Job Discussion Forums

dorowtesl · Joined: 23 Feb 2006 Posts: 6

Hello:

I have been watching Dave's site for concern from TESL teachers regarding the N. Korean missile issue. I have not seen anything! Teachers in S. Korea, Japan, China, and other TESL heavy weighs should be really nervous about the situation over there. What is the story? Are teachers in these areas not aware of what is going on? Enlighten me.

Regards,

SteveD
(Virginia, USA)[/b]

Rin · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 173 Location: Doha

The vast majority of the "N. Korea" situation is a fabrication of the American Media to continue scaring Americans into voting for Republicans. There is no threat, S. Korea and N. Korea are getting along fine at the moment, and they aren't going to bomb anyone because that would be akin to commiting suicide.

The teacher there are aware, they just don't care, like the rest of the populace.

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

Pure propaganda to justify the eventual invasion of North Korea by Bush and Co. I would be more worried about the arrival of the American troops and the subsequent mass slaughter of innocent people than any 'missiles' North Korea have--no doubt sold to them by the US in the first place.

Once they have created sufficient fear through the use of the media (which they own) they'll invade under the guise of preventing terrorism.

It's Problem-Reaction-Solution, it works like this:

Create a problem - 9/11, London attacks, Madrid attacks, WOMD, missiles.

Use the media to provoke a reaction - the 'something must be done' reaction.

Offer the solution (that you had planned all along)- Invade Iraq/Afghanistan/North Korea

ALL DONE BY THE SAME HAND

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:47 pm Post subject:

I think it's a simple reality of living in many places in the world- you get used to things that may look scary from the outside.

Does North Korea have missiles? Certainly. Nuclear capabilities? Nobody knows the details, but they would certainly like to. A clear motive to attack South Korea, thus starting a war in which the world's mightiest military powers would be aligned against them? I have some doubts on this one. The deterrent outweighs the possible gains.

Here in Ecuador, we had a minor coup a year or so ago. Friends in other countries, seeing the news, saw people on the streets, burning buildings, police pushing against unarmed crowds...all told, maybe 100,000 people on the streets. It looked dramatic. BUt 100,000 on the streets means 10,900,000 people going about their daily lives as if nothing was happening. I was one of those.

I think the situation in Korea is similar- the news media can make it look awfully dramatic, but to the man on the street, or EFL teacher in the classroom, it's just another day, as usual.

Just my two cents worth,

Justin

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

If you're under 60 and don't smoke, you're far more likely to die in an auto accident than anything else. Buckle up: seatbelts save lives.

Calories · Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 361 Location: Chinese Food Hell

My lover who cares a little more about these things than I do says that N. Korea is just doing these things to scare the world into getting a "don't use your nukes and we'll give you/allow so much" deal. It makes sense to me.

eslman · Joined: 05 May 2006 Posts: 44

If N.Korea had oil or was in the Mid East, it would already been attacked by US troops. Does not take a Einstein to figure out why Iraq was invaded and not N. Korea? Which is more of immediate danger to the World?
Ask Bush.

jezebel · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 53

Well, it's a bit of crisis-invention by Americans but don't discount the posturing by Kim Jong-il: What, you say I don't have missiles? Well then, I'll have to prove it to you! Happy 4th of July!

tedkarma · Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:17 am Post subject:

I've lived in Korea during several "crises" (is that right?), Taiwan during the "Live Fire" exercises, and Saudi Arabia right after the Al Khobar bombings. The world is a raucous place - don't worry too much about it.

BTW, those missles were intended to target the USA - probably safer in Korea!

mondrian · Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:46 am Post subject:

Missile attack? I don't think that I would want a job in a Northern Israeli city right now!
But that part of China adjacent to Taiwan is quite safe (imho)
The North Koreans are saving their cents for the next load of rocket fuel; will be interesting to see if they can afford to let them off.