My view on the murder
Wednesday, 25. April 2007, 09:18:17
I heard the recent murders happened on Virginia Tech campus, worst in history.
I feel sorry for those who lost their loved ones.
But I'd like to focus on the reactions rather than the action itself.
After the disaster, the whole Asian society felt uneasy, they feared that the public would hold opinions against them--some began analysing their "faults" immediately. When it sounded like a Chinese did that, they feel ashamed, for what other people of their race did.
When it turned out to be a Korean student, the Chinese society relaxed, and the Koreans got nervous--the Korean government made apologies officially saying they are sorry, the sister of the murderer made apologies on behalf of their family too.
Why do a whole race have to feel sorry, even shame, for just one person's crime?
First, the Asians feel lack of confidence in the international community, even one of a million of their kind did bad things, they jump out to express sorrows immediately.
Second, it was the cultural difference between east and west. The easterners tend to form their lives as a group--one member of the family made mistakes, the head of the family (normally the "father") have to toe the scratch for his actions. So the whole group feels guilty for just one.
As for me, there is no way I am feeling shamed for that guy's action. I am sorry for those brillant students who were just about to enter their refulgent life stage suddently lost their lives. Also it makes me feel how important American life is: 32 died, with the whole Koreans apologizing, and the whole world shocked, compared to thousands died in Iraq, not so many care about.
I feel sorry for those who lost their loved ones.
But I'd like to focus on the reactions rather than the action itself.
After the disaster, the whole Asian society felt uneasy, they feared that the public would hold opinions against them--some began analysing their "faults" immediately. When it sounded like a Chinese did that, they feel ashamed, for what other people of their race did.
When it turned out to be a Korean student, the Chinese society relaxed, and the Koreans got nervous--the Korean government made apologies officially saying they are sorry, the sister of the murderer made apologies on behalf of their family too.
Why do a whole race have to feel sorry, even shame, for just one person's crime?
First, the Asians feel lack of confidence in the international community, even one of a million of their kind did bad things, they jump out to express sorrows immediately.
Second, it was the cultural difference between east and west. The easterners tend to form their lives as a group--one member of the family made mistakes, the head of the family (normally the "father") have to toe the scratch for his actions. So the whole group feels guilty for just one.
As for me, there is no way I am feeling shamed for that guy's action. I am sorry for those brillant students who were just about to enter their refulgent life stage suddently lost their lives. Also it makes me feel how important American life is: 32 died, with the whole Koreans apologizing, and the whole world shocked, compared to thousands died in Iraq, not so many care about.
WIDGETIZE
Tongkeng KHOR # 27. April 2007, 15:07
First, thank you for adding me as your friend on Opera blogs.
The incident in Virginia and the responses from the Korean government and the people of Korea do seem way beyond reason.
But, we must conside that Koreans both in Korea and in US are in a very sensitive position with regards to American public opinion.
The Koreans who had emigrated to the US have had to struggle very, very hard almost without ceasing so that their families could have a promising future in the US. They had for example to eke out a living opening grocery stores in tough ghettoes, doing business with poverty-stricken Americans in very dangerous neighbourhoods.
The reactions from Americans to the campus killings usually pinned the blame on the unfortunate young man's family for not putting him in some long-term psychiatric insititution. This reaction showed how little Americans appreciated the tough lives that Korean families were leading.
The young man's parents for example struggled all through their time in the US to support themselves and their children and see them through schooling and university. Both parents hardly had time for their 2 children.
Yes, they had made it their choice to emigrate to the US. But, when once they found themselves in the States, they faced a harsh and hard environemnt that gave them very little time to bring up their children.
Most Americans do not know this.
All they know is that Koreans and Chinese and Vietnamese young people study very hard and make good grades so that they can gain admission to the Ivy League universities and colleges. They get jealous and upset about this and press their universities to impose quotas on Asians being admitted to these universities and colleges.
They miss the point that, for an Asian, without a university degree and more importantly, without a degree from a prestigious college or university means that that Asian young person will face a bleak future with no saving means for him or her to even survive in America.
It is therefore important to the Koreans that they respond quickly to the news that the shooter was a Korean. If not, Koreans would be barred from having an equal chance of advancing themselves in the American society. Also, Koreans will be targets of hatred and suspicions (both by the white populace as well as the police).
The incident at the Virginia Tech campus was therefore an eye-opener for Asians concerning America today. It is not the same place anymore. Hatred comes more easily than before, and Americans turn xenophobic much faster now.
The recent war venture embarked by America against the Arabs has proven to be the turning point for American psyche, from moving outwards to the peoples of the rest of the world to rapid withdrawal into their own selfish interests. In that frame of mind, Americans are not in the least hesitant to declare "war" against any country that America deems as hurting American interests, be they the destruction of American buildings or American business interests in so-called intellectual property rights.
Holychaser # 27. April 2007, 15:23
I will post more on culture difference between east and west, I feel that if we have more chances to exchange the opinions, there may not be so many misunderstanding and conflicts.
Tongkeng KHOR # 27. April 2007, 15:44
I am happy to know you by your blogs. Yes, we certainly do benefit much from having such exchanges of views and opinions rather than an exchange of bullets.
Deke # 11. June 2007, 23:04
If apologising can avoid any more bloodshed I guess it's worthwile trying.