Skip to main content

Trying to Connect the Dots

Returning from South Korea two days after the horrific shooting spree at Virginia Tech, I could not help but reflect on Korean culture and society in light of the tragedy.

I fear that there may be some backlash or hostility toward Korean immigrants because of the violent actions of one long-time US resident from South Korea. I remember seeing pictures of Korean shop owners protecting their businesses with fear and trembling during the ethnically-focused strive and riots in LA in the early 1990’s. More recently, the backlash and harassment of Arab-Americans in the aftermath of 9/11 demonstrates that some Americans are fully capable of displaced anger and retributive violence. I also worry that the Korean association with the tragedy will result in more restrictions on immigration that will impact the number of Korean students able to attend Drew and other institutions of higher learning.

I was heartened by the rapid response and compassionate messages of condolences from several political and religious leaders in S. Korea for the victims of violence. Rather than defending the right to bear arms (as our President did), the South Korean President expressed his utter shock and dismay “beyond description” as well as great sympathy for the victims. I know from my own conversations with Koreans that they find America’s lack of gun control and toleration of violence incredible and a major flaw in societal structuring; this in contrast to the relative peace and safety of Korean society and virtual absence of guns and violence. Although Korea experiences a high suicide rate—due perhaps to the extreme pressure and competition for young people to perform and success in education and business—murder, theft and major are rare.

Given my interest in global AIDS, it was interesting to learn that Korea has one of the lowest infection rates in the world: .01 percent. Compared to Malawi which is at least 15% or Swaziland with 42%. Although the sex industry has grown in recent years, IV drug use is not a major problem, and homosexual vs. heterosexual transmission is about equal in numbers. Still, there are less than 4,000 cases of HIV/AIDS in South Korea.

Though AIDS is not a major problem in Korea, Korea may be the country that discovers the best vacine or cure. When I googled AIDS in Korea, I found an article in the Korean Times that announced: "World's First AIDS Vacine Factory To Be In South Korea". Apparently, Vax Gen, a leading, US-based, AIDS vacine maker, built a production facility in Songdo, Inchon, and is completing clinical tests for its AIDS vaccine.

Here is yet another connection between Korea and Malawi, East and West...
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Liberation Spirituality: Henri Nouwen and Gustavo Gutierrez in Dialogue

Liberation Spirituality: Henri Nouwen and Gustavo Gutierrez in Dialogue Lecture Notes: Presented by Michael J. Christensen, Ph.D.,  Associate Professor in the Practice of Spirituality and Ministry,  Drew University;  and  International Director, Communities of Shalom, The United Methodist Church Introduction “There is a little man in Peru, a man without any power, who lives in a barrio with poor people and who wrote a book.   In this book he simply reclaimed the basic Christian truth that God became human to bring good news to the poor, new light to the blind, and liberty to the captives.   Then years later this book and movement it started is considered a danger by [the USA, or Rome], the greatest power on earth.   When I look at this little man, Gustavo, and think about [the President of the US, or the Pope], I see David standing before Goliath, again with no more weapon than a little stone, a stone called A The...
Read more

First Generation Lambs Club Reunion

Fifteen of us gathered Saturday night at the Lambs Club for a 35 th year reunion of those who helped start the Lamb’s Church in Times Square in the mid to late 1970’s, including: Rev. Paul S. Moore , Founder of the Lamb’s Church of the Nazarene, and his wife, Tamara Dr. Michael J. Christensen , charter member and former associate pastor, and his wife Dr. Rebecca Laird Fr. William (BJ) Webe r, former Associate Pastor and Director of the Lamb’s Residency, and his wife Sheila who lived at the Lamb’s Jim and Dustee Hullinger, who were on staff together and made the Lamb’s their home for over 25 years Effie Canepa , who was the church pianist under 3 pastors, and her husband Peter Shirley Close, who attended the Lamb’s in the late 1970’s while studying, performing  and teaching music and voice Carl "Chappy" Valente , former associate pastor Rev. Bob DiQuatto , lead singer of the Church’s “Manhattan Project” and staff member of the Lamb’s, and his son Jason Rev. Gab...
Read more

Not Afraid of Death by Julia Esquivel

In reading your blog, Michael, I immediately think of these two poems is poem by Julia Esquivel, from Guatemala, whom I had the pleasure of meeting years ago.  Un abrazo, Ada Maria I AM NOT AFRAID OF DEATH I am no longer afraid of death I know well Its dark and cold corridors Leading to life. I am afraid rather of that life Which does not come out of death, Which cramps our hands And slows our march. I am afraid of my fear And even more of the fear of others, Who do not know where they are going, Who continue clinging To what they think is life Which we know to be death! I live each day to kill death; I die each day to give birth to life, And in this death of death, I die a thousand times And am reborn another thousand Through that love From my People Which nourishes hope! THREATEN WITH RESURRECTION They have threatened us with Resurrection There is something here within us which doesn’t let us sleep, which doesn’t let us rest, which doesn’t stop the pounding deep inside. It is t...
Read more