gun. The Japanese guy doesn’t understand the English commands being barked at him and doesn’t know how to respond – and the homeowner shoots him dead.

Can this event bring about a discussion of racism in the US? or would such a discussion on this event prove more negative than positive in understanding American society?

Obviously, for anybody who knows America during the time both these events took place, the level of anti-Asian racism in the US does not rise close to the level of that for blacks and Hispanics.

It would make little sense to get into a discussion about racism in the case of the Japanese student.

But it would certainly make sense to talk about racism in the US with the black man’s case.

“If it’s based on race, then it’s based on race. If it’s based on historical ties, then it’s based on historical ties. It’s crystal clear to me, man; what’s your problem?”

Well, if a kid has just one Korean grandparent, he or she is eligible for the “kyopo” visa. So, since the kid has more than half Korean ancestry (race), well, there goes your argument. So now it’s clear it’s based on historical ties, yes? Yes.

# 62,

Hey, don’t forget Vincent Chin…

Racism in Korea means patriotism for many Koreans.

Are there any Hitler Bars in Canada?

‘Unlike Vincent Chin’s murder, this one was not publicized directly in the media but only indirectly through a letter to the editor from a grieving friend. Ignorance is bliss when it comes to xenophobic violence against foreigners in Korea.’

the man was mentally ill. got nothing to do with race. vincent chin was killed for simply being. when you can come up with something better, sonag, let me know.

and really, who do you think is going to believe a bunch of white folk talking about other people’s racism? do you folks realize how you cheapen what your people have done to others by comparing yourslef to some poor black man in the jim crow south?

who but you will take you seriously, expat? who?

noboedy…..

but

you.

Sonagi,

Vincent Chin is still very much alive in the Asian American collective memory (particularly with Chinese Americans)because it’s unresolved, justice was never served.

I’m a little disturbed by your apparent stand that since it happened awhile ago that it’s relevant. A Korean kid (one adopted by a white familiy at that) was beated an inch of death in Seattle not too long ago by two white kids. Despite witnesses who said it was racially motivated, the Seattle police is not charging it has a hate crime.

I mean “it’s not as relevant.”

Sonagi, here’s the article on the Seattle incident:

http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/24584

And let’s not forget the murder of a Chinese food delivery man by three bored teens. It was the basis of a Law & Order episode which postulated that the crime was racially motivated.

Thanks for the kudos, I edited that entry.
Feel free to make any changes to it that you like.

I strongly condemn that church desecration regardless of who the perpetrators are found to be.

Don’t forget that many so called “hate crimes” are later found to be a hoax.

#83
Not me you dolt, I am merely trying to illustrate the mentality of the perpetrators. Its not a perfect encapsulation of how some of these young punks think, but people should try to delve into the dynamics behind these incidents so as to be able to avoid them.
I don’t presume that most people have any difficulty in trying to understand the points of view of others.

Well, it’s another day, and a quick scan of the dailies yields…nothing. This story has blood and violence, took place in a well-known part of town, and even has the sweetener of an allegation of racial motivation – but still no coverage.

Hmm, what a puzzler.

Do Koreans find ethnically homogeneous groups of two or more Koreans to be threatening as well?

How about a group of racially non-Korean persons of different races? Would that be more or less threatening than an ethnically homogeneous group?

See, now that’s something the newspapers would like to write about.

To all ethnically homogeneous individuals who may be read this,
I believe many commenters above misinterpreted what I was trying to convey. What was attributed to me were not my beliefs, merely my musings on how i believe a very small minority may think at times.
Please be reassured that few people will pay attention to you if you walk down a street in Korea with your friends of a similar ethnic persuasion.
Very,very few people are inclined to commit random acts of violence upon unknown people of a different color, just as in most other countries, you guys are prone to making this into some imaginary monster.

I said. “I can understand that a small minority of Korean male (media influenced,insecure, whatever) would not like it”
@blueheart said “Painting the average Korean student in Hongdae as a bedwetting chauvinist unable to stomach the sight of two white guys.”
I went to great pains to dissociate myself from such thinking, and if i failed, im sorry.

@Sonagi, I do not live in Australia, the IP proxy I use to access the internet scrambles the signal. While I understand the issue you broach and i respect your viewpoint, however, it is just that. I am unaware of a term more appropriate than ‘foreigner’ to refer to a person not indigenous to Korea. We all define things slightly differently and this term i understand is a hot potato, but you are not my hagwon teacher and are in no position to command me how I should act. Respect another’s opinion, but to demand from them to alter that opinion is to commit an act of violence.

Sorry for double entry, I just wanted to say as a minority, especially as a visible minority, you do tend to feel more or to take it more as racism and discrimination.

“What, because Americans use each an every racial incident as a springboard to agonize over race means Korea has to, too?”

Every racial incident?

I would certainly say if South Korea had more discussions over race and racism – pointed at themselves – as the United States does, it would be good for Korean society….

“…sure Korea has race issues, but they aren’t quite the same yet, hence the position of the discourse about racial discrimination isn’t quite as high”

How I envy you Koreans! You guys basically can use this as your “diplomatic immunity” or “Get out of Jail for free” card each time you people cannot resist the urge to satisfy your instinctive bigoted/racist impulses of wanting to stab a foreigner for speaking English in a park! And best of all, by flashing this card, Koreans are absolved from all guilt.

How convenient! I really wish I could have been born sometime before the Roman Empire so that I would be able to use this awesome Korean privilege of being able to hurt, mistreat, and insult any person who is not of the same nationality as I, with total impunity from any wrong doing accusation by flashing this card.

Unfortunately, because my ancestors were involved in the Roman Empire two thousand years ago, I am not allowed to posses this privileged right, let alone speak out against the Koreans who are able to use this privileged card to commit racist and nationalist acts simply because none of their ancestors were involved in lebensraum or imperialism. Sure, they kidnapped a few hundred people here and there during the last 30 years and killed millions of their own citizens in a war 50 years ago, but that’s OK…doesn’t count.:)

some humdingers from swlee:

1- “Racism is a biologically-determined human trait, as difficult to shake as the desire to eat when hungry, or screw when horny.”

Racism is socially acquired, as is tolerence (have you ever heard the song “You’ve got to be carefully taught”?) Why do you think the US have made such impressive progress as a nation of diversity while France has backslid into institutionalizing anti-Moslem discrimination? I’m not denying that there might not be a natural tendency to discriminate, but pointing out that social conditioning trumps it. Biology should not become an excuse for a society to take a lax, apothetic and complascent stance on racism, which is what I see here in Korea. Isn’t it interesting that an American (Hines Ward) was the catalyst in bringing some focus to the issue?

2- “Sure we have problems with racism, but we are largely the indigenous people, we did not commit/are not committing genocide on our indigenous people”

Did you think that today’s Koreans were indigenous to Korea?

3- “the overly paranoid minority can often incorrectly attribute these incidents to racism.”

Points for honesty. Same kudos to JiMong. Been there myself.

Swlee might not make a good first impression, but there’s more to him than meets a first glance.

Is your smell as repulsive as your online personality?

I just want to know how to notice you to avoid you.

If Koreans feel so strongly about that, they should avoid emigrating to America, Australia, and Canada.

Instead, they flock to these countries and vicariously enjoy the benefit of living in societies built on the Anglo-American model, no matter that it supplanted existing “indigenous” cultures. Hypocritical behavior.

“There are many reasons why people buy guns and use them. Koreans never really had the option of lebensraum; thus, there was never a choice.”

I thought we were using an analogy here and that you created it. I didn’t know we were to take this gun thing literally. Talk about shifting from figurative to literal!

“Koreans did beat and kill fellow Koreans. Slavery existed in Korea, and while Korean slaves were not ethnically distinguisable, their status and rights were comparable to American slaves. Heindrich Hamel noted in his diary that while Koreans lavished affection on their children, slaves paid little attention to theirs because they could be sold or traded at anytime. Sound familiar? Hamel also described a horrific form of punishment in which women accused of certain crimes were buried up to their necks and a saw was left next to them. Passersby were encouraged to saw at the woman’s head, rather like Islamic stoning.”

Hm, haven’t heard of Heindrich Hamel. I just did a web search on him and could find nothing (in English) about him. I am sure you have links, so I’d be happy to read what he has to say. Is he some sort of scholar along the lines of Bruce Cumings (*containing smirk*)?

“Race has never been an issue in Korea because Korea has long been one of the most ethnically homogenous places on the planet!

So….I take it you’re AGREEING with me like you did with swlee?

What a tool.

Sonagi, I won’t disagree with you at all about the various -isms in this world that are terrible….and that includes Korea and America.

But where THIS particular thread seemed to be going (at least for the first 100 or so comments) was racial tensions and violence in Korea and what to do about it while using America as some sort of model (of success or failure). And we had a white American suggest that Koreans should pay attention to race issues in their own country the way America does, while a person of Korean descent pointed out that there has never been racial problems in Korea along the same lines as the US (which, for whatever reason, is true). How it evolved from there to what happened to a woman in Korea in the 1600s is beyond me (although it was an interesting and sad part of history and has gotten me to read the explorer’s journal now).

Sonagi, thanks.

Been reading: http://www.hendrick-hamel.henny-savenije.pe.kr/holland5.htm

Interesting quote: “We didn’t feel like doing slavery work for the rest of our lives. That’s why we decided to sneak off as soon as possible.” lol

All I can say is this: A Korean pontificating and lecturing other nations about how racist and evil those nations are is like listening to Kenneth Lay give a lecture on corporate ethics.

A Korean pontificating and lecturing other nations about how racist and evil those nations are is like listening to Kenneth Lay give a lecture on corporate ethics.

Or like listening to dogbert make his “lil kyopo” or “flat-face” remarks all while ranting about how racist Asians are.

Exactly. I didn’t say “Asians have flat faces”, I said JK did, just like JK calls me fat (difference being that I’m right and he’s wrong). Of course, JK being the flaming egotist he is, he no doubt thinks he personally represents all Asians.

As far as “little kyopo”, I call him that because on his own blog he wrote that he’s 5’7″ and 140 lbs. Doesn’t mean all kyopi are “little” — on the other hand Choi Hong-man sized kyopi aren’t exactly a dime a dozen.

Bottom line: JK is just a douchebag regardless of his ethnicity. Fellow kyopi Netizen Kim and wjk have him pegged.

I call him that because on his own blog he wrote that he’s 5′7″ and 140 lbs.

Consistently the liar you are, huh dogbert? As I’ve said many times, I am definitely taller than 5’7″ and I am DEFINITELY heavier than 140. Does it make you feel better to spout off your lies? Should I then make a generalizing stereotype of white expats based on your lying?

Man, both of you look at the arguments you are having…LOL. It’s pretty funny. You guys are fighting by using comparisons of “I am taller than you” or “I am more muscular than you”.

Just read what you guys wrote…seriously.

I am sure both of you realize how stupid you guys appear? Last time I heard comments like that in an argument was in the 1st grade of elementary school. Let’s not go there.

Sonagi: “I do not think racial hostility or violence is a major problem in Korea simply because the population is 99% Korean. I don’t care for foreigners who label Koreans racist nor do I care for Koreans sitting in judgment of the racial problems of heterogenous countries.”

Interesting comment with which I essentially agree. However, please allow me to point out that Korea is an exporting nation that depends upon foreign nations for its economic viability and security. Increasing interactions as a member of the international community means that Korea must become sensitive to international standards.

Portraying blacks as minstrels in blackface, spreading disinformation about foreign allies and mistreating foreign residents is unacceptible from any point of view. These behaviors are racist, whether foreigners label them as such or not.

Yet, not only is such behavior not disparaged, but it is actually encouraged by officials as high as the President. These behaviors not only portray Korea as a backwards nation to the world, but actually have deleterious results for the welfare of Korea itself.

Yet, not only is such behavior not disparaged, but it is actually encouraged by officials as high as the President.

Mizar5, how did the President encourage it? Just curious because that would be totally irresponsible for anyone – but particularly the President of South Korea – to encourage racism.

The 2002 demonstrations were not disparaged by Kim Dae Joon, although they were later revealed to be illegal assemblies that should not have been allowed directly outside the US embassy…

I don’t know if that counts as him supporting racism per se because he didn’t disparage the demonstrations. Big difference between that and him doing something like yelling out in a speech, “Hurt and assault every American you see today!”

…and Pres. Roh encouraged them with comments like ‘what’s wrong with being anti-American.’

Actually Roh said this while campaiging for the presidency to win student support (which he got)…and yeah, that was bad AND stupid. I don’t know about it necessarily being racist….because I also wouldn’t find it racist if George W. Bush were to say, “What’s wrong with being anti-Korean? or anti-Japanese?” I would just label it beyond idiotic.

Whew! I thought you were saying the CURRENT Korean Pres. had been encouraging racism. But I am glad to hear he’s not.

No, and I’m also not accusing anyone of racism either. Sorry if it came off that way.

“I hate the gooks. I will hate them as long as I live.”

Whew! That IS bad! lol

But while I don’t like or condone what he said, I understand WHY he said it.

If McCain dislikes ‘gooks’, wouldn’t he be more likely to continue the US ‘presence’ in Korea?

i think mccain was referring to the vietcong specifically. i don’t begrudge him for the comment.

‘life was hard in 17th century korea.’ sonagi

let me clear something up for you, lady. life was hard for almost everybody in the 17th century and that would include europeans. take off your rose colored glasses and see the world.

ps you sure post in a lot of places.

Exploding and calling your wife a cunt in front of colleagues and strangers as you campaign for office – yeah, let’s put HIS finger on the nuclear trigger.

Considering that his wife funds his marriage, campaign, and everything else, a strange thing for McCain to say.

The Republicans have been smearing Michelle Obama with an unsubstantiated story about her allegedly using the word “whitey.”

Poor Obama.

If he aint having to worry about his Pastor having a really big mouth, then he’s got to be worrying about what his wife might or not have said. What makes this even more tricky is that, unlike Rev Wright, Obama can’t exactly divorce his wife either. Not that he’d want to as Michelle Obama appears to be a mighty fine-looking woman and they seem to be a tight couple.

If I had to guess, she probably did say “whitey” behind closed doors on some occasions in the past. But she ought to understand that its OK only for white people to call each other “whitey” amongst each other.