June 3, 2008

• Hyundai executive "Chung was found guilty in February last year on charges that he
  raised a $100 million slush fund from affiliates. Prosecutors said much
  of the money was used to pay lobbyists to gain government favors and
  for personal use.

  He received a three-year term in the initial district court trial,
  but the high court suspended the sentence for five years. The presiding
  judge said at the time that Chung was too important for the nation's
  economy to go to prison."

  I have a tendency to see things in black and white when it comes to
  business ethics which is, perhaps, unrealistic, and somewhat
  self-righteous considering I have no idea what I would do if given the
  opportunity for enormous financial power by bending the rules a bit.
  But I think that if I was caught, I would accept my punishment and
  understand why it was administered.  Of course, if I could get out of
  it, I probably would, but still... 

  Every conversation I have with my co-worker Daniel Craig : )
  

  I'm always amazed at how ignorant we Americans are.  We were discussing the Democratic primaries and in his opinion, the 2008 election is the democratic party's to lose.  As much as I hope he's right, I remember reading an article about how people are less racist on surveys, but prejudice often wins out in actual voting.  So, whether it's Obama or Hillary...  Well, Dan recalled an interview he saw with an old American lady who claimed that she couldn't vote for Obama because she "just couldn't trust his Muslim background."

  Sad as that story is, I am learning more and more just how lucky I am to be American.  Despite the many, many, many, innumerable faults and shortcomings both present, past, and I'm sure future, there is still so much to be thankful for.  A history which has fostered the embedding of the ideals of freedom and equality into our society (imperfect, but still present); a society which views discrimination as inherently wrong (in theory and not to all of course); and most important to me, it's a place country where there's a place for everyone no matter your background, ethnicity, socio-economic status, beliefs, physical characteristics, etc.  As much as I fight against it at times, America is home for me, and I am becoming alarmingly patriotic during my sojourn in the motherland.

  I'm sure it'll all fade once I move back, but the final straw was reading about how a man was convicted of illegal activities, but released because "he's too important for the nation's economy."  Which is tantamount to saying that if you're powerful and important (i.e. rich), you're above the law and in many instances, above ethics as well. 

  And of course, it hasn't helped that the current leader of the motherland has been convicted of illegal activities as well, but somehow was elected to the country's highest position. 

  And the fact that there are no labor laws against discrimination... 

  I was watching a special on Hines Ward and his experience with the Korean community.  He was completely rejected until he became a famous NFL star.  Yes it was touching to see him finally come to terms with his Korean background, and it was nice to see Korea embrace him, but I kept thinking, it's only because he's rich and famous now.  What about all the other hapas?

  I'm just getting so tired of this emphasis on being pure-blooded, rich, skinny, pretty, well-educated not for broadening the mind but for financial gains, and I'm up to my eyeballs in dealing with people who 1) smoke in front of me and blow it in my face, 2) flick cigarette butts wherever they are 3) have no concept of waiting in line 4) have no concept of personal space 5) never cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze so that when I'm on the bus and the man behind me sneezes, I feel the force of his germs parting my hair 6) who push you out of the way to get into the subway when you've been waiting longer than they have 7) who say you should be ashamed because you're Korean and can't really speak it well 8) who insist I'm Japanese 9) ride motorcycles on the sidewalks 10) drive as if they own the road/sidewalk/crosswalks and illegally reverse on a main street while I was crossing legally and almost got run over 11) stupid couples who insist on walking side by side at a snail's pace taking up the entire sidewalk 12)  dumb-ass ahjusshis who will go out of their way to walk right into you 13) groups of smoking, soju-soaked young adults clustered in groups on the sidewalks so that you have to walk around them on the street where chances of being run over is 99% 14) wet their hands after using the bathroom for 2 seconds and then pat down their hair 15) keep asking you to help them with their english grammar when they're not your family or friend 16) taxi drivers who cheat you cuz you have an accent 17) store owners who charge you more cuz they think you're a stupid foreigner 18) icky little children who have no concept of indoor voices... or manners of any sort 19) parents who let their children do anything, anywhere cuz discipline would stunt kids' belief that they have potential 20) old women wearing miniskirts and high heels and cakes of make-up and the most godawful gaudy jewelry in an effort to recapture their youth....

  i feel better.  gotta go meet a friend for dinner!

  my greetings to all, and the disclaimer that as much as i complain, korea really isn't that bad.  technically, i don't have much reason to complain.

  • 4:36 am
  • 7 Comments