Jon Kelly of the BBC has been keeping a blog as they tour the US covering the elections. It seems that every post begins with some stereotype. They do discredit the stereotype further in the article, but it's quite revealing at the preconceptions many in the "enlightened" land of P.C. that is Britain possess.
Especially those that hold themselves out as unbiased. Kelly summed up his attitude best with this introduction: "Fancy an easy dig at Americans? Then you'll probably want to use the words "trailer park" at some point. This one handy phrase conjures up every negative image of the US rural poor, whilst at the same lending you an air of aloof superiority."
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
2008 A Joke of a Year
I think 2008 is going to be one of history's most ridiculous years. We have a presidential election centered around race and sex, not policy issues and we have a natural disaster that is a political issue.
We have a dollar that is in the tank, bank failures, massive government spending and waste (by a so-called) republican president.
I'm so disgusted, I don't think I can finish this post. It remains, a joke of a year.
We have a dollar that is in the tank, bank failures, massive government spending and waste (by a so-called) republican president.
I'm so disgusted, I don't think I can finish this post. It remains, a joke of a year.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Why Obama is Bad for Korea
I started writing this post on May 28th, but after seeing television coverage of Obama this morning, I decided to finish it. There is a reference to Hillary, who currently isn't a factor. Just so you know.
In talking to many Koreans, the subject of the current US elections usually comes up at some point. Usually only two names are mentioned: Hillary and Obama. This can probably be attributed Korean press coverage of the race, which seems to have focused mainly on the undecided Democratic nominee. It seems that, at least among those who closely follow US politics, that the Korean desire is to see Obama rise to the presidency.
What initially triggered the post was Obama's letter to President Bush opposing the Korea Free Trade Agreement. He feels that the US won't get enough benefits from the deal. His particular target was at the automobile industry. Last week, he went further insinuating that the US should take a more retaliatory approach to trade with Korea.
In talking to many Koreans, the subject of the current US elections usually comes up at some point. Usually only two names are mentioned: Hillary and Obama. This can probably be attributed Korean press coverage of the race, which seems to have focused mainly on the undecided Democratic nominee. It seems that, at least among those who closely follow US politics, that the Korean desire is to see Obama rise to the presidency.
What initially triggered the post was Obama's letter to President Bush opposing the Korea Free Trade Agreement. He feels that the US won't get enough benefits from the deal. His particular target was at the automobile industry. Last week, he went further insinuating that the US should take a more retaliatory approach to trade with Korea.
A New York Times article quotes him as saying "if South Korea is selling hundreds of thousands of cars to the United States and we can only sell less than 5,000 in South Korea, something is wrong." Selling American cars in Korea is like selling Korean beef in Texas. The NYT article mentions GM's big stake in Korean car maker Daewoo (read: profits from Korean cars come home to America.) Both Obama and the NYT failed to consider the FDI Korea has put into the economy of the southern states with both Hyundai and Kia building plants. Had we followed Obama's theories on trade, there would be a lot of jobless people in Montgomery, Alabama.
The Wall Street Journal had an article that outlined the real costs of Obama's policies. At a time when Korea is opposing US beef imports, Obama feels they should be forced to take it. He is stoking the anti-trade fires on two continents with one issue. Not even Bush could be so divisive. If Obama's foreign policy is anything like his trade policy, he is stoking a fire that will likely burn him.
New York Times: Check Point - Obama Calls for Scrutiny of Trade Deals
Wall Street Journal: Change You'll Have to Pay For
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Fight Tonight
Tonight in Seoul there will be yet another protest against the importation of US beef. Lately it has been with more of a twist. The protesters are now generally protesting the general difficulties of life in Korea. Extremely high food and product prices due to tariffs and trade restrictions (ironic), insane oil prices, "world's best" high housing prices, lack of jobs, and low salaries with few benefits for those lucky enough to get a job. They are protesting a government that they feel is out of touch, a government that they feel is by the rich, for the rich. They are disappointed that this government hasn't brought a change, even though it has been in power only two months.
A few weeks ago I was talking to my co-teacher about how quickly Korea was changing. On almost every front change is happening at a pace that doesn't leave time for much reflection. This is on top of the aforementioned difficulties of living here. In talking to her, I postulated that youth protests, similar to those in France, US, and Latin America in 1968 might soon be occurring here in Korea. I didn't see it happening in the next few weeks.
At first I derided the beef protesters as morons who were letting xenophobia, emotionalism, ignorance trample over science, reason, and rationality. This was confirmed by talking to other Koreans who agreed that the protesters had a few legitimate points, but their methods were akin to using a sledgehammer to kill a fly.
Then I had a realization. They aren't only protesting beef. They are protesting the establishment. So forty years after the social revolutions in the west, it seems that Korea is having one of its own.
Add to the fact that June 10th is the anniversary of protests that led to the first directly elected president in Korea and you've got yourself a stew going. I just hope it doesn't boil over.
A few weeks ago I was talking to my co-teacher about how quickly Korea was changing. On almost every front change is happening at a pace that doesn't leave time for much reflection. This is on top of the aforementioned difficulties of living here. In talking to her, I postulated that youth protests, similar to those in France, US, and Latin America in 1968 might soon be occurring here in Korea. I didn't see it happening in the next few weeks.
At first I derided the beef protesters as morons who were letting xenophobia, emotionalism, ignorance trample over science, reason, and rationality. This was confirmed by talking to other Koreans who agreed that the protesters had a few legitimate points, but their methods were akin to using a sledgehammer to kill a fly.
Then I had a realization. They aren't only protesting beef. They are protesting the establishment. So forty years after the social revolutions in the west, it seems that Korea is having one of its own.
Add to the fact that June 10th is the anniversary of protests that led to the first directly elected president in Korea and you've got yourself a stew going. I just hope it doesn't boil over.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Field Day
Today all classes were cancelled to make time for field day. Like at home, parents and grandparents were invited to help and observe, but with a twist.
Parents and grandparents got to compete at the end. There was a parents tug-of-war and a relay. A few of the dads knocked over the moms in the relay, kindof funny. I'll have to get the video of it on YouTube at some point.
The principal held a quiz game where families had to answer questions related to the school and other trivia. At the end the last families standing got some kind of gift. The grandparents (halmoni and haraboji) were invited to "go fishing."
The teachers filled a big flower pot with toothpaste, soap, and soju (alcohol!) and a sixth grader. The grandparents would race to the line, cast their line, and the kid would hook something on the end. I thought it was a cool way to honor the grandparents for coming.
The kids activities were really exciting. They are ultra-competitive, so everything seemed life or death. They had relays, tug-of-war, a game where they raced on top of each others backs, and a pinata type game. There were lots of pictures and videos taken, so when they are put up on the school website, I'll try to post them here.
Parents and grandparents got to compete at the end. There was a parents tug-of-war and a relay. A few of the dads knocked over the moms in the relay, kindof funny. I'll have to get the video of it on YouTube at some point.
The principal held a quiz game where families had to answer questions related to the school and other trivia. At the end the last families standing got some kind of gift. The grandparents (halmoni and haraboji) were invited to "go fishing."
The teachers filled a big flower pot with toothpaste, soap, and soju (alcohol!) and a sixth grader. The grandparents would race to the line, cast their line, and the kid would hook something on the end. I thought it was a cool way to honor the grandparents for coming.
The kids activities were really exciting. They are ultra-competitive, so everything seemed life or death. They had relays, tug-of-war, a game where they raced on top of each others backs, and a pinata type game. There were lots of pictures and videos taken, so when they are put up on the school website, I'll try to post them here.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Why you can't get an Authentic German Pretzel in Seoul
Today on my walk home from school, I passed by the German bakery where I sometimes buy breakfast. I noticed a sign board for pretzels, and a old German man standing behind the sample table. All that was on the table was bread, so I looked for the pretzels in the store. I found some weakly baked almond kind.
I came for a REAL GERMAN PRETZEL, the kind with big chunks of salt and then cut in half and buttered. I went back out and asked the man if they had REAL GERMAN PRETZELS. He told me that they can't be had in Korea. Why? The process to make them is poisonous.
POISONOUS? You mean I'd been eating poison pretzels for a year? Yes. To make the pretzels properly, they are dipped in a lye bath. I tell you no lie. The lye gives the pretzel its gold and crisp shell.
The German "baker" wasn't a baker at all. It seems he had been some kind of (sales) executive for a company and did business for them here in Asia. After he retired, one of his contacts in the bakery asked him if he would like to come to Korea to do some promotional work. They fly him in, put him up and a hotel, and pay him to go stay behind a bread table for a few weeks. He said he gets a lot of free days to go and do some sightseeing and other things.
Sounds like a good gig to me.
I came for a REAL GERMAN PRETZEL, the kind with big chunks of salt and then cut in half and buttered. I went back out and asked the man if they had REAL GERMAN PRETZELS. He told me that they can't be had in Korea. Why? The process to make them is poisonous.
POISONOUS? You mean I'd been eating poison pretzels for a year? Yes. To make the pretzels properly, they are dipped in a lye bath. I tell you no lie. The lye gives the pretzel its gold and crisp shell.
The German "baker" wasn't a baker at all. It seems he had been some kind of (sales) executive for a company and did business for them here in Asia. After he retired, one of his contacts in the bakery asked him if he would like to come to Korea to do some promotional work. They fly him in, put him up and a hotel, and pay him to go stay behind a bread table for a few weeks. He said he gets a lot of free days to go and do some sightseeing and other things.
Sounds like a good gig to me.
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