tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post8729920691192151067..comments2024-03-26T03:31:06.199-04:00Comments on Ask a Korean!: Ask A Korean! News: America, Make It Yours.T.K. (Ask a Korean!)http://www.blogger.com/profile/07663422474464557214noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-13155248656596393842016-02-12T19:09:47.796-05:002016-02-12T19:09:47.796-05:00WTF? Are you seriously implying that the Korean su...WTF? Are you seriously implying that the Korean supports that regime, or that his dream is anything similar to that "dream?"Rivka333https://www.blogger.com/profile/10891631154699608811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-30663732583586976092015-07-06T16:35:11.160-04:002015-07-06T16:35:11.160-04:00I am so annoyed by xenophobes here that think that...I am so annoyed by xenophobes here that think that are Americans. If you look it up in an unabridged, respectable dictionary, you will find that the term denotes the out "copper-skinned" inhabitants of these continents found by the Europeans. I am not saying that foreigners who come to this country should not be welcomed or given the opportunity to live a better life, but saying that these "gringos" need to stop pretending like they are indigenous to the continents that make up America or the land that makes up this country.BobJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06469558301594371497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-22956524592318439542013-04-09T08:01:40.528-04:002013-04-09T08:01:40.528-04:00As a Singaporean, the nation tt I lived in is made...As a Singaporean, the nation tt I lived in is made up of 4 races, namely Chinese, Malay , Indians and Eurasians. There are smaller communities in our midst, including Japanese, Koreans, Americans etc. There is no one face tt could represent our nation. Our nation is young and has been through crisises. Recently, there's also issues about who can be considered a Singaporean? Those who migrate into Singapore after she has prospers or those who have been with Singapore through thick and thin or the generations that are simply born and grew up here? carrotminthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09297751057676126301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-11995825845887915892013-03-20T11:09:10.322-04:002013-03-20T11:09:10.322-04:00Dear The Korean, I'm a French litterature teac...Dear The Korean, I'm a French litterature teacher (so as a fellow non-native English speaker, do spare me your anger if/when you spot some mispelling or syntax mistakes). <br /><br />I discovered your blog about a week ago, and have been reading it regularly since then.<br /> I've dated a Korean man a few years back, and lived in Korea as an exchange student for about a year, so I do take an interest about most of the things you tell us about Korea through your blog.<br /> I've been tempted many times to write comments on your posts, but didn't until now. <br />Unlike many people who read your blog asking you advice on how to attract/date/marry a Korean man, my favorite posts tend to be about politics and society issues, and I think this post about immigration and citizenship is quite interesting. I do not agree with everything you say, even though I share many of your ideas, but I must acknowledge that even though I sometimes disagree with you on some particular points, you have a knack for words (I say this in a positive way). <br />I read your other post about learning how to speak english, and I thank you for going through the ordeal of learning it so well. My korean skills are quite poor (they are good enaugh to watch some korean drama, but not barely good enaugh to have a proper conversation about any interesting and complex subject). If you didn't spend time learning english, I would not have been able to know what you think about the world, and it would have been a pity!<br /><br /> Now that this is done, I have to say that even though I completely agree with you on the ideas that immigration brings more good that bad (in most of the cases), and that people can't claim they own the country, I do think your proposal about having everyone in America take citenzhip tests holds a latent danger. I don't want to make assumptions and blame you for something you did not actually say but what about people who are metally disabled? According to what I've understood of your proposal (as I've already mentionned, I'm not a native speaker), only the smart would pass the tests and be recognized as full citizens. According to their etymologies, "democracy" : is a system of government by the people ; "plutocracy": is a system of government by the rich; "gerontocracy":is a system of government by the elderly... The system you propose is a kind of "intelektocracy" (I know it's a neologism), it is elitist, it only acknowledges the smart. As a teacher, I do value academic achievement a lot, but as the same time, I know that not all the kids I teach are "smart". Some do poorly in school. You could argue that most of the students who do poorly didn't study enaugh. Most of the time, it's true! But I have some students who are really nice kids, who do study and try their best, and still get only red marks... People aren't equall when it comes to doing well in school. You have different kind of intelligences, and you also have mentally disabled people. The system you propose has lots of benefits: it does prevent people from uttering racist comments when they don't bring any good to the country, it does allow many people to get the American citizenship, it does push people to study, but it also has a pitfall in that it doesn't erase the fact you will still get second-class citizens. I somewhat feel you're angry at uneducated racists and want to give them a taste of their own medicine, having them experience what immigrants go through. I can fully understand that, but I just wanted to show you that even though it would be fun, I don't think it's a good idea. <br /><br />I read somewhere that you read every comment (I don't know where you find the time to do it, but still hope it's true). I hope there are not too many typos, Jos.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12686998587374438589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-16876830781016483282012-07-07T21:15:47.842-04:002012-07-07T21:15:47.842-04:00Stop working, apply for Medicaid, apply for charit...Stop working, apply for Medicaid, apply for charity at organizations like Catholic Charity, you can get free health care. Tzu Chi has free clinics in many major cities and provides free medical treatment if they decide you deserve it.<br /><br />Go to the ER, live a life of need so that the welfare state takes care of you. <br /><br />Illegals may not get all their health needs taken care of, but they can some and with over 10 million illegals, that adds up to a lot of money each year.<br /><br />You may not think it is ethical to do so, and I applaud you to avoid it.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14990164397927349360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-59808864719792705112012-07-07T21:09:47.512-04:002012-07-07T21:09:47.512-04:00We took the area through war, we should follow up ...We took the area through war, we should follow up with restricting it from the Mexicans...or else what's the use of taking land?<br />If we know Mexicans are attempting to take back the land, why should the US be stopped from preventing that?<br /><br />If you know I'm plotting to steal your hot wife, you see me buying her presents and giving her the attention you are too lazy to give, would you just let it happen? Would you just say, oh well, let's divorce, you can have half my money, take my kids (for additional labor) and bang my hot (ex)wife in the living room? I guess you would given your statement above. You don't care about your money, your wife, your kids, your family. You shouldn't have married in the first place. Well, America does care about Texas, California, and all the other parts of the Union. The US fought a war, killed and was killed for it, and they damn well care about it.<br /><br />The USA is the authority and makes the law. You can't object to calling them illegal immigrants, they are illegal immigrants. You can complain about the policy that makes them illegal.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14990164397927349360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-37209948128311119492011-09-21T22:10:22.611-04:002011-09-21T22:10:22.611-04:00First, I must say: Robert, I like you. ^_^ Your po...First, I must say: Robert, I like you. ^_^ Your post was well-said and I agree with it in every aspect.<br /><br />Second, I agree wholeheartedly with The Korean. I don't know how many time I want to slap someone when they mention how it's unfair that these 'illegals' can come and become citizens while they're at home, collecting unemployment because they're too lazy to find a new job and they got fired from their old one because they called their boss at McDonald's a 'Fascist Dictator' because said boss told them that they had to stay for their whole shift.<br /><br />I must admit, I'm an odd one in that I think that we should open our doors to everyone. If they're willing to come over here and work hard, go for it! ^_^ You get what you have because you're willing to work for it. And before some other latecomer proclaims that I'm just some spoiled white girl, I'm an Irish-Native American mixer who had a full-time job in high school, who's worked two jobs and lived in the back of a truck (at the same time) for a few months in the winter, hasn't lived with her parents since she was 19 (even though they tried to convince me to move back home during the truck episode) and who is now going to college at the semi-experienced age of 29 and acing all of her classes, including two language courses and is self-studying Korean. If you aren't willing to work for what you have, you don't deserve it, and using that particular model, a good portion of 'legal' Americans really don't deserve much of anything.<br /><br />Oh, and I'd really love to know where these 'illegals' are getting their free health care, because I have two jobs and still can't afford it. Palladin, want to help me out on this one?Brookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10336966410938814994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-10969050461376076572010-11-01T22:19:40.439-04:002010-11-01T22:19:40.439-04:00As a white Anglo-Saxon whose ancestor came over on...As a white Anglo-Saxon whose ancestor came over on a boat as an indentured servant 150 years before the revolution, I believe it is ignorant, and rude, to scapegoat immigrants for the problems the U. S. faces. Tonight, as I work late, procrastinate on this website (which I love, btw), and dread the takeover by the teabaggers in tomorrow’s election, I find it even more ignorant and rude to refer to Mexican immigrants as illegal. <br /><br /> Texas, California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and parts of Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, and Wyoming were part of Mexico. Just because we stole it fair and square from them after the Mexican-American War does not mean we should be rude and ban them from it. We certainly should not refer to them as illegal, especially when they come here to help do the work we are too lazy to do. It is their homeland too. And they’re taking it back, one Mexican at a time. I would do the same if someone stole my land from me.<br /><br /> I like your analogy of the little brat taking the ball home because he keeps on losing. Except take it one step further: The little American brat takes the Mexican kid’s ball and says, “It’s mine now!” When the Mexican kid tries to take it back, the American kid calls the cops and has him arrested for “illegal” actions.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09109237427267636313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-22059416262451971702010-10-28T11:22:46.321-04:002010-10-28T11:22:46.321-04:00"Nope. Make that argument if you are intent o..."Nope. Make that argument if you are intent on giving America back to Native Americans." <br /><br />The US, obviously, wasn't a Native-American Nation. An example of a Native-American Nation would the Apache Nation. You could make an argument that the US was developed, built, and grown on x-Native American Land, and that that land was not properly acquired -- but that would make for an argument to compensate those Native Americans -- not for you to freely get a piece of this nation.John Fuersthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14608519913410960562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-23161199407940035082010-10-01T13:04:12.943-04:002010-10-01T13:04:12.943-04:00This reminds me of a line from Starship Troopers (...This reminds me of a line from Starship Troopers (1997).<br /><br />Citizenship is reserved only for those who have served 2 years in the military. This is because social responsibility requires being prepared to make individual sacrifice. This is opposed to democracies of the 20th century, which according to the novel, collapsed because "people had been led to believe that they could simply vote for whatever they wanted... and get it, without toil, without sweat, without tears."xradmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11599374803307971252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-21809993503465892822010-09-06T21:49:38.563-04:002010-09-06T21:49:38.563-04:00HI. I strongly agree with you in the part where yo...HI. I strongly agree with you in the part where you mention that if the people in the United States don't want Hispanic people, and other immigrants, to take over, then they should work harder and better. I, myself, can relate to that. My whole family can. I was born in Mexico and raised for a while there. Then just like a lot of other families, we immigrated. My father came first, and he worked very, very hard day and night. He started out with nothing, and now were a middle class family that travels regularly. All because we work hard and do our best in absolutely everything. But when some snobby person who was born here in the United States claims that we are taking over and ruining their country, we become enraged. Just wait and see what happens when they don't have us here to do the jobs they're too picky about.<br /><br />Thank you for this post, and I'm sorry if my comment does not make much sense. ^_^Harukahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01595029610338333392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-57380607947669065472010-05-12T22:27:15.395-04:002010-05-12T22:27:15.395-04:00Hey, I like your idea except the part where you sa...Hey, I like your idea except the part where you say "Anyone who passes will receive a full citizenship for two years."<br /><br />Does that mean that there is a nationwide test every two years? Just think about crowded polling places during elections and recognize that it's an activity that takes 10 minutes to complete. Remember also that usually it's about 30% of the population that votes.<br /><br />I'm all for making everyone pass the citizenship test as a requirement to graduate from high school, but to implement the test to everyone in the nation for two years is more than unfeasible.<br /><br />But the idea of it is genius. Think of all the REAL AMERICANS who would find that they don't deserve to be Americans on account that they don't even know how their own country works.The Seoul Searcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04433656828663327427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-74754357761051863792010-03-23T01:06:39.881-04:002010-03-23T01:06:39.881-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.kushibohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10306033998028548550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-77072926247800015752010-03-23T00:55:34.135-04:002010-03-23T00:55:34.135-04:00Illegal immigrants are criminals like jaywalkers a...Illegal immigrants are criminals like jaywalkers are criminals. The immigration laws are arbitrary, nonsensical and contrary to American interest. Illegal immigrants surely must face some blame, but the blame cannot be big. They can pay a fine, for example, and it should be fine.T.K. (Ask a Korean!)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07663422474464557214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-57530294532787088082010-03-23T00:13:11.959-04:002010-03-23T00:13:11.959-04:00Old thread, but I'll reply anyway. What is th...Old thread, but I'll reply anyway. What is the real problem with amnesty for illegal immigrants? They are <i>criminals</i>. They are in the country illegally. We should not reward criminal behavior (and encourage more of the same).<br /><br />I am not opposed to changes in the current immigration policies, but we should not make any new policy retroactive so that current illegals will benefit. Illegals immigrants have defied the laws of thier host country, and do not deserve any leniency or amnesty.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05416966233716140900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-43839872382971431072010-03-10T12:12:21.965-05:002010-03-10T12:12:21.965-05:00These arguments are all avoiding the real issue. I...These arguments are all avoiding the real issue. Immigration is not the real problem for Americans'. There was no immigration policy put in place to stem the flow of European immigration.<br /><br />There was never a "head tax" put on any European immigrants. If some of you are unaware, the U.S government passed legislation to prevent more Chinese immigrants from entering the country. Australia and Canada passed similar legislation against the Chinese.<br /><br />This was back in the 1800's, when there were large numbers of European immigrants entering the U.S. Legislation against Chinese immigration was not repealed until 1947 in the U.S (please check date, year might be off).<br /><br />The Chinese that came in the 1800's built the railroads. The railroad companies then paid gunmen to cull their numbers. Black historians even agree that it was fortunate that African slaves had a monetary value. If they had not been property, the same thing would have happened to them. <br /><br />There were laws put in place that made it illegal for Chinese men to employ white females. The U.S passed laws that prohibited Chinese men from certain types of jobs, and denied U.S citizenship. Many were just killed, ever hear the saying "not a China mans' chance".<br /><br />There are too many examples to list here, but if there is any doubt, all this past legislation is easily accessible.<br /><br />My point is that no matter what Asians' do for this country (America), we will never be given credit, it will all be forgotten about. There is a Korean-American lawyer in California who wrote an article and she used the term "Constant foreigner" to describe what it was to be an Asian American.<br /><br />My point is this. The one thing I know is human nature. These new immigration policies basically have the same underlying purpose. Whenever there is immigration coming into the western parts of the U.S there is legislation. <br /><br />No one seems to mention how many illegal Russians' there are in the U.S, and the questionable activities that they're involved in. I never hear white Americans' being critical about them.<br /><br />And to all the idiots who say that illegal aliens are a drain on American society, WTF. How can an illegal alien receive social welfare, scholarships, government housing, medicare or even proper jobs.<br /><br />I know most Koreans' live in large urban areas, where its cosmopolitan and culturally diverse. the rest or majority of America is not like this. <br /><br />If there are any Chinese-Americans', WTF why does a Korean-American have to defend you. You're complacent attitudes make all Asians' look weak.<br /><br />And to all Korean-Americans' VOTE, go and vote. If you don't like the laws being passed or rejected go and F#&*ing vote.<br /><br />(No time to check my grammar, gotta go to work)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03225528383173104539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-30387210112990925282010-02-01T00:20:27.955-05:002010-02-01T00:20:27.955-05:00LOL!
... from utter space there is just one earth ...LOL!<br />... from utter space there is just one earth ... we tend to pretend that we own certain parts of land, but guess what? we don't, we born and we die, no matter if its in texas, manhattan, madrid or seul, we don't take these pieces of land with us, what is more, the land we are buried in, claims us as if we were part of that land, no the other way round ...<br /><br />didn't you see the avatar? LOL!IndustrialAction-Mexicohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07657848551954502839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-89370532135678522242010-01-23T14:28:45.167-05:002010-01-23T14:28:45.167-05:00We as "true" Americans can continue comp...We as "true" Americans can continue complaining but as long as the American big wigs are allowing this to happen there's really nothing we can do about it. I was stationed in Korea for two years in the U.S. Army and I can most definitely say that we are not welcome there by most of the younger and older generations that I've come in contact with(the older generation including those who remember the Korean War like it was yesterday) But two wrongs dont make a right. I am a black man who's ancestors have been here long before me contributing to what this countries trade and economy is today (which I might add is poor) and it does piss me off that I have to pay taxes and the "visitors" dont. But if you do want two wrongs to make a right and you wanna cry that much about this issue just go their country and do what they're doing to us over here.. It still wont get you anywhere Lol<br /><br />And oh yeah my wife is a natural born 100% Korean so I am not biased one bit.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11769407914782862566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-63169674745956772102010-01-15T14:09:35.827-05:002010-01-15T14:09:35.827-05:00The Korean's proposal could be tested piecemea...The Korean's proposal could be tested piecemeal. Two or more countries could agree to the provisional/basic/full scheme for, say, 20 years. It'd be an interesting experiment.bjrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11444220500908788154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-66953469912811378252010-01-14T19:40:49.752-05:002010-01-14T19:40:49.752-05:00PS: I'm Spanish, so I don't have anything ...PS: I'm Spanish, so I don't have anything to do with USA or Korea. I just liked the debate. Sorry for the long comment, I hope is not too boring. :PSilthahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05166224699799720891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-15179046265986463182010-01-14T19:35:39.689-05:002010-01-14T19:35:39.689-05:00I disagree with this proposal. Not completely, but...I disagree with this proposal. Not completely, but I disagree on the part you talk about the rights of Basic Citizens. If you create a cast system like that, it's never going to work, because people in the bottom will feel opresed and desperate. They will be allways struggling to get a Full Citizenship, so they can get an insurance or have minimum rights. And a country with mostly full citizens wouldn't work, because then no-one will be a waiter. I think everyone should be treated with respect and have access to universal healthcare. If they are paying taxes, there is no reason why they shouldn't get some advantage for it. Also, imagine the infinite personal trouble there will be if diferent members in one family obtain diferent kind of citizenships with so many differences in the treatment the government and the rest of Full citizens would give them.<br /><br />I think restricting the benefits for the basic citizens could work, as long as they don't see their basic needs compromised. For example, I would give Full citizens the right to vote, and access to high education. Also, any job which has to do with the administration of the country, could only be taken by full citizens. <br /><br />Also, I wouldn't make an exam about just how much one knows about the country. I would test everyone's capacity to reason, to use logic and to think for themselves. Otherwise, you can't be a full citizen. <br /><br />This will leave us with two type of citizens: the lower part, for all this people who don't mind doing factory jobs for all their lifes, and has no aspiration of adquiring any university degree (most of the people would be fine with some money to have their houses and party at the weekends).<br />In the other hand we will have the full citizens, who have right to vote and decide how to run their country, because their are capable of thinking by themselves, and they are aware what a government can do. Also, they will not think their country is the only one in the world, they could see how politics work globally and take decisions in consequence. Also, they will have access to university and a lot of scolarships and diferent high level jobs. <br /><br />Also, I would add that someone who is more than two years without working or studying without a justified cause (like illness or a city recovering from a natural disaster), would lose both citizenships, because if one person isn't good enough even for a mcDonalds... I don't know what will I do with the no-citizens... I would bring them to work camps, if they have no other country to go, and after a year of service they can take another exam again. I think this would prevent poverty and the things poverty vs. wealth brings: robbing, stealing, assaulting... <br /><br />I think this sounds a lot more dictatorial than I would like to, but if you picture it... It could work for both types of citizens. The only thing to take care of is full citizens not to take advantage of the working force, aka, the basic citizens.Silthahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05166224699799720891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-10571148932586180122009-08-04T01:37:28.425-04:002009-08-04T01:37:28.425-04:00I praise your argument, Korean. As much as I would...I praise your argument, Korean. As much as I would like to add my opinion, I believe I shouldn't. I could have easily fit into the said category of... what shall I say, nationalists? about a year ago. (Though nowhere near the extent of !)<br />Since then, I have drastically rethought my perspective and opinions. I cannot recall ever being racist against anyone, and my parents have taken on a similar ideology as what you claim to be your own.<br />However, I still believe I need some time before I go about 'preaching' my opinions.<br /><br />Again, I applaud you on your argument. Well said. :)Galinaroshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07746595116439515769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-69838004119584766112009-07-17T09:07:00.233-04:002009-07-17T09:07:00.233-04:00I can't say that I agree with this but it has ...I can't say that I agree with this but it has always been an internal conflict for me, as with so many other topics. I think these things are looked at from two very different perspectives when you are the first child born in America to your Korean father and the only recognized minority to your "Caucasian" mother's family. I parenthesize here because this is a self assigned classification on my maternal side. In reality they are a mixture mostly Native American and Irish. Being that the Irish features are more visible in some, the whole family claims to be Caucasian. This is another item that I'll never understand. I would like to say that I appreciate the perspectives you give and admire the amount of effort you put into them.-Meleah-https://www.blogger.com/profile/01252993188972876452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-43085978769065323032009-05-12T11:17:00.000-04:002009-05-12T11:17:00.000-04:00At the age of 18, every child as well as everyone ...<I>At the age of 18, every child as well as everyone in the world is eligible for the citizenship test, which asks basic questions about American history, geography, and civics.</I>That's your confucianist ancestry reveals itself, I guess.<br /><br />The idea that one's worth can be measured in a test... Insane!<br /><br />But I agree, americans should try how imported democr^Wconfucianism does really taste.Илья Казначеевhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08047072519984995214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-4778186432217905332009-03-29T19:16:00.000-04:002009-03-29T19:16:00.000-04:00America being the strongest, wealthiest and attrac...<I>America being the strongest, wealthiest and attracting the best and brightest are legacies of the past. America's heyday is behind it.</I><BR/><BR/>Why so little faith in America? The immigrants certainly don't share your cynicism about America's future, given that they continue to come. Doesn't America belong to those who believe in it?<BR/><BR/><I>No people's population declines forever.</I><BR/><BR/>Read <I>Collapse</I> by Jared Diamond for numerous disproofs to that proposition.<BR/><BR/><I>Furthermore, what's wrong with a little population decline, anyways?</I><BR/><BR/>The fact that a smaller group of younger, working people will have to support the aging and non-working people, generally destroying competitiveness and wealth -- similar to what is happening in Japan and Western Europe.The Koreanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04328000772620833495noreply@blogger.com