Recently we had the death by suicide of a popular politician, sympathetic to the struggling ones in society and showed this in his words and actions. He was lamented by many, those who agreed and disagreed with him. A university professor in a Catholic Peace Weekly column visits the issue and uses the occasion to reflect on suicide.
How difficult must it have been in his own mind to deal with the thoughts which came? He was a good man. His fault was not to report a gift of money which he acknowledged as stupidity. He was not asked or did he do anything because of the donation. The professor uses the words of the French sociologist Emile Durkheim to describe reasons for suicide.
First is the selfish suicide. It happens when you feel alienation because you cannot compromise or adapt to reality; it often happens in a society where the tendency towards individualism is strong.
Second is the altruistic suicide where a person is overly attached to the society or group to which he belongs. This is a society with a strong collective tendency.
Anomic suicide (socially alienated) a lack of connection with society—weak social cohesion. When we have extreme changes in society and a person feels confused and disconnected suicide is possible.
Catholic faith teaches that life is given. God created man from the dust and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being (Gen.2:7). My life is not my own. I was not born because I wanted to be born. God created man in His holy image. In the end, it was God's will that we were born on this earth. Therefore, a man should not cut off his precious life which God has given. This is a betrayal of God's love.
Saint Mother Teresa on a visit to the United States after giving a lecture was accosted by a woman who told her: "I have decided to end my life. I no longer have the strength nor the desire to go on."
Sister Teresa responded: "I have something to ask you before you kill yourself, come with me to Calcutta and work for a month."
The woman accepted the invitation and worked for those dying from hunger and disease along with Teresa. She realized how happy she should have been and reconsidered her thoughts on death. The darkness of her future turned into a bright light. She decided to live a new life caring for the precious life that God had given her.
In Korean, if the word for suicide is read backwards we have 'let's live'. If one has the courage to commit suicide one also has the courage to live. One of the well known and beloved Korean poets is Ku Sang whose poem: "The Place of the Flower" comes to mind as he concludes the article. "Life at times looks like a thorn bush but it's really a flower."
On the opinion page of the Catholic Times, a one time newspaper editor, reminds us how to discern fake news from the real thing. Among poor articles and fake news you have sentences with the passive ending: has been known, has been communicated and the like. Why is this so?
In press coverage, it is of high priority, in press ethics, to disclose the sources. In Korean, in the passive tense, the subject of the action is not known. The reporter did not make an accurate account of what transpired. This can happen when the reporter uses conjecture or prejudice or words like it is said that.... We have a lack of accuracy, objectivity, and fairness in journalism.
There are also other methods that do not use the passive voice to hide the subject of an action: criticized, evaluated, pointed out, all these expressions can hide the source.
▲The evaluation of the company showed various favorable positions.
▲ It is pointed out that it is against the law to raise that kind of money during the election year.
▲ Criticism was made that it was somewhat behind the times.
In the above sentences, there is no indication of who has evaluated, pointed out or criticized. In other words, an unidentified third person seems to be the subject of the action, and one can easily have doubts about the objectivity of the report.
At first glance, it seems to represent public opinion. In fact, the journalist's own evaluation, knowledge, and criticism are often irresponsibly transferred to an unidentified third party.
If you want to correct this sentence to conform to the press ethics principles, you should put a source for information.
▲ The evaluation of the company which has various achievements is in a favorable position according to Mr. So and So etc. and similarly with the other statements.
"It is known" is not the way reports should be made but nonetheless, not only general reporters but also famous anchor journalists and newspaper columnists use it without hesitation. One has little difficulty in understanding how this is part of the internet news world in which we live.
In cyberspace, many individuals using SNS have little knowledge on how to cover news stories and write sentences tailored to press ethics. There are many cases in which the text of a large medium is modified with violation of serious ethics—plagiarism.
A few years ago, the slang for reporter, used sarcastically, was the word (ki-re-gi) made up from garbage and reporter. Some reporters were reporting the news in an unethical way instead of accurately, objectively and fairly as the writer mentioned in the above article.
"You Commie..." These words were addressed to a religious sister on her way to the convent after her work for the day was over. She writes about her experience and the thoughts that came to her in an article for the Kyeongyang magazine.
She wasn't able to make out the words at first; probably from his timidity in putting a knife in her back but quickly noticing that she wasn't responding the words were repeated. She gave no notice to the man, most likely he saw the yellow ribbon (a symbol remembering the victims and families of the Sewol ferry disaster in which 304 died) on her handbag, with which there is much prejudice and violence associated.
She blames the prejudiced mass media for attacking those who side with the weak of society with their "false news" inciting violence. Anti-communistic ideology and the belittling of women is a form of brain washing that continues to develop and get stronger.
She was overcome with anger loathing and contempt but also sorrow for the man. She wondered what would have happened if this encounter was at night, she was afraid to give it much thought. We all have different ways of dealing with the weak of society but she reminds us that it's an indication of the kind of person we are.
Each Sunday in a certain area of Seoul we have the feminists meeting and shouting: "We will rid ourselves of our corsets." Corsets signifying the feminine beauty demanded by society. Women are tired of the modern corsets that society demands from women. Women go makeup free, wear glasses and cut their hair short.
Sister is not concerned with what is happening for it is the response to the pent up feeling of many women. Time and communicating is necessary. Men and women are not on the earth to loathe each other.
We don't know where the 'Me Too' movement is going. The dignity of humans and gender equality is what sister is waiting to see develop. Violence is not only seen between men and women but in out ordinary lives, where we only tolerate, easily oppress and exclude.
The church needs to get rid of the pyrimid structure that still exists. The clergy have to change the way they use their authority. Need for transparency, listening and including all in the decision making for the community. Leaders are needed who are able to work together with the individual gifts of the members and the mission of the community as a whole.
We need a new understanding of the meaning of masculinity and femininity. She wants to go back to the beginning in the way God created us, to heal the breach. This is the way we can help to heal the darkness and violence we find in society with the salt and light of the mission we have received.
We all get old and the books on how to do this gracefully are many. In the Catholic Peace Weekly a review of a book written by a Seoul Diocesan priest on this issue has gone into a second printing within a month of publication.
Aging is part of life. When we reach middle age, wrinkles occur, energy diminishes, thoughts and attitudes become hardened. When young, we had the strength to listen to others, but with age, even this gets harder. Growing old gracefully is easy to talk about but not so easy in the doing.
Growing Old Gracefully is a guide to lead adults to communicate with 'dignified authority'. Since we are going to age it's best to do it with grace.
One of the traits of the elderly is to spend a great deal of time in the past and little time in the present and future. This mentality will obviously keep the young away and bring loneliness to the elderly. The older we get the more we fear change, but if we remain the same we will regress.
The writer gives us the word Olympics to help remember his 8 recipes for aging with grace. Openness, Listening, Yielding, Modesty (humility), Possessions, Interest, Clean and bright, (Smile, Spirit and Soul).
We need to be open and listen to the stories around us. Opening ourselves is sometimes accompanied by pain but without the pain, we fail to grow inwardly, personally and spiritually. Listening to those around us; stepping back and yielding to others; modesty and humility; not grasping our possessions but emptying ourselves; interest in life; clean and cheerful and finishing with the last chapter on Smiling, Spirit, and Soul.
One strong message of the book is the age question in Korea. How old are you? Unlike the West, Korea is a society with strong formal authority. The senior/junior relationship is very strong and makes for a great deal of formality, lack of spontaneity and naturalness.
We are obsessed with what we possess and often make much of the cultural bias of the young and forget the bias of the elderly. Real authority is not only based on age and position but comes from genuinely dignified and respectful behavior. Adults should not stick only to their own values and worldviews but have an open mind and listen to the opinions of others.
The writer emphasized the importance of the 'inner journey'. When focused on the 'external journey', we're overcome with youthful vigor, external appearance and desire to know the world; he recommends we begin learning to become a 'mature old person' through reading, retreats, prayer, and meditation. "Let's be like the sun during the twilight, passionately painting the the world beautifully."
"I'm sorry I was born. I'm sorry I'm alive." One of the students who suffered from sexual violence posted these words on SNS. A professor in the humanities department of a Catholic University writes about her embarrassment and sadness on reading these words. She expresses her thoughts on the opinion page of the Catholic Peace Weekly.
Sexual violence refers to sexual harassment and sexual assault. It is a combination of physical, psychological, and legal violence that inflicts harm to others in sexual matters against their will.
In the early 1990s, violent incidents such as sexual torture, sexual violence and murder became well known in Korea, raising social interest in sexual violence. As a result, social awareness has gradually changed, but misconceptions are still widespread. Today often we blame the victim for one reason or another and the victim is burdened with guilt.
Often, when a sexual assault occurs, the victim's clothing, drinking, the late hour and behavior are all listed as problems. "If I didn't do what I did at that time it wouldn't have happened." "Why did I act in that way?" In cases of sexual violence, often the victims end up blaming themselves.
Victims suffering sexual assault are required to go to the hospital, receive emergency medical treatment, collect evidence but care for the victim should be first. In addition to victims' own efforts, family, friends, colleagues, and agency personnel should help the victim overcome their physical and psychological difficulties and to live their lives comfortably. If necessary, appropriate intervention and counseling by professionals should also be carried out. It is necessary to give courage and strength to victims so that they can overcome their fear, hurt and pain, listening and sympathizing with the story of the victim without reprimanding or sympathizing with pity.
It is not appropriate to force the perpetrator to understand or ask for forgiveness. The perpetrator must also take full responsibility for his or her wrongdoing before blaming his mistake on others, the social culture, or the victim.
Sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence and all other violent incidents are caused by the power relationship between the strong and the weak. It occurs in the relationship between men and women, adults and children, teachers and disciples, bosses and subordinates, depending on age and gender. It is not easy for the victim in the position of the weak to appropriately deal with the perpetrator in the position of the strong. Sexual violence prevention and related measures should be approached as a problem of society as a whole
First, education in sexuality should be carried out step by step from the time of childhood to cultivate a correct sexual consciousness. In addition, it is necessary to build a practical and integrated victim support system and correction system for the perpetrator. We must build a society that respects and protects human equality and dignity.
Recently one of the members of the Korean National Assembly took his own life, a politician considered by many as a person of integrity and honesty. A lawyer in the The Catholic Times' open forum, writes about his death.
He considered those opposed to his position like mosquitoes and what was needed when they gathered to demonstrate their oposition was a can of mosquito spray. As a leader of one of the progressive parties his efforts to get rid of long standing evils was not accepted by many. In a joking way he considered those who were against reform a swarm of mosquitoes.
Roh Hoe-chan, a generous and humorous lawmaker, committed suicide on July 23rd. In his suicide note he admitted that he received two political donations totalling 35 thousand dollars.He was not asked for any favors and neither did he do anything in return but the law requires that a political donation be reported which he did not do; his guilty conscience was too much to carry. He considered the failure to report, stupidity on his part.
The cleaning ladies of the National Assembly lined up and cried. The opposition members who were against reform also had great sorrow on hearing of his death. Since he used humor and did not call call them the 'force of deep rooted evil', the opposition was not turned completely against him.
What would it be like if Mr Roh had not chosen to take his own life? He would be called to a special investigation every day. Why didn't you report the money? What did you do in return for the money? He would have gone throught a tortuous period. The mass media daily would criticize and condemn him. "You pretended to be an apostle of justice and clean but were taking bribes. You were a hypocrite." He would have been able to paper his room with the hate filled comments that would have come his way. Eventually, he would have made the same choice after all the humiliation. He forsaw the future and took his life.
The situation in society is of concern: we are made captive by a great deal of blind hate.Those taken in for questioning by the police continually large numbers take their own lives. It's not the torture and abuse during the course of the investigation which they can accept but the murderous criticism of the press and public opinion are too much for many.
It is clear that the 'Me Too' movement, which has changed the male-centered thinking and system that has been going on for a long time, does not mean to create a women-centered society by using men as the enemy. However, some women insult patriot Ahn Jung-geun because he was male, pickets asking the president to commit suicide, criticizing the church's anti-abortion campaign for violating the women's right to self-determination and even the desecration of the Eucharist to try to make a point.
Furthermore, some people who are pointed out as perpetrators blame themselves for being for a second time on the offensive when they ask for the truth through a public trial. It is not perfect, but the trial is the last step guaranteed by the Constitution, in seeking the truth.
There is no fault in this world that is so heavy that the person's existence needs to be denied. The Pope recently made this a teaching of the church which for many is a stumbling block. Life is sacred, the death of another is no longer necessary to maintain law and order. The cheapening of life is seen when we can condemn and criticize others enough to lead to suicide. Not to hate and correcting mistakes is very difficult, but it is the way to go.
Have we entered the times where we begin drawing up filial piety contracts between a mother and her child? So begins an article in the Peace Column of the Catholic Peace Weekly by a welfare commentator.
Problems of the elderly are not recent arrivals but the words 'filial contracts' in society gives us a look at a cross-section of society which was not present in the past. The writer works in the social welfare field and hearing such a legalistic expression aroused her curiosity.
Contents of the contracts in which parents ask for money for their years of care from their children is a new reality. Things are beginning to change but parents would often give all of their savings and real estate holdings to the children or buy their houses and sacrifice all for the children and in their old age be left to fend for themselves.
Filial contracts are legal documents that make it mandatory for all grown children to financially and emotionally care for their aged parents if they have benefited from the parent's gifts. This is strange; sadly deemed necessary because of the situation in society. The meaning of family takes a blow with the implementation of these contracts. The actual numbers are increasing.
The aging of the population is a global trend. The high percentage of the elderly population is not a big concern but Korea only took 27 years to become an elderly society compared to Europe which often took more than a 100 years. The side effects in Korea were many.
In Korea, the poverty of the elderly is high compared to other countries, and there is a sudden increase in the number of people dying alone and neglected. Since 2009 the suicide rate of the elderly occupies first place among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries.
Japan quickly recognized the problems of the elderly and supports them so as not to be alienated from society. Nursing care insurance for people who can not maintain their daily lives relieves the burden on the family and provides convenient facilities with care for the elderly in various places. It's a policy of the Japanese government to guarantee a happy old age, and remarkably maintaining human dignity and promoting family life.
Since 2008, Korea has been building a legal and institutional framework to become a welfare state, starting with long-term care insurance and linking care services with the local community. However, when problems arise they work to fix them but leaving many blind spots in the process.
How has the care and preparation for the elderly progressed? We should think about whether the dignity and ethical living of the elderly is fostered, not just pledges to seek the good of the elderly during the election period.
The Vatican has recognized the inequalities of elderly people, which are easily exposed in society, and called for special attention to ensure the dignity of the elderly. Pope Francis also emphasized there is no future for anyone who does not care for grandparents.
In the Christian life, "what good do I have to do in order to have eternal life?" Jesus said "Take care of your parents." Parents are signs of God's parenthood and motherhood, allowing us to enter society.
It is time to urgently improve the government's care service system in accordance with the reality along with the care culture for the elderly. We need to think as human beings before using the absurd and unfamiliar words of "a contract of filial piety" between parents and a child.
