Anti-Americanism at the Korean University
Hats off to The Party Pooper for exposing as myths some of the anti-American beliefs popular among Korean university students.
In Korean College Students Say the Darnedest Things, he deconstructs, if I may use that word, these four myths:
He does so by careful analysis, not out of blind nationalism.
I consider myself lucky to work at a university that prohibits any form of political expression among students (although a large anti-war display was allowed). The university I used to work for at times felt like it was loacted in Iran or Saudi Arabia, not in a country with a 50-year "blood alliance" with the United States.
The anti-Americanism at Korean universities is far worse than anything I experienced a decade ago as an exchange student at the University of Chile, where most students where members of the Communist Youth, la Jota (JJ.CC. - Juventudes Comunistas), and could complain of at least indirect US involvement in the overthrow of their beloved comandante presidente Salvador Allende. Many even lost relatives in Pinochet's coup d'etat. Yet, South Korea, a country that has received no little help from the US, has a much higher occurance of anti-Americanism.
Hats off to The Party Pooper for exposing as myths some of the anti-American beliefs popular among Korean university students.
In Korean College Students Say the Darnedest Things, he deconstructs, if I may use that word, these four myths:
- 1. America has killed more people in the 20th Century than Hitler, the USSR and even China.
2. America has troops stationed in more countries than the Roman Empire did at the height of its power.
3. The USA, in its relatively short history, has started almost 200 wars.
4. America has killed nearly 17 million people around the world AFTER World War 2.
He does so by careful analysis, not out of blind nationalism.
I consider myself lucky to work at a university that prohibits any form of political expression among students (although a large anti-war display was allowed). The university I used to work for at times felt like it was loacted in Iran or Saudi Arabia, not in a country with a 50-year "blood alliance" with the United States.
The anti-Americanism at Korean universities is far worse than anything I experienced a decade ago as an exchange student at the University of Chile, where most students where members of the Communist Youth, la Jota (JJ.CC. - Juventudes Comunistas), and could complain of at least indirect US involvement in the overthrow of their beloved comandante presidente Salvador Allende. Many even lost relatives in Pinochet's coup d'etat. Yet, South Korea, a country that has received no little help from the US, has a much higher occurance of anti-Americanism.
Redeemed by Our Savior, I work out my salvation with fear and trembling in Pohang, South Korea, where I live with my wife, daughter, and son and teach English at a science and technology university. Baptized a Methodist and raised a Missouri Synod Lutheran in Buffalo, NY, I spent six years as a guest of the Anglican Communion before being received by the Grace of God into the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church on the Feast of Saint Andrew, my patron, anno domini 2002.
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