Facts, not memories. That's how you investigate. I know, it's what I used to do.
The 15th of August is Korea’s Independence Day. This is when they were finally free of their Japanese oppressors, or so they thought. One of the problems with this part of the world seems to be that all the old hatreds, and fighting has very recent recurrences. Whereas you will still find a bit of animosity between the Scots and the English, this is mostly about things that happened hundreds of years ago, Korea (North and South), China and Japan have had their fair share of very recent rucks, and arguments.
The current arguments that are constantly in the news here is about Japan’s inability to get on with those next door. THEY are the neighbours who play the music loud all night, smash the windows of the folks next door, move the fence over a few feet every time their neighbours aren’t looking, then turning around after it and claiming that nothing happened and it was all someone else’s fault.
A ouple of examples examples:
Japan have recently (over the last few months) introduced new textbooks into schools that completely deny any sort of wrong doing during the Japanese occupation of Korea. I have seen actual brutal photographs of some of the atrocities that were committed by the soldiers here, and to say that nothing happened is a bloody, bloody lie. I do realize that I am surrounded by the propaganda of the Korean media, but there are some things that happened that should not be forgotten, they should be learned from.
Dokdo: I don’t know if you guys have heard of this place back home but it’s a small island in the sea between Korea and Japan. This island has been owned by Korea forever, but just in the last 6 months, Japan has turned around and said that it’s theirs. The island itself seems to have no value of its own. The two countries want it as they say it has a lot of natural value in the area surrounding it with oil and gas fields said to be found there. This is not the real reason for the feuding, the reason is geographical, suddenly having your biggest political and historical enemy claiming land that is rightfully yours and thereby bringing the borders of the two countries closer by several hundred miles tends to put peoples backs up. There is a huge “Dokdo for Korea” movement going on just now for this very reason.
With these very current happenings, the Independence Day celebrations were understandably quite anti-Japan. I was there with a Korean friend of mine and as we walked past different demonstrations and groups giving speeches she gave me a bit of insight as to what was going on –
3 guys standing holding a homemade timeline -“Oh that’s a Japan hate talk”
4 Guys on stage shouting things into the microphone “Shout if you love Korea” then “Shout if you hate Japan”
These four guys were the best thing about the whole day. One was dressed as admiral Shin (the guy who is said to have sent the Japanese homewards). Another was dressed as the Japanese leader (his name wasn’t important enough for me to be told it). The other two guys were talking into microphones. What followed was the most overtly racist thing I have ever seen in real life. The Japanese character wavered around as if drunk and dumb; eyes crossed, tongue hanging out, speaking in a funny voice. Of course Shin was taller, more powerful, and obviously, not a laughing stock. The crowd I had got myself in was getting really into it and my guide helped me along with a lot of the language that was going on. The thing that amazed me though is how I felt about it before during and after.
Before: Oh my god, they can’t do THAT!!
During: Korea’s pretty cool, they know how to enjoy themselves and have a strong national identity.
After: Damn you Japan, everything you stand for is a joke.
The mob mentality wore off of me soon after, and I was a little embarrassed with myself. I did, however, get interviewed for Korean TV and was part of a massive human/balloon flag (no I wasn’t a balloon).
Hope to hear from you all soon, Owski out.
To learn more about Dokdo and each country’s claim to the island, click on the link : http://www.geocities.com/mlovmo/page4.html
posted by Alanowski @ 11:45 am
1 Comments:
Momento. Easy. What else could it be?
In case anyone is interested it should be noted that there are more than two claimants to the island of Dokdo. The third interest group which believes it has a right to the island is... me.
Yes, I know it sounds strange, but a recent television programme entitled "How To Start Your Own Country" (on BBC2) has motivated me to become a global power. A natural successor to the British Empire or the USSR, I haven't decided yet. Basically I'm initiating a political land-grab of every area whose ownership is in doubt.
The extent of my empire includes, but is not limited to: the US Antartic Territory; the French Pyrennes; and a stretch of grass behind some garages in Craigmillar.
I think I'm quite likely to come out on top in the fight for Dokdo. Both the Japanese and Koreans are quite short, and they can't all know karate.
If any owski readers know of any land in dispute that they think I should annex then let me know.
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