More aware of Asia than ever

[Anonymous]

Bushio is often translated as "the way of the warrior", or (more literally), the warrior's "code." If you have any interest in this area, I would strongly recommend the writings by American Donn Draeger. Draeger was a student of all things Japanese, one of the first Americans to study martial arts with the Japanese in Japan (in the 1950's), and was- amongst other things- a mastery of weaponry. His writiings are quite detailed- he is recognized as the foremost Western expert on Japanese fighting styles and their related weapons. He was one of the few Westerners given the honor of teaching classes in the Kodokan ("the house of Kano"), the Judo academy buillt by Jigoru Kano, the father of Judo. Nowadays, this is more and more common, but during Draeger's day it was a very high honor. Many of Draeger's Japanese judokka regarded this as heresy, despite having a great respect for the man's ability.

[Anonymous]

No form of government is completely pure - there is an certainly an element of hypocrisy in our democracy. As was mentioned in an earlier post, our founding fathers stated that all men are created equal but did not mention women and proceeded to enslave African Americans and deprive them of all their rights for hundreds of years.

[Anonymous]

The North Koreans have become increasingly militaristic and provocative in their actions. The chest-beating and missle testing has eclipsed the former thrust of the regime- how the South Koreans have failed to "qualify" themselves as candidates for reunification at some hazy point in the future. The South Koreans have never really had much interest in being, to use a Star Trek analogy, assimilated by the "Borg". I suppose the staggering economic cost of doing so outweighs the political and social benefits in the minds of many S. Koreans.[Edit by="gjones on Feb 13, 7:58:13 PM"][/Edit]
[Edit by="gjones on Feb 13, 7:58:59 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

I think you need to consider the demographic group when one says South Korea does not desire unification.
My reading of the polls shows an older generation who desires unification while the younger generation wishes for the problem to go away. I think the younger generation fears the economic consequences of inheriting a dire situation in the event that reunification takes place; they cite the marital pains of Eastern and Western Europe. And of course the youth may possibly have more to lose over a longer period of time if reunification does not go well. Furthermore, Japan China and Russia are not in any rush to see a united Korea. JCS :~ [Edit by="jcsmyth on Mar 17, 3:01:48 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Having lived and worked in South Korea, and having travelled back many times to visit my Korean friends, most of whom span the ages of 33-54, I must say that my phrasing in the initial post stands. I see your point, but I have not borne witness to it. Outside of the politicians- who are as removed and clued out from the regular folks as ours are- and those old enough to remember a unified Korea, very few seem to really care..passionately Sure, , South Korean movies and other media proclaim the glory of a unified nation, but these people also enjoy a relatively robust economy and all the goodies that this brings to the table. Other thoughts: I am not so sure the North Koreans would ever wish for unification either...would Kim Il Jong wish to relinquish or share power; would the N. Korean military elite settle for a golf club instead of a rifle? I am not so sure. Also, and this is just in case I have not played the cynic enough for you, do you really think the U.S. wants reunification? Having North Korea on China's doorstep is a nice little buffer. There is also the millions and millions of dollars invested in the US military presence in the region, and there is no way one can deny our country's love of inserting itself into strategically important hot spots. It is a HUGE mess, that is for sure. The reunification of the Korean peninsula is an idea that is rapidly becoming as antiquated as writing the 'Great American Novel'.

[Author]

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