[KS] anti-Americanism in ROK

[Ruediger Frank]

Dear Frank and all,

I don't think the point Prof. McCann makes shall be so easily dismissed. If 
you are AGAINST something (Anti-Americanism), this attitude is much harder 
to change as compared to a case where you are FOR something 
(pro-Nationalist) and thereby automatically in a conflicting position to 
something else. In the latter case, what needs to be done to substantially 
improve the image of the United States (assumed one wants to achieve this) 
is simply to show that they are not detrimental to national interests or at 
least not so anymore. It would not be so easy in the other case. The 
implications for "real world" politicians are enormous.
I personally find the notion interesting that ban-mi in Korea is weaker 
than bi-mi. Based on my very limited experience I used to think they are 
closely interrelated. Bi-mi without ban-mi implies an exceptionally high 
level of pragmatism. I suggest we continue to discuss this issue, since he 
implications are far-reaching.

Best,

Ruediger

At 12:00 PM 1/28/03 -0800, you wrote:

>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


*******************************

Dr. Ruediger FRANK
Columbia University
East Asian Institute
International Affairs Building
420 West 118th Street, MC 3333
New York, NY 10027
- USA -
Phone: (212) 85 49 206
Fax: (212) 74 91 497
email: rf2101 at columbia.edu

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