Showing posts with label People. Show all posts
Showing posts with label People. Show all posts

June 6, 2012

외국인혐오, 무지, 그리고 인종차별주의

문화는 인간행동의 사고, 언어 , 행동, 문화유물 을 포함하는 통합된 행위로 학습하고 후대에 정보를 전달하는 인간의 능력을 기반으로 하는 행위이다 “라고 웹스터 사전은 정의 하고 있다. 

나는 문제를 해결하기 위해 이 정의를 선택하였다. 문제는 명백하다. 인종주의, 외국인 혐오, 그리고 무지이다. 그러나 나는 단순히 문제를 제거하기를 원하지 않는다. 나는 진단을 하고 원인을 규명하고자 한다. 우리가 살고 있는 이 나라를 모욕하고자 하는 것이 아니다. 나의 목표는 문화적 오해를 성공적으로 중재하는 유일한 해결안 “말”을 사용하는 것이다. 나의 말을 촉진시키는 것은 최근 방영된 외국인을 한국여자에 대한 포식자로 묘사한 MBC의 방송이다. 불행하게도 이 방송은 순수한 추론이다. 이 방송은 추정되는 증거로 추론을 이끌어내고 있다. 나는 미합중국 시민이다. 미국의 역사는 이민의 역사다. 새로 이민 오는 모든 인종은 필연적으로 인종차별을 일으켰다. 불행하게도 이것은 인간의 본질 인 것 같다. 나는 문화가 복합문화가 일으키는 문제에 대해서 잘 알고 있다. 미국과의 다른 점은 미국은 새로운 문화를 환영했다. 미국은 모든 인종 ,교리를 섞는 용광로가 되기를 원했다. 한국은 그러한 곳이 아닌 것 같다. 외국인에 대한 한국인들의 감정은 외국인이란 단어에 함축되어있다. 이 말은 우리(외국인)는 하나가 될 수 없다는 말이다. 우리는 방문자일 뿐이다. 우리는 영속성이 없다고 생각한다. 나는 순진한 한국 사람들에게 많은 외국인들이 여기서 결혼하고 살고 있다는 걸 알려주고 싶다. 많은 한국 사람들은 외국인들이 한국에서 일어나는 범죄의 많은 부분을 차지한다고
생각한다. 그러나 사실은 한국 사람들의 범죄율보다 낮다. 2010년 경찰은 전국적으로 백팔십만 명을 기소했다 (전체 인구4800만중의 3.8%). 대조적으로 33,586 의 비 한국인이 기소되었다 (외국인 인구 126만 명의 2.7%) 중국 이민자가 가장 높은 비중을 차지했고 캐나다인이 가장 낮았다. 여기서 두 가지를 알 수 있다. 모든 인간은 범죄를 저지르고, 한국의 외국인은 실제로는 범죄를 적게 저지른다. 한국 퍼져있는 또 다른 이야기는 HIV는 외국인이 퍼트린다고 생각한다는 사실이다. 사실은 한국에 오는 모든 영어선생들은 비자를 받기위해 모두 검사를 받는다는 것이다. 미군은 모든군인을 파견하기 전에 모두 STD 검사를 한다. 한국에서 어떻게 HIV가 퍼지는가? 나는 외국인보다 매춘이 HIV의 원인이 될 가능성이 훨씬 높다고 간절하게 말하고 싶다. MBC에 방송된 내용은 의심할 여지없는 인종차별과 무지에서 비롯된 것이다. 또한 방송에서는 한국여성을 무기력한 희생자로 묘사했다. 여성이 약한 존재라는 개념은 그 사회의 문제가 있다는 점을 인정한 것이다. 내 생각으로는 성차별주의는 현 사회문제의 원인이다. 방송에서 외국인 남성이 현지의 무기력한 여성을 희생시킨다고 강조한 사실을 주목해보자 나는 한국남성이 베트남여성과 결혼하는 것에 대해 방송에서 본 적이 없다. 이 방송에서 내가 느끼는 것은 한국여성은 단지 한국남성이 지배력을 잃고 싶어 하지 않는 힘없는 존재 같다는 느낌이다. 한국이 세계적으로 성공하기 위해서는 양성의 평등이 시급하다. 지금 같은 가부장적인 편애주의는 한국은 퇴보시킬 뿐이다.

June 2, 2012

Xenophobia, Ignorance, and Racism - The Tentacles of Sexism

The word culture is defined as the integrated pattern of human behavior that includes thought, speech, action, and artifacts and depends upon the human capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations by the Merriam Webster Medical Dictionary.

I chose the above definition because a disease exists and we ought look for the cure. The main symptoms are obvious: Racism, Xenophobia, and Ignorance. However, I don’t wish to simply eliminate the symptoms. I want to play doctor and diagnose the root cause. What will follow is not an effort to condemn the society we live in on this peninsula. The goal is to use the only medicine which can successfully arbitrate cultural misunderstanding: words.

The catalyst for my words is a video segment recently aired by MBC which depicts foreign men as predators and Korean women as victims. Unfortunately, the video is pure conjecture. It draws its inferences almost entirely from presumptive evidence. The bias of the creators is evident and the video’s message is easily dismissed by any rational human being. However, the overt racism displayed is merely a symptom of a larger disease.


 


I am a citizen of the United States of America. The history of my country is the history of its immigrants. Every incoming wave of new race or culture inherently evokes racism. This, unfortunately, is part of our human condition. I am well aware of the difficulties mixing cultures can cause. The main difference is that the USA welcomes new cultures. The ensuing conflict which arises from immigration enhances our social IQ. We aim to become a pot in which all of the world’s races, creeds, and colors can mix. Korea is no such place.

Sentiment toward foreigners here is summed up in the Korean word 외국인 (foreigner). This word implies we cannot integrate. We are mere visitors. We have no permanency. I must inform the naïve natives here that many of us are permanent. We have married your daughters, sons, brothers, and sisters. We have made a few babies as well. It is for those children that the problem of Korean integration must be addressed.

Many natives believe that foreigners are a large source of crime in Korea. The truth is foreigners have a lower rate of criminal offense than the natives. According to the Wall Street Journal, “In 2010 police around the country charged 1.8 million South Koreans with crimes (3.8% of the overall population of 48 million). By contrast, 33,586 non-Koreans were charged with crimes (2.7% of the country’s foreign population of 1.26 million).” The Chinese immigrants had the highest rate of crime and the Canadians the lowest. Here we learn two things; a percentage of all humans do wrong and that in Korea foreigners actually commit fewer crimes.

Another myth which permeates Korea is that HIV is a common gift from a foreigner. The fact is every teacher here has been tested for AIDS in order to secure their visa. The U.S. military tests all soldiers for STD’s prior to deployment. How does HIV propagate here in Korea? I beg Koreans to consider prostitution as more probable than the foreigner.

The video aired on MBC also portrays Korean women as helpless victims. If the notion that women are the weaker sex is indeed part of the culture here we just may have learned the disease itself. Sexism in my estimation is the root of the current social woe. Note that the video focuses on foreign men victimizing the local, helpless women. Has a Malaysian bride of a Korean man ever stolen his money and left for home? Has a Chinese woman ever tried to have sex with a Korean man? I hear no outcry in this country about the men marrying the Vietnamese. The overwhelming feeling transmitted by the MBC segment is that Korean women are merely a commodity which the native men don’t want to lose control over. Korea’s wish to become globally successful will require an equality of the sexes. A continued state of patriarchal favoritism will only hold Korea back.

 “Sexism is the foundation of which all tyranny is built. Every social form of hierarchy and abuse is modeled on male over female domination.” - Andrea Dworkin


 

June 16, 2011

Baek JiYoung (백지영) wants me!

This recording comes from a TV show here in Korea where several of the best vocalists performed in an elimination contest for best pipes. I love this woman. I know she loves me. It is only a matter of time before we meet. Enjoy my loose translation annotations!

April 4, 2010

Baek JiYoung (백지영)


In the fall of 2008 I began to explore Gwangju alone. I did not enjoy the foreigner hangouts and began to randomly enter bars with the hope that something interesting would occur. One night I entered a basement bar where a kind and beautiful woman was working and talking to a man from Seoul. He spoke English and we drank a few beers and had a good time. A week later I returned. The bartender ushered me into a small room where I met several local doctors (I have retained a strong friendship with one of them). These small rooms also had kareoke facilities. Many nights I had dinner with my friend and we would end up back at the bar singing songs and consuming vast amounts of alcohol. The bartender became my friend and often sang songs as well. This was my first introduction to the wondergirl Baek JiYoung.

Our hostess all too frequently drank too much whiskey and would grab the microphone and belt out 사랑안해 (I Won't Love). I became enamoured with the song and to this day it is my favorite. I then began to hear her 2008 single 총맞은것처럼 (Like Being Shot by a Bullet) everywhere. Her voice was so deliciously sultry. The emotion was thick in every lick she sang. Natives here would often ask me what I liked about Korea and my answer would be Baek JiYoung. The strange thing was the responses. Many if not most would respond negatively; claiming that they did not like her. However, her music was everywhere. How could this be so?

Scandal! A few years ago her ex-boyfriend released a sex tape of the couple. Even though she was unknowingly filmed her image was severely tarnished. This is the oddest part of Korea to me. Women here have to maintain an impeccable reputation. One false move and society scorns them. This is not just true for celebrities but for any given woman. The fact that Baek JiYoung has resurfaced and that her popularity is growing should give hope to the females here. Korea is slowly shedding its conservative restraints.

A few months later I noticed a truly sexy poster advertising soju in my neighborhood market. I was friendly with the owner and asked him if he could help me acquire one. He asked me if I liked Baek Ji Young. Yes - very much - oh my god is that her?? - holy crap - she is a knockout!!! I had been in love with her voice for some time and somehow the magic of life now presented me with such a tremendous image to go along with it. A few days later he gave me about a dozen of the posters as well as pens which bear the same image. What luck!
In August of 2009 I noticed a concert poster. Baek JiYoung was coming to Gwangju! Oh my, now I could die complete with the memory of her serenade performed at an intimate show just for me. She must have been waiting a long time to meet me. I was absolutely stoked!! I looked forward to the concert for a couple of weeks. Finally, the magical day came...

She would perform at a popular and fairly exclusive night club. I had already been in this club thanks to the aforementioned doctor group I befriended. So here we go -- Showtime!! I arrived at the club with a few friends dressed in my best duds. I was going to have the night of my life. I approached the door and was told to go away. No foreigners allowed. What?? No way. This can't be. I tried again and was told my shoes were ugly. My scheming mind beleived if I could make friends with some of the locals milling about maybe I could sit at their table. I schmoozed my way into a group which accepted me and after hearing my plea invited me to join them. OK, one more try. The doorman refused me again. The natives put up merely a mild protest and I was left dejected. I really do hope I find another opportunity to go to a show. I am not obsessed. Nope. No zealous mania here.

Anyhow I am back for another year and her success has continued. Hits like 내 귀에 캔디 (Ear Candy) permeate the soundscape here for me. Maybe, just maybe, someone will pass along my story to her and she will agree to have my children.

March 13, 2010

Hwang ByungKi - Kayagum

The Forest - Shade - Hwang ByungKi


Korean music in general is rather free. Its aim is a desire to be one with nature. The rhythmic patterns are structured (often in triple meter). However, the beat would best be described as rubato. Nature has no consistent pattern and that is reflected in the music.

The Kayagum was invented some 1,500 to 2,000 years ago and is the most representative instrument of Korean traditional music. It is made from hardwood and has twelve woven silk strings. Similar to the Koto of Japan but varied in performance technique. The Kayagum is played with the fingers (the Koto with artificial "picks") and creates a very natural and Earthy tone. The bridges (fashioned to resemble a crane's foot) are movable to allow for various styles of tuning. The left hand depresses the strings while the right hand plucks or slaps the strings.

Hwang ByungKi is the foremost contemporary composer and performer of the Kayagum. He was born in Seoul in 1936 but the war forced his family to move to Busan in the 1950's. There he heard the Kayagum and became enamoured. He began to study the instrument and his first compositions appeared a decade later. It was not until the mid 1970's that he freed himself from the world of commerce and dedicated his life to music. His compositions are certainly modern but they retain the natural qualities which permeate the soundscape of traditional music here.

His first composition Sup (The Forest) was written in 1962. If you pressed play at the top of this post you are listening to the first piece of this suite. This work revolutionized Korean music as it was the first modern work to become accepted for a traditional instrument. His success is due to a firm grounding in the tradition of Korean music. From there he was able to put his own stamp on what is heard. This event spurred many to do the same for their own instruments and the peninsula's music has never been the same. Below is the remainder of the composition in its entirety:



The Forest - Cuckoo - Hwang ByungKi

The Forest - Rain - Hwang ByungKi

The Forest - Moonlight - Hwang ByungKi




March 10, 2010

오이량 (Oh Yi-Ryang)


In 2009 I visited a native friend of mine in Gwangju and commented on a piece of artwork in his office. He informed me that the artist was his friend and we promptly walked the great distance of two blocks to 오이량 's studio. My fortune continued as the man himself was present and took time to talk with us. The third floor studio was quaint and open. Boxes upon boxes of what appeared to be caulk were scattered about the room. Yi-Rang had been experimenting with silicone for some time. Many etchings of simple white caulk were there for me to sample. He encouraged me to touch them as he believed the tactile enhanced the experience of the viewer. I also learned that he was currently interested in waves. His current exhibition was all about Existence and Waves. Many of the works you see on this page are entitled Existence Point, Existence Wave, or Existence Flower. As we left he handed me a booklet for his exhibition and I left the studio rather dazed.


A few weeks later I asked my friend if I could speak with Yi-Rang about purchasing a piece of artwork for my cousin's upcoming wedding. The artist agreed to sell me one at a much below market cost. I did not choose the work. He simply framed it in plexi-glass, covered it with bubble wrap, and seemed terrified that the piece would have to survive shipment to America. The work hangs in my Father's home now as I was too selfish to give it to my cousin (sorry Roxi). Later that night he insisted on taking us to dinner (at which point I consumed my first caterpillar). That night after much eating and drinking he asked a waitress for a sharpie and in ten minutes did the sketch of me you see at the bottom of this page.


오이량 studied in Korea and Japan. His works are displayed in museums around the world such as the National Museum of Spain. I feel privileged and honored to have met such a good soul. He is a very kind, thoughtful, and extremely intelligent man. Serendipity is a good friend.