Korean Job Discussion Forums

legalquestions · Joined: 25 Mar 2007

Growing up in the deep south (of the USA) in the late 1950's-1960's-1970's, I had some opportunities to observe/be aware of some KKK rallies. I can't help but be reminded of these rallies when I read about/see on TV the anti American beef protests.

Parallels: large masses of rioting, biased, bigoted, ignorant, misinformed, misled, racist, hateful, crazed, frenzied (did I leave anything out?) people burning things (candles and police cars/buses here; large wooden crosses back there). Lots of sensational press coverage. Many people being threatened/injured/arrested.

Terrifying, frightening stuff way back then, especially in the eyes/mind of a kid. After all, peoples civil rights, and even lives were in jeopardy. But here anyway, unless you believe the fearmongers, only the cows lives may be in jeopardy. I am bemused by the spectacle of it all.

Anybody else here pick up on these similarities/parallels?

Gollywog · Joined: 14 Jun 2008 Location: Debussy's brain

Yes.

I was thinking much the same thing as I watched people marching at night past my apartment, chanting, yelling, screaming in voices filled with hate. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little scared.

You missed the key similarity: darkness. In the dark, people are anonymous. The candles don't light the protesters' faces. The light just makes it more difficult to see who they are. The KKK were cowards who hid their faces with masks and darkness. They were American terrorists.

By being part of a large group, small people feel like they have power. It is called a "mob." The Korean mobs' goal is to terrify people, the government in power and foreigners. Just look at what they have done to people who spoke out against them.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Sody · Joined: 14 May 2006

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I agree with RACETRAITOR and Sody. I see nothing but the most superficial of similarities....large groups of people meeting for a political purpose. That's about it.

I think it's a mistake to always look to compare something here with something back home. It tends to be misleading. Try looking at things here on their own merits and see what is really happening in this specific context.

The real issue is between the party just out of power and the new governing party. The ultranationalists of the 우리당 found fear-mongering about food worked far beyond their wildest dreams. They seem to have stumbled on a method to make a eunuch of the new president and nullify the results of the last election.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Faunaki · Joined: 15 Jun 2007

I don't feel scared by the protests at all, I feel envious of Koreans in that they believe in the power of the people. And by people I mean all sorts, not just the rich and educated.

Gollywog · Joined: 14 Jun 2008 Location: Debussy's brain

Faunaki wrote:

OnTheOtherSide · Joined: 29 Feb 2008

These protests seem like the last straw causing people to just go crazy. The issues are secondary, it's primarily an excuse for people to go out and act like savages. All that repressed anger and energy is getting unleashed with a ridiculous issue as an excuse.

If Korea had some good punk and heavy metal concerts with mosh pits, I bet these protests wouldn't even be happening. Or if the people around here would chill out and smoke some sticky. Or if they would enjoy themselves more instead of working themselves to death for decades......

I find it very hard to believe that the silly beef issue is at the root of all this.

I have some USA beef in my pants i'm about to shove down thier throats to shut them up. Okay, that was taking it too far......

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

I don't think the protests are based on objective science, but I certainly don't think they're based on out and out racism. I mean, come on. Do Koreans hate Americans based on a racial ideology of prejudice? That's ludicrous. They have plastic surgery to get "big eyes".

It's nationalism mixed with longstanding resentments of the powers that surround them, with a touch of internet misinformation. Add to that protectionism where there farmers need help because Korea has a geography that makes it difficult to efficiently ranch beef.

The previous paragraph is probably unfair to the Koreans. I think they actually, honestly believe the beef is dangerous. Those factors lead to said belief, but I don't think the belief is held in bad faith. Of course, they would totally disagree, saying the beef is objectively dangerous.

If we're gonna be honest, we can't make KKK comparisons. That's really beyond the pale.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

"If it can happen there, it can happen here. Don't kid yourself."

But where do you see that the anger is aimed at foreigners? All along it has been admitted the protesters are angry at their president. the issue they are angry about relates to foreigners, but the anger is clearly aimed at the president.

The old 우리 당 is furious at being turned out of office after 10 years, especially the last 5 years. I think they want to embarrass Lee as much as Roh was embarrassed.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Neil · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Location: Tokyo

I think one big difference is in the 50s and 60s Koreans could not protest anything be it right or left wing.

Indeed up until the late 80s to be a Korean protester was to risk life and limb. I think a lot of the hysteria and silliness I see in city hall is simply them making up for lost time.