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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Kiddirts
Joined: 25 Jul 2003
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 Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 7:25 pm Post subject: Arabs in Itaewon |
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| I know Itaewon brings a lot of different people from different places, but I've noticed a lot of Arabs around this place. In the news, you often hear about bombings in Bali, and the Australian nightclub a few years back and other things occuring at Western hangouts in foreign places. I'm just wondering if anyone knows their purpose in Seoul because obviously, they are not here to teach english. Terrorist cells are all over the place, just wondering if anyone knows the dirt. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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| There's arabs all over the world. Only a miniscule few are involved in terrorism. My guess is they wouldn't really care about getting westerners out of Korea, as it is not in any way a Muslim country. Probably, they are here to work. If there's a major Islamic terrorist attack in Korea soon, I'll buy you a beer. |
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denz
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: soapland. alternatively - the school of rock!
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 7:36 pm Post subject: Re: Arabs in Itaewon |
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| Kiddirts wrote: |
| I know Itaewon brings a lot of different people from different places, but I've noticed a lot of Arabs around this place. In the news, you often hear about bombings in Bali, and the Australian nightclub a few years back and other things occuring at Western hangouts in foreign places. I'm just wondering if anyone knows their purpose in Seoul because obviously, they are not here to teach english. Terrorist cells are all over the place, just wondering if anyone knows the dirt. |
i'm just guessing here, but it might have something to do with the fact that there is a mosque in itaewon. aha. witty, ne? as for what they do - they do what we all do: eke out a living.
they sometimes say wa-s-allah-walaikum to me (or however you spell it). and you know me, i pound my chest and say '40 acres and a mule, brothers'.
pleasant dudes as far as i can tell. nothing cooler than 4 Gis walking towards 4 arab guys dressed up in traditional gear. it's like watching colors.
strange peaceful synergy in itaewon. cannae explain. it's the bomb (pardon the pun).
denz |
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Cthulhu
Joined: 02 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm just wondering if anyone knows their purpose in Seoul because obviously, they are not here to teach english. |
Their purpose is quite simple. There here because they can make more money here to send to their families than they can make in their home countries. Many come from Malaysia and Indonesia and others come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. Are you sure they are Arab or simply muslim? |
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denz
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: soapland. alternatively - the school of rock!
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Cthulhu wrote: |
| good stuff and ....Are you sure they are Arab or simply muslim? |
ridiculously excellent point. well said.
denz |
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Butterfly
Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Location: Kuwait
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 7:43 pm Post subject: Re: Arabs in Itaewon |
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| Kiddirts wrote: |
| I know Itaewon brings a lot of different people from different places, but I've noticed a lot of Arabs around this place. In the news, you often hear about bombings in Bali, and the Australian nightclub a few years back and other things occuring at Western hangouts in foreign places. I'm just wondering if anyone knows their purpose in Seoul because obviously, they are not here to teach english. Terrorist cells are all over the place, just wondering if anyone knows the dirt. |
It is this kind of prejudice that will lead the world into oblivion. For a start the majority of muslims in Seoul are from the Indian sub continent, Pakistan and Bangladesh not too many Arabs, and as OTOH stated terrorists are a tiny tiny minority of the otherwise peaceful and respectable muslim community throughout the world. Clearly kiddirts you see a muslim and thus see a terrorist; that's a bit like me seeing a Italian catholic and thus seeing an IRA bomber. Tarring everyone with the same brush.
Last edited by Butterfly on Sun Aug 10, 2003 8:15 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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"Lots of Arabs?"
Compared to where- the rest of Korea?
Without a doubt; You've got keen eyes.
BTW 'Arabs' didn't bomb the nightclub in Bali, Muslims did [and not just your average Muslim, but rabid fanatical terrorists].
Cthulu gave you a clue but I suspect it needs to be spelled out-
not all Arabs are Muslims, and not all Muslims are Arabs.
Not all Muslims are terrorists nor are all Arabs, so try to keep cool and not freak out the next time you walk by someone wearing a thob. |
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Wombat
Joined: 28 May 2003
Location: slutville
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 7:54 pm Post subject: |
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I have a lot of these "Arab" friends here. They work in factories - yes, Korea imports blue-collar labour! Weird, considering the number of people here. The reason they bring people over from Pakistan, Iran, India etc. is because they can make them work 12 hour days, 6 days a week, pay them ~600 000 a month, and house them in shipping containers. (I am not making this up. Hojucandy went to visit some friends, and the Korean company had 4 people living in a shipping container. The worst part is that our glowingly nice friends simply smiled and said "Better than Pakistan.")
They're here because they will put up with working conditions that no Korean would, out of necessity.
HC and I often feel an "embarrassment of riches" when we visit with our "Arab" friends; we do so little to get paid so well; our housing is free. And they're working their fingers to the bone in dangerous factories, getting the short end.
Sounds cliche but here it comes: by virtue of birth, some of us are insanely fortunate.
Wombat |
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Seoultrader
Joined: 18 Jun 2003
Location: Ali's Insurgent Inn, Fallujah
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: Arabs in Itaewon |
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| Kiddirts wrote: |
| I know Itaewon brings a lot of different people from different places, but I've noticed a lot of Arabs around this place. In the news, you often hear about bombings in Bali, and the Australian nightclub a few years back and other things occuring at Western hangouts in foreign places. I'm just wondering if anyone knows their purpose in Seoul because obviously, they are not here to teach english. Terrorist cells are all over the place, just wondering if anyone knows the dirt. |
Let me put in real language what everyone is trying to tell you here:
I detect the kind of glaring logical inconsistencies in your 'reasoning' that only botched frontal lobotomy patients with crisscrossed shoelace scars on their sloped foreheads are capable of making. If I want the advice of a retard, I'll slap you on the back of the head and wake up that little peg- legged hamster that operates the drool-powered waterwheel of thought in there. Until then, sit in the corner and wait until I either speak to you or spit at you. |
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Dan
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Sunny Glendale, CA
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Wombat wrote: |
I have a lot of these "Arab" friends here. They work in factories - yes, Korea imports blue-collar labour! Weird, considering the number of people here. The reason they bring people over from Pakistan, Iran, India etc. is because they can make them work 12 hour days, 6 days a week, pay them ~600 000 a month, and house them in shipping containers. (I am not making this up. Hojucandy went to visit some friends, and the Korean company had 4 people living in a shipping container. The worst part is that our glowingly nice friends simply smiled and said "Better than Pakistan.")
They're here because they will put up with working conditions that no Korean would, out of necessity.
HC and I often feel an "embarrassment of riches" when we visit with our "Arab" friends; we do so little to get paid so well; our housing is free. And they're working their fingers to the bone in dangerous factories, getting the short end.
Sounds cliche but here it comes: by virtue of birth, some of us are insanely fortunate.
Wombat |
reminds me of the situation of mexicans in the US... |
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saharzie
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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I don't think it's weird that Korea imports cheap labour. Most developed countries do it. But just because these guys aren't white does not meant they must be working in some sweat shop. I know 2 guys, one from India and one from Pakistan. Both are making more money than 99% of people on this board.
There are Korean muslims too, do they worry you Kiddirts , or is it just people who are of Middle Eastern descent? By the way, the head of USFK's bodyguard is a Muslim. He is American and is white. Islam is a religion not a race. |
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Seoultrader
Joined: 18 Jun 2003
Location: Ali's Insurgent Inn, Fallujah
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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| saharzie wrote: |
I don't think it's weird that Korea imports cheap labour. Most developed countries do it. But just because these guys aren't white does not meant they must be working in some sweat shop. I know 2 guys, one from India and one from Pakistan. Both are making more money than 99% of people on this board.
There are Korean muslims too, do they worry you Kiddirts , or is it just people who are of Middle Eastern descent? By the way, the head of USFK's bodyguard is a Muslim. He is American and is white. Islam is a religion not a race. |
Just out of curiosity - do you mean LaPorte's security detail or the Honor Guard? |
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Blue Flower
Joined: 23 Feb 2003
Location: The realisation that I only have to endure two more weeks in this filthy, perverted, nasty place!
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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| saharzie wrote: |
| I don't think it's weird that Korea imports cheap labour. Most developed countries do it. But just because these guys aren't white does not meant they must be working in some sweat shop. I know 2 guys, one from India and one from Pakistan. Both are making more money than 99% of people on this board. |
Are they the ones that always come up to me, smile, and try to get my phone number, after milking every other personal detail out of me? I always end up freaking out that I am gonna wake up handcuffed to a bed.
Last edited by Blue Flower on Sun Aug 10, 2003 11:04 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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saharzie
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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| LaPortes security detail....ironic that he is guarding the main man over here, yet he cannot go to the mosque to pray... |
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Seoultrader
Joined: 18 Jun 2003
Location: Ali's Insurgent Inn, Fallujah
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 11:09 pm Post subject: |
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| saharzie wrote: |
| LaPortes security detail....ironic that he is guarding the main man over here, yet he cannot go to the mosque to pray... |
The mosque is off-limits to USFK personell generally or is at a clearance matter specifically for him (I imagine he's TS-1 cleared if LaPorte is his primary principal)...? |
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