Politics destroying our Diplomacy

 

Big and small dramas that occurred during President Yun Seok-yeol's tour of the UK, US, and Canada last month have provoked a political clash between the ruling and opposition parties. The Democratic Party, arguing that the president's tour ended in a diplomatic disaster, passed a proposal to dismiss the Foreign Affairs minister holding him accountable.
 
On the other hand, the ruling camp, including the presidential office, accused the media of damaging the national interest by distorting the president's private remarks, and accused MBC, where the first report was published, of defamation. This seems to be based on the perception that the Democratic Party should not be pushed because the Democratic Party is carrying out a political offensive with the cooperation of the media.
 
There is a saying that 'Politics ends at the water's edge. [Politicians should always present a united front to other countries] In 1947, Arthur Vandenberg, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, emphasized the importance of a bipartisan approach to diplomacy. This means that the political conflict should end at home. A leading Republican politician, he was an isolationist in foreign policy, but actively supported internationalist diplomacy, working closely with the Democrat Truman administration at a time when the United States sought an international role in the post-World War II counter-communist threat. Based on the bipartisan cooperation in Congress, the United States was able to pursue important policies such as the creation of NATO, and furthermore, it was able to establish a liberal international order. 

Of course, as political polarization deepens in the United States, a bipartisan approach to diplomacy is increasingly difficult to find, and blind factionalism in politics continues to intensifying instead. The United States may be able to take comfort in saying that it is not our only problem, but it is hard to forget that we are in a much more difficult environment than the United States in diplomacy.
 
As North Korea seeks to upgrade its nuclear armament, inter-Korean dialogue is completely cut off, and the Korean Peninsula is moving away from the primary interest of the United States due to the Ukraine war. As the US-China competition intensifies, our diplomatic position is narrowing, and even the possibility of a military conflict over the Taiwan Strait is being discussed.
 
In addition, there are economic difficulties such as the super-strengthening of the dollar, called the “king dollar,” increasing inflationary pressure, weakening of the free trade order, and supply chain reorganization. In addition, new agendas following climate change, health and quarantine, and the 4th industrial revolution are expected to influence the future competitiveness of the country, so an urgent diplomatic response is required.
 
Diplomacy that focuses on political relations with major powers, is not enough. Even a small country that is geographically far away from us has rare minerals and resources, and if there is even a small market, we should actively strengthen our relationship. Public diplomacy, science and technology diplomacy not only with the governments of  other countries but also with private companies and organizations are important. All-out diplomacy is necessary in all directions and on all levels, but the politicization of diplomacy only hinders this. Excessive focus on short-term performance and peripheral emotion-provoking issues, while neglecting the essential task of diplomacy.
 
The people's minds are very uncomfortable looking at the recent situation in which a sharp political battle is taking place over the subject of the President's tour diplomacy. The approval rating for President Yoon Seok-yeol, who had shown a slight upward trend, fell back to the 20% level right after the tour. That's not to say the Democrats' approval rating has risen. In the presidential election in March, voters' choices were made based on 'who do you hate less', and our politics has not been able to escape from that trend. Isn't it time to break free from the practice of bringing everything into politics, including diplomacy? The international situation we are currently facing is not one in which Korea has the leisure to ignore.

Recording for the Future

A priest in the eyes of the clergy column of the Catholic Peace Weekly introduces us to an important issue in today's world— Recording.

Records are powerful. There are times when shame comes to him just by looking at the diary he wrote when young. This may be because it confirms his immature, innocent memories. These days, SNS is used to replace a diary, For him, it is like Pandora's box which has been stored in digital format containing the stormy period of his life.

It is not just individuals who know the power of records. Without citing the example of the Presidential Archives, which often suffer attempts to change our memories by twisting yesterday's records because all know the power of records.

In a court of law, the most important factor in determining the substance of a case is visible evidence rather than memory-based testimony. If you know the smartphone password and check what is recorded you know the whereabouts of a person. Otherwise, it is difficult to reach the substantive truth of a crime.

Sometimes, human beings who have endured the storms of history are also a record. The Japanese comfort women survivors are the history books that record the horrors of war. The disappearance of separated families is a record that shows why the two Koreas need to dialogue right now. Those who survived the 1980s in Gwangju are records of democracy.

Records are also letters to the future: history textbook problems and pro-Japanese problems of the past, these records of the past bring despair to some living today and courage to others. Germany still strives to properly document the war crimes committed in World War II.

So, if only it can be undocumented, crime is encouraged. The forefront of undocumented crime these days is the Internet space. They do not reveal themselves as criminals with their names but hide behind false IDs. You can send and receive videos of sexual exploitation just by uploading and downloading without knowing each other.

Conversely, if criminals can manipulate records at will, records can become weapons. Digital sex offenders threaten victims with records. The perpetrator secretly filmed (recorded) the video of sexual intercourse with the victim and threaten the victim to upload (record) the video on the Internet. It is no coincidence that all kinds of insidious crimes, including digital sex crimes, revolve around Telegram, which records are difficult to access.

Moreover, as seen in the village where former President Moon Jae-in's private residence is located, when the writer sees those who record baseless slander and abusive language and claim that this is the truth, he seriously contemplates the harm of what is recorded.

It is said that this is the heyday of single-person media but feels the need for a media that is unwavering, truthful, and faithful is ever more necessary. Because we know the power of what is recorded by the media, the need for reflection and concern in its daily work.

So, let's reflect on the mission of the press, the recorder of history, including the Catholic Peace Broadcasting Company. We should record the lives of the poor and the little ones in the low places, not the glamorous stage of the high places. Records should save people and bring peace to the world. We need to record.

Living A Proper Asian Life Style

Many of our problems come from failure to live a proper life style.

One often runs across the Ku Seun-ja prescription for a healthy life on the internet. However, its reliability as historically accurate in understanding of Asian ethical thinking is open to doubt. The story does show that in  certain segments  of Korean life it did ring true  and traditional  Asian and the Christian West  did see the ethical life in similar ways. For those who read Korean—https://83100052.tistory.com/15708582

The famous doctor was once approached by a man in his 40s with all kinds of complaints. The doctor listened  and said with the medicines we have it will be difficult to cure but if you follow this  prescription you will be on a way to a cure.

The doctor's prescription had 30 items.              

1) No bad thoughts                                                               16) Know how to be fulfilled    

2) Do good things                                                                  17) Diligence and integrity

3)  No Deceit                                                                        18) Always Kind

4) Lead others rightly                                                             19) Save in every way you can

5) Live within your means                                                        20) Moderation

6) No jealously or envy                                                            21) Don't kill any life

7)  No trickery                                                                       22)  No anger

8)  Sincerity in all things                                                          23) No violence

9)  Always do the right thing                                                    24)  No Avarice

10)  Know that life is short                                                       25) Act prudently

11) Live with a clean heart                                                       26) Submit to reason

12)  Beware of selfishness                                                        27) Help the weak lovingly

13) Patience                                                                          28) Know when to withdraw

14) Gentleness                                                                       29)  Maintain tranquility

15) Humility                                                                           30) Keep secrets

Looking at the 30 items there is little that the Christian would have difficulty with except for 'not killing any life'. The virtuous life would be  seen  as similar. The above items  would be the Asian idea of the person living according to reason.

The article concludes with the writer mentioning the passage in the Christian Bible in which St. Paul in his letter to the Galatians mentions the 9 fruits of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Trustfulness, Gentleness and Self-control. However his summary of the situation in the world, he wonders if you would  find any Christian, Catholic or Protestant, in their words or actions who would be bearing  these fruits of the Spirit.

                                                                            

                                                                        

The Place of Women In the Church

What does it mean that we are all one in Christ (Galatians 3:28)?

An article in a Bulletin for Catholic priests, a  religious sister has some strong words to deliver to the clergy whose efforts in the pastoral work of the church she is very familiar. She works in a ministry for Hope and Joy.

 

"In what way did the world look down on women to teach them? How did the patriarchal male Catholic Church structure and culture grow in strength? I often meditate on Genesis. Because I often experience that the answers to the world's problems can be found there."

 

God made Eve for Adam as a 'cooperator suitable for him' (Genesis 2:18). When Adam meets Eve, he marvels and welcomes her, saying: "Bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh" (Genesis 2:23). Man and woman were 'collaborators' and 'one' (one body) to take care of the world newly created. 

 

How did a woman like this fall into the position of being included in man's  property list?  In fact, the idea of Eve made of men's ribs was possible due to a male-centered culture that monopolized intellectual information and activities. It would certainly be different if a woman wrote it.

 

The attitude of 'blaming Eve' without any sense of responsibility or loyalty is the epitome of 'irresponsibility' expressed today by the 'absence of  men in today's abortion situation. Adam, who loved Eve, immediately said that 'the woman you gave me' (Genesis 3:12) seduced him and ate what was given. Adam tried to bring about a dissonance between God and Eve. How ungrateful and cowardly.

 

Adam's attitude of blaming Eve without responsibility or loyalty after the original crime, forgetting that he shouted "bone from my bone" —Is that all? Abraham and Isaac, who loved their beautiful wife, also pushed them out as "sisters" at the moment of crisis and created room for sexual favors to those in power. From the perspective of Eve, Sarah, and Rebekah, how did they look upon the masculinity of  their husbands?

 

In a patriarchal society at that time, living as a 'submissive woman' to a man with physical and economic power, wounds and resentment must have accumulated inside them. It is a relationship that requires healing and reconciliation. Evangelical Relations - In order to heal the world, the characteristic of the early Christian Church was its orientation to an egalitarian society free from status and gender discrimination. This has been a healing value in human history. The hope that the community itself would be filled with joy. In other words, it was the Gospel.

 

The Catholic bishops who came to Korea  were more innovative. Of course, there was a background of the times in which it was difficult to receive priests due to a severe persecution, but what made the Catholic community proud was the fact that it was a church led by 'laity (comrades)' who did not differentiate between men and women. This is undoubtedly a message given by God from the point of view of faith. 

 

One of the reasons for the rapid spread of Christianity in Korea was that it has opened up a world of 'liberation' that transcends identity and gender. In the Middle Ages, it became extremely powerful, and in the Middle Ages, it had a hierarchical structure and was strengthened centered on men, and women as subordinate beings.  The church must first respect and trust women. 

 

We need to recover the lay-centered church community by discovering the unique intellectual values ​​and various gifts of women who are doing all kinds of work within the parishes. The perseverance and femininity to heal the earth revealed in the Virgin Mary and the women who were with her and stayed with Jesus until the end of the Passion. It is because women have an easier time of making loving decisions for life and are able to restore the lay-centered church community. We need to revive the values ​​of women in the church!  Men and women together make up the human race. If we revive femininity, destruction and war will be reduced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abolition of the Death Penalty

The Catholic Times in the recent issue reports on the Bishop's Conference subcommittee on the abolition of the death penalty with the theme of 'the deterrent effect of the criminal policy of the punishment system'.

With the occurrence of heinous crimes in society, voices continue to arise calling for stronger punishment. However, statistics show that a moderate sentence is ineffective in preventing serious crimes; the deterrent effect of the death penalty, the biggest punishment, is also the same, and even if the effect of preventing crime is proven, experts have debated whether the death penalty is justifiable.
 
This seminar was held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the World Day for the Abolition of the Death Penalty. A senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for Criminal and Justice Policy, who gave a presentation, discussed the issue of the deterrence of crimes and the abolition of the death penalty.
 
Researcher Kim explained: "If you look at the trend of major crimes over the past 10 years published by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, both violent crimes and heinous crimes such as homicide, robbery, and rape showed little change." It is said that there was no significant change in violent crimes and the damage that followed.
 
He also made the same statement about the death penalty, the heaviest and most severe punishment. According to the results of a comparative study of changes in the homicide rate in 11 countries that abolished the death penalty in 2018, the homicide rate decreased by an average of 6 over the 10 years since the abolition of the death penalty.
 
He said: "It cannot be interpreted that the abolition of the death penalty has the effect of reducing homicide, but at least the fact that the death penalty does not increase after the abolition of the death penalty is clear, so it can be accepted as evidence that the effect of the death penalty on preventing homicide is difficult to recognize."
 
Furthermore, research has left the question of whether the death penalty is necessary or justifiable even if its effectiveness in preventing crime is proven. "What is clear is that the death penalty is a cruel and unacceptable punishment as part of the normal social system."  He also pointed out that the death penalty in Korean society is contaminated by misjudgments and irreversible sacrifices like the 'Inhyukdang' case.
 
"The essence of the death penalty, which cruelly takes the lives of others, should not be obscured," said a lawyer at the Public Interest and Human Rights Advocacy Center, a group of lawyers for a democratic society who participated in the debate. The death penalty cannot be justified under any circumstances.
 
Bishop Son-tae Kim, in his opening speech before the presentation, emphasized: "It is the state, the government, and the National Assembly that can stop the vicious cycle of repeated violence. If the Republic of Korea becomes a complete abolitionist country by the abolition of the death penalty by our National Assembly, it will play an important role in leading the cessation of executions and the abolition of the death penalty in Asian countries. We hope that we will be reborn as a human rights nation that respects human rights."

Catholic Korea Peace Forum 2022

The Secretary of the National Reconciliation Committee of the Korean Bishops gives us his thoughts on the present situation between the North and South and the hope for the future in the Reconciliation Column of the Catholic Times.

"Now, what about human rights in North Korea?" This is a question posed by an official of the International Commission for Justice and Peace when he visited the US Bishops' Conference on April 27, 2018. He was the one who helped the Catholic Northeast Asia Peace Institute organize an international event, and he seemed to be shocked by the Panmunjom Declaration.
 
At that time, the Korean Peninsula was excited with anticipation of a spring of peace. As far as "that day", I remember that even the conservative media eagerly reported on Chairman Kim Jong-un’s "friendly" image. However, the atmosphere in Washington DC was different. There is a human rights problem in North Korea, and the question was whether the South Korean government could join hands with the North Korean regime like that. Another official of the American Bishops' Conference said with a bitter smile. "How could this happen during Trump’s presidency?"
 
"The Panmunjom Declaration" led to the ‘Singapore Summit’ between the U.S. and North Korea, but the ‘Hanoi No Deal’ once again shattered expectations for a peaceful resolution of the conflict on the Korean Peninsula. As time passed, it became clearer that choosing "peace with North Korea" was by no means an easy task for the US government. To the public, North Korea is demonic, and continuing dialogue with such a regime is a burden on the American political leader. A change in US public opinion is essential for the US government's policy on the Korean Peninsula to change.
 
The US Bishops' Conference actively participated in the international conference of the Catholic Institute for Northeast Asian Peace, which began in 2017. The bishops and scholars of the International Commission for Justice and Peace contemplated the role of the church for peace on the Korean Peninsula and worked together in solidarity. In particular, in December 2018, Archbishop Timothy Brolio, who was then chairman of the International Justice and Peace Committee, made a 'solidarity visit to Korea. After the visit, Archbishop Brolio shared the document titled "The Korean Solidarity Visit and the Request of the Korean Catholic Bishops" in January 2019 and delivered it to the U.S. Department of State. It courageously supported the position of the Catholic Church in Korea, longing for a peaceful resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue in American society, where hard-line theory against North Korea prevails.
 
In October 2022, a special event will be held at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. At the forum jointly hosted by the National Reconciliation Committee of the Bishops of Korea, the International Justice and Peace Committee of the Bishops' Conference of the United States, and the Catholic Institute for Northeast Asia Peace, the churches of both Korea and the United States will re-examine their vocation for peace on the Korean Peninsula. It is hoped that the meeting of bishops, scholars, government officials, and activists will lead to the Church's earnest efforts for the peace of Christ. 

By Whose Sacrifice Do I live?

In the Light  of the World column of the Catholic Times, the priest writer gives us his thoughts on humanity's interaction with all of creation. We are all connected.

Love for life: There is an anecdote about a prickly cactus. Cacti that live in dry deserts contain a lot of water, which makes them good food for herbivores. That's why it is said that the cactus's thorns become a tool of defense. 

It is said that someone put all their devotion and love into raising  a cactus plant  at home.  After a year or so, something amazing happened. The cactus started dropping thorns. Was it because the cactus was moved by the sincerity of the person who raised it? Or was it just  evolution to recognize the danger-free environment and to throw away its thorns on its own? However, there are often similar stories. Are you saying that growing plants requires love and attention in addition to nutrients and water? Have you ever had a pet? The same is true. What about humans, let alone animals? 

Beloved, how sweet and warm are you? We love and encourage each other, so we laugh, we get stronger, and we live with that power, and this is how we live together. But there is something that must be included in that love. It is responsibility and sacrifice. 

We know that Jesus commanded us to take care of our neighbors as ourselves Emphasizes that it is not a vague and superficial sympathy for sacrifice, but a determination to practice goodness and the social virtues, prepared to lose oneself.

 The new relationships of interdependence between individuals and peoples, which are de facto forms of solidarity, have to be transformed into relationships tending towards genuine ethical-social solidarity. This is a moral requirement inherent within all human relationships. Solidarity is seen therefore under two complementary aspects: that of a social principle and that of a moral virtue.

Solidarity must be seen above all in its value as a moral virtue that determines the order of institutions. On the basis of this principle the 'structures of sin' that dominate relationships between individuals and peoples must be overcome. They must be purified and transformed into structures of solidarity through the creation or appropriate modification of laws, market regulations, and juridical systems.( Social Doctrine No. 193).

Even non-believers describe true compassion as "a heart that shares pain with patience and endures it together." We need our healthy consciousness and community atmosphere where that sacrifice and love can be built.

 We must exist for each other There is also something we must remember. That is, we all live on the responsibility and sacrifice of our neighbors and others. Who I am today is thanks to someone's dedication and sacrifice, and the mutual sacrifice that occurs within the family, community, and with people supports me and society. We must extend that perspective to everything from God's creations, from tiny insects to animals and plants and nature. 

 All living things were created by God, there is nothing without value, all exist for each other. A gift to each other, and needs to be  treated with respect. Those hearts that love, respect, and want to be together make our hearts, souls, and communities healthy. 

 "All life depends on other life. We live by the self sacrifice of others. Is there anything I enjoy that is not supported by life of the other?  Whose self sacrifice did you enjoy today?" (from Martin Schleske’s Song of the Spruce)