Two months! (An EXTREMELY political post)
Well, I am updating sooner than my usual week or two hiatus. The special occasion? My two month anniversary of being in Korea! That's right, I arrived at 6 pm on August 17. It is not October 17th! I can't believe I've been here so long. It's been an extremely interesting experience thus far, as you undoubtedly know from earlier updates. I've had a lot of time to contemplate life and various other interesting topics while here. I hope it continues to be an enriching and exciting experience. On a sidenote, you can probably tell I'm out of the funk I was in the other day. I still have a bit of a cough, but I'm not on my deathbed like I was the other day. This has probably contributed quite a bit towards my resurgence.
"Robert, you're going to Korea. I didn't know you speak Korean." I don't. But I'm learning!! I started learning the vowels and consonants today. I have a book and one of my head instructors is going to help me with it. I know I won't become fluent, but that's hardly the point. If I'm going to spend a year in another country and become one with their culture, learning at least the basics of their language is the least I can do. It's also really interesting (/horrific) learning a whole new SYSTEM of writing. P.S.- I feel like this enthusiasm will soon wane. I'll keep you updated.
I've been reading a book by Richard Dawkins called "The God Delusion." It's really interesting, even if it gets a BIT too scientific at times. The gist of the book is that "god" is a delusion, morality should not rely on religion, and that atheists should stand up and make themselves heard. It's a wonderful book that I think ably explains things. The only problem is that it's like preaching to the choir. Clearly atheists will read the book, but will religious observers? Probably not. And even if they do they will probably just ignore all of its points like normal. In their world, idealistic beliefs always trump scientific evidence. Sad. I think the world would be an infinitely better place if we moved away from religion and moved towards a positive worldview where we live for today and do what we think is right, not what we think the bible wants us to do. But maybe I'm just full of it. Just as one final jab, how many wars are being fought at this very minute over religion? How many are being fought over Darwin? (Not counting the battles raging in small towns across America where idiots want to disgrace the extraordinarily elegant natural selection theory)
So I started falling ill at the end of last week, and it was evident to my students. As a result, one of them went out and bought me herbal cough drops, which she brought to class on Monday. It was tremendous. It definitely started the day on a high note for me. How thoughtful was that? It proved that, no matter how many kids tell me they hate me, at least one likes me. And that's really all that counts.
Ok, even though I said I wouldn't, I'm going to discuss something that bothers me. (Since I've already done that once in this entry). Why is the U.S. military still in South Korea? I understand that the war is only in a cease fire right now, but it's been a cease-fire for over 50 years. Also, is it really our duty to protect South Korea now? In 1950, they were a non-entity, just coming out of 40 years of oppressive Japanese colonial rule. Now they are a thriving world power (at least economically). The honest answer is...China is 500 miles to the east, and North Korea is 20 miles to the north (of Camp Casey, one of the main American bases). Should the U.S. ever decide pre-emptive action against North Korea is needed, well, we're in luck, we already have 10's of thousands of soldiers here. How about if we get really annoyed with China one day and decide to go after them? It sure is handy having troops here. Unfortunately, our presence here is a bit of a joke, and I definitely feel like we've outstayed our welcome. It doesn't help that the American military personnel I've encountered here are some of the trashiest, most offensive people I've ever seen. They really don't paint Americans in a positive light. I know it's just wishful thinking that America would ever voluntarily give up their strategic military position here, especially since there is a new base currently under construction, but I think it's about time we start to seriously rethink our global military obligations.
Since we're on the topic of politics, I have to comment on American politics. Even from my perch in South Korea, I follow American politics with my usual vigor, and I grow more appalled with each passing day. First, the U.S. Congress is pushing a bill that will call Turkey's action's during WWI (I believe they were the Ottoman Empire at the time) genocide. This is causing a great uproar in Turkey, rightfully so. Is genocide right? No, not at all. Without getting into too much background info, what the Ottoman Empire did during World War I was most likely genocidal. But should the U.S. Congress be focusing its efforts on condemning them 90 years after the fact? I don't think so. Mind you, this comes at a time when America stands idly by while Sudan is embroiled in a tense civil war where there is genocide occuring. I guess were waiting until 2097 to act and call it genocide. Also, has the Congress actually passed any laws in the last 3 or 4 years? Other than laws that have served only to benefit the wealthiest Americans, and to declare war in foreign lands? ALSO, I'm quite certain we committed genocide ourselves in our extermination of the Native Americans. Maybe Turkey's congress should pass a resolution calling THAT genocide. I am in NO WAY defending Turkey, who is, at this moment, planning to invade Northern Iraq to quell a Kurdish uprising, an act which will only further destabilize a region already in turmoil. However, I am CONDEMNING this horrific congress, which swept to power in 2006 promising ACTION and REFORM, two things it has thus far failed to bring. The only thing it HAS brought is more ridicule for the U.S. political system, ridicule it rightly deserves. The whole congress sickens me, and I can only hope that there will be some real change sometime soon. How perfectly this sets me up for my next complaint: the 2008 presidential election.
The election is still 13 months away, and I already have that sinking feeling I got in my gut in 2000 and 2004 when it became evident that somehow the United States was dumb enough to appoint/elect G.W. Bush our president. There are about 20 candidates making the rounds, some of them more viable than others, but nearly all of them severely flawed and, frankly, awful presidential candidates. The only clear front-runner for either party is Hillary Clinton. If Hillary Clinton is elected president, it would be a terrible day for the United States, and I'm not saying this because she is a woman. I have no problem with a female president. Clearly women are just as able to be president as men. The major problem (besides the fact that I disagree almost completely with her politics) is that, if elected, that means there would have been a Bush or Clinton as president or vice-president for THIRTY-TWO years by the end of her first term. That is despicable, and George Washington would be rolling over in his grave if this occured. Why on earth, in a nation of 300 million individuals (more if you count the illegals), should TWO families have such a monopoly on power. They surely don't have a monopoly on intelligence. Don't get me started on the rest of the major Democratic candidates. I think they're all so terrible, that I haven't given one bit of thought to who I might support in the primary. The only candidates I think are worth anything are Bill Richardson and Joe Biden. Unfortunately, they don't have the last name Edwards or Clinton, so they're dead in the water. I won't even comment on the Republican candidates, as they all disgust me. They either support this atrocious "War on terror" or are too ridiculously religious to even grab my attention. The American political system was created to allow people to live freely, not to restrict them. Rather than making our society more restrictive, let's make it more inclusive please. The final thing I will say about the 2008 presidential race: I can only hope that Mike Bloomberg decides to run. We'll know come February.
I was going to comment more on politics, but I've decided against it. One, I'm tired of ranting. Two, I'm certain no one is still reading by now anyway, so I'll give it a rest. I guess I'll also end my update here, as not much has happened since the last one. Fret not, I'll be sure to update sometime this weekend. Hope you made it this far. I won't be getting too political in my next entry, so don't worry. Until next time...
"Robert, you're going to Korea. I didn't know you speak Korean." I don't. But I'm learning!! I started learning the vowels and consonants today. I have a book and one of my head instructors is going to help me with it. I know I won't become fluent, but that's hardly the point. If I'm going to spend a year in another country and become one with their culture, learning at least the basics of their language is the least I can do. It's also really interesting (/horrific) learning a whole new SYSTEM of writing. P.S.- I feel like this enthusiasm will soon wane. I'll keep you updated.
I've been reading a book by Richard Dawkins called "The God Delusion." It's really interesting, even if it gets a BIT too scientific at times. The gist of the book is that "god" is a delusion, morality should not rely on religion, and that atheists should stand up and make themselves heard. It's a wonderful book that I think ably explains things. The only problem is that it's like preaching to the choir. Clearly atheists will read the book, but will religious observers? Probably not. And even if they do they will probably just ignore all of its points like normal. In their world, idealistic beliefs always trump scientific evidence. Sad. I think the world would be an infinitely better place if we moved away from religion and moved towards a positive worldview where we live for today and do what we think is right, not what we think the bible wants us to do. But maybe I'm just full of it. Just as one final jab, how many wars are being fought at this very minute over religion? How many are being fought over Darwin? (Not counting the battles raging in small towns across America where idiots want to disgrace the extraordinarily elegant natural selection theory)
So I started falling ill at the end of last week, and it was evident to my students. As a result, one of them went out and bought me herbal cough drops, which she brought to class on Monday. It was tremendous. It definitely started the day on a high note for me. How thoughtful was that? It proved that, no matter how many kids tell me they hate me, at least one likes me. And that's really all that counts.
Ok, even though I said I wouldn't, I'm going to discuss something that bothers me. (Since I've already done that once in this entry). Why is the U.S. military still in South Korea? I understand that the war is only in a cease fire right now, but it's been a cease-fire for over 50 years. Also, is it really our duty to protect South Korea now? In 1950, they were a non-entity, just coming out of 40 years of oppressive Japanese colonial rule. Now they are a thriving world power (at least economically). The honest answer is...China is 500 miles to the east, and North Korea is 20 miles to the north (of Camp Casey, one of the main American bases). Should the U.S. ever decide pre-emptive action against North Korea is needed, well, we're in luck, we already have 10's of thousands of soldiers here. How about if we get really annoyed with China one day and decide to go after them? It sure is handy having troops here. Unfortunately, our presence here is a bit of a joke, and I definitely feel like we've outstayed our welcome. It doesn't help that the American military personnel I've encountered here are some of the trashiest, most offensive people I've ever seen. They really don't paint Americans in a positive light. I know it's just wishful thinking that America would ever voluntarily give up their strategic military position here, especially since there is a new base currently under construction, but I think it's about time we start to seriously rethink our global military obligations.
Since we're on the topic of politics, I have to comment on American politics. Even from my perch in South Korea, I follow American politics with my usual vigor, and I grow more appalled with each passing day. First, the U.S. Congress is pushing a bill that will call Turkey's action's during WWI (I believe they were the Ottoman Empire at the time) genocide. This is causing a great uproar in Turkey, rightfully so. Is genocide right? No, not at all. Without getting into too much background info, what the Ottoman Empire did during World War I was most likely genocidal. But should the U.S. Congress be focusing its efforts on condemning them 90 years after the fact? I don't think so. Mind you, this comes at a time when America stands idly by while Sudan is embroiled in a tense civil war where there is genocide occuring. I guess were waiting until 2097 to act and call it genocide. Also, has the Congress actually passed any laws in the last 3 or 4 years? Other than laws that have served only to benefit the wealthiest Americans, and to declare war in foreign lands? ALSO, I'm quite certain we committed genocide ourselves in our extermination of the Native Americans. Maybe Turkey's congress should pass a resolution calling THAT genocide. I am in NO WAY defending Turkey, who is, at this moment, planning to invade Northern Iraq to quell a Kurdish uprising, an act which will only further destabilize a region already in turmoil. However, I am CONDEMNING this horrific congress, which swept to power in 2006 promising ACTION and REFORM, two things it has thus far failed to bring. The only thing it HAS brought is more ridicule for the U.S. political system, ridicule it rightly deserves. The whole congress sickens me, and I can only hope that there will be some real change sometime soon. How perfectly this sets me up for my next complaint: the 2008 presidential election.
The election is still 13 months away, and I already have that sinking feeling I got in my gut in 2000 and 2004 when it became evident that somehow the United States was dumb enough to appoint/elect G.W. Bush our president. There are about 20 candidates making the rounds, some of them more viable than others, but nearly all of them severely flawed and, frankly, awful presidential candidates. The only clear front-runner for either party is Hillary Clinton. If Hillary Clinton is elected president, it would be a terrible day for the United States, and I'm not saying this because she is a woman. I have no problem with a female president. Clearly women are just as able to be president as men. The major problem (besides the fact that I disagree almost completely with her politics) is that, if elected, that means there would have been a Bush or Clinton as president or vice-president for THIRTY-TWO years by the end of her first term. That is despicable, and George Washington would be rolling over in his grave if this occured. Why on earth, in a nation of 300 million individuals (more if you count the illegals), should TWO families have such a monopoly on power. They surely don't have a monopoly on intelligence. Don't get me started on the rest of the major Democratic candidates. I think they're all so terrible, that I haven't given one bit of thought to who I might support in the primary. The only candidates I think are worth anything are Bill Richardson and Joe Biden. Unfortunately, they don't have the last name Edwards or Clinton, so they're dead in the water. I won't even comment on the Republican candidates, as they all disgust me. They either support this atrocious "War on terror" or are too ridiculously religious to even grab my attention. The American political system was created to allow people to live freely, not to restrict them. Rather than making our society more restrictive, let's make it more inclusive please. The final thing I will say about the 2008 presidential race: I can only hope that Mike Bloomberg decides to run. We'll know come February.
I was going to comment more on politics, but I've decided against it. One, I'm tired of ranting. Two, I'm certain no one is still reading by now anyway, so I'll give it a rest. I guess I'll also end my update here, as not much has happened since the last one. Fret not, I'll be sure to update sometime this weekend. Hope you made it this far. I won't be getting too political in my next entry, so don't worry. Until next time...