[KS] anti-Americanism in ROK

[Frank Hoffmann]

David McCann wrote:
>>  urged that a distinction be drawn between
>>  "anti-American" (ban-mi) and critical of American policies (bi-mi)

Got your point. But isn't this some academic approach of splitting 
hairs on a bold head? Why would "the rest of the world" -- and 
especially the "uncivilized" part of the world that maps President 
Bush's understanding of the world, may want to make a distinction 
that leading U.S. politicians are not capable or willing to make? 
Talking about culture -- yes, sure, most nations are into American 
culture on various levels. Maybe some anthropologist here could give 
us more insights about this .... Few are against American culture, 
POP culture, film culture, entertainment culture, shopping culture. 
But by now this has been so much internalized around the world that 
it isn't even seen as American anymore. And indeed, it isn't. If the 
U.S. is harshly being criticized in South Korea, for example, then 
nobody should expect this trend to stop at any point and expect that 
people will make those hair-splitting academic distinctions when 
burning American flags or what not.

Best,
Frank
==============================

Transcript of President Bush's first State of the Union address, 
delivered to Congress Tuesday night (1/28/2003)

Mr. Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, 
distinguished guests, fellow citizens, as we gather tonight, our 
nation is at war, our economy is in recession and the civilized world 
faces unprecedented dangers.
(...)
The men and women of our armed forces have delivered a message now 
clear to every enemy of the United States: Even 7,000 miles away, 
across oceans and continents, on mountaintops and in caves you will 
not escape the justice of this nation.
(...)
My budget supports three great goals for America: We will win this 
war, we will protect our homeland, and we will revive our economy.
(...)
==========END OF QUOTE========


>Not as someone living in the ROK, but as an attendee at a recent conference
>at the East West Center, University of Hawaii, where the demonstrations
>were a frequent topic, I would note that a number of scholars at the
>conference, Korean and American, urged that a distinction be drawn between
>"anti-American" (ban-mi) and critical of American policies (bi-mi).
>Because the demonstrations are reported as if they were anti-American, they
>cause anxiety among those thinking of travelling to Seoul, or huffy
>suggestions that, "if they're against us over there, maybe we should just
>leave," as Victor Cha observed of several then-recent op ed pieces.   But
>in fact the demonstrations are an expression of engagement with such issues
>as concerns regarding North Korea, or dissatisfaction with the outcome of
>the trial of the miltary personnel whose vehicle killed the two Korean
>girls.. .; in other words, specific, understandable, and not threatening
>harm.
>
>David McCann


-- 
______________________________________________________
Frank Hoffmann
http://KoreaWeb.ws  *  Fax: (415) 727-4792
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