| Meneer Unclgene talks of people being 'ungrateful for wat we gave you', by respect to Korea. Just exactly wat did the US 'give' Korea? A democracie? (Hardly, wen the government sets to arresting disidents[syndicaats leaders, demonstrators, enz.] en then tortures them. I should not want one to misondertand me. It is not a question of prefering Kim Jong il or Kim Il Sung to something, someone else. It is rather a question of attitude. Arrogance such as that expressed by Unclgene, is not one thatendears one to a person or a country. In Begoium, we apperciate wat the US (and other allies) did for os. I've seen the graveyards, I've seen the vetraans of my village march down the streets on our nationaal day,; I know wat my vader suffered in war,. He now has psttraumatisch stress syndroom, alcohollism, generaal ill-health, en many other probleems, dad is wat war does to people. But a friend which constantly reminds you of how much he has done for you is tiresome and soon you want naught to truck with them. Meneer Unclgene, I beleif confuses appreciation w9ith overweaning grattiude. I would ask hem ifsomeone saved his life en then reminded hem of it at every available moment, would not that make hem feel awkward en irritated en perhaps want naught for which with hem to doe? Amerikaans hare a wondervul people, which is why I ve heare now, and becuase I have a partner which is Amerikaanse (she en i celebrated 16 years in augustus), but there is an arrogance which they have. In the Koreaans war, Amerika en internationaals forces came to the aid against Stalinist aggression (Stalin was no communist as envisioned Marx, neither was Lenin; they were the both despots). However, Amerika her large presence in Korea after near to 50 years, has created a tension amongst the people. US bases pollute the water, Amerikaans soldiers get away with manslaughter; Mr Bush issues no real apollogy but rather a 'policy statement'. I ask, if you had a daughter en she were runover by some foreign militarie vehicle en the response by the governement is to exonerate the individuaals en issue a 'politie statement' , how would he feel? That does not address people their pain. I am not competent with the hoistorischbackgrond of the War to comment on what could've been donme to prevent oit. However, I suspect a lot. Most wars can be preventeed if people want. Ufortunately, governments are owned by the rich and powerful, which make lots of money from wars en treat their veteraans often poorly, as some of the Koreaans conflict vets hier have noted of their treatment bie the Veterans Amdin. Many of the grunts paid dearly, as they all do in all wars, Korea was no exception. But the Koreans are angered as many of are, by Amerika her 'Pepsi Cola' culturaal imperiaalism. The Koreans similaarlie appreciate wat the ALLIES did but do not appreciate having their noses rubbed in it. Frija v.d. Haeghediessen |