'Good Power' And Common Good

Today, politics are often as muddy as the Korean fine dust problem. Confucius said that politics is doing what is right. Let's think about the true nature of politics and the way God would see it. A priest sociology professor begins his article in Eyes of the Believer in the Catholic Weekly with the above words.

Politics refers to the way in which power and control are used by humans. However, 'power' is not only a matter for the National Assembly and the 'Labor Struggle' but also in conflicts between the married, dialogue with children, in churches and communities.

The concept of power that modern social science discusses can be broadly divided into three categories. Max Weber's point of view: "the power to carry out one's will despite the opposition of others." This perspective, which focuses on 'powerful individuals and groups,' is a good analysis of real politics, but there is also a danger of justifying every kind of dominance, dictatorship, and corrupt hierarchical system.

Secondly, it refers to the power realized in a collective network, a view widely shared in the modern network era. This strengthens the capacity of collective intelligence to freely communicate and empathize within each other's interconnected networks. These networks are being actively developed in joint projects between companies. The network of open communication does not work in bureaucratic or closed hierarchical organizations, and there is a risk of pursuing only the interests of the group.

Third, from the perspective of Jesus in the Bible, the source of power is God, where power is not meant to rule but to serve. 'Good power' guards against the power of the Herods of the world and promotes relationships that enable the 'poor and powerless' to regain the dignity God gave them.
 
However, power is not only connected with election and votes but is revealed in everyday decision-making processes. In the process of deciding something in the community, home, workplace, church, etc., you know by reading the tone of voice, expressions, the drift of the conversation and silences where the discussion is going and who is in charge.
 
On your child's birthday you decide on what you are going to eat by listening to what the child wants, is it not? The father doesn't take the child to his favorite 'beef intestine' meal for the child's birthday. It's easy to see what is meant my good power. When a child goes to college, why does the desire of the parents take preference over what the child wants? When one thinks himself always right, just and pushes, without reflection, the temptation to dominate grows like a wild mushroom.
 
Surrender, is an important step in the spiritual life, not just flowery language,  abstractly explaining the place of God. One tries to recognize in our present situation the way the Holy Spirit is at work within our consciousness—who am I, my ambition, desires, and direction of life have to be identified. Also, as long as it relates to power and decision, what is to be done is always a very practical and political decision needing discernment.
 
Persons who have authority over others, need to have concern for the poor and weak, listen to their needs and work to realize them. When not sensitive to the movements of the Holy Spirit and one does not walk in the path of Christ with the cross, even if one goes to higher positions you are caught in a "trap of power," and in God's eyes are at the bottom.

In Lent, the leaders of the church, in particular, must seek the grace of conversion and understand the role of service and not of reigning. Politicians in addition not to forget their role as civil servants in a democratic society. If you are tied only to the tactics and interests of the party, corruption will follow. Lies, factions, division, and deception of the people will follow you into history. Politicians and government officials need to fear history and God among his people and seek 'good power' based on the common good.

Plastics and Us

Through the stone, bronze and iron age we have arrived at the plastic era. Percy Marks (1891-1956) an English professor at Brown University had published the novel: The Plastic Age in 1924, the second best-selling book of the time. In 1967 the film The Graduate in conversation with the main character we hear: "There is a great future in plastics." So begins the column in the Peace Weekly on Plastics.
 
At first, plastics were considered a magical gift to mankind. It was used as a major industrial material, able to make just about everything, produced more than steel. Reports of toxic substances in plastics, marine dumping, and decayed trash prompted the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on plastics.
 
Currently, about 700 species of marine life are contaminated with plastic, and 60% of the waste on the coast of Jeju are plastic—fish, and shellfish mistake it for food and it comes back to our tables. Korea is the world's largest consumer of plastic.
 
Consequently, the answer is not to use disposable plastic. If used, a thorough waste management process should be established so that it can be recycled without flowing into the sea.
 
In addition to disposable products and disposable items we commonly use, there are other things to keep in mind. Cigarette butts are a harmful waste, and the harmful components of the cigarettes are contained in the filter. 90% of domestic commercial cigarettes use a plastic filter made of cellulose acetate, discarded they pollute the environment.
 
Cigarette butts are thrown away on the streets, blocking drainpipes and causing microplastics to pollute the oceans. According to data from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, cigarette butts unlawfully thrown on the streets are a very significant amount of trash.

From the viewpoint of 'trash marine management', waste discarded most easily on land and directly connected to the microplastic problem is the cigarette butt. Fine plastic is a threat to our health because it disturbs the marine ecosystem, chemicals leached from cigarette butts are toxic and pollute the ocean and the marine ecosystem.
 
One should never throw a butt on the street. Important will be the role of producers and sellers for recycling purposes. Recently, WHO is recommending the introduction of the Producer Responsibility Recycling System (EPR) to cigarette butts in which producers bear the waste disposal costs and the EU is also pushing for the introduction of ERP legislation.

The government should cooperate with other ministries to establish a safe collection strategy, as well as to create a roadmap for reduction of waste. Above all, it's necessary to promote public awareness and action through education and publicity to properly recognize the problems of cigarette butts and disposable plastics and dispose of them properly. Would not God be happy if the church got involved?

Politicians United for a Better World

The Korean headquarters of the political movement for unity was newly launched, based on the Focolare spirituality that creates a better world through love and unity. A Catholic Peace Weekly editorial and article gives readers hope for a new vision in the political world.

The political campaign for unity began in Italy as a movement to create a happy world for everyone, inspired by Chiara Lubic the founder of the Focolare movement. The  Focolare movement began in 1943 but entered the political sphere in 1996. Currently, about 3,000 politicians from 20 countries: Europe, South America, and Korea are participating. South Korea began preparations in 2004, it's the only member country in Asia.

Politicians who participated in the opening ceremony on March 6th pledged to work with citizens to carry out various activities for reconciliation, peace, and unity. Everyone knows the purpose of politics is to promote the common good of society. This is also the biggest challenge for politicians. Pursuing peace through dialogue, promotion of reconciliation, solidarity and overcoming personal and party tactics is not an easy.
 
Political division, economic inequality, class struggle, and environmental destruction are all present realities—'communication' is the virtue to be given priority by politicians. In particular, politicians working for the common good, need to realize that progress, and development should be understood not only in economic terms but oneness with all the citizens; to make the poor, alienated, and future generations happy.

To this end, the politicians in the Korean movement have focused on 'livelihood legislation' and decided to cooperate more with NGOs. Hold international seminars on international concerns, discuss plans for improving inter-Korean relations, show interest in North Korean refugees, work with international NGOs, and participate in East Asian reconciliation and peace efforts.
 
If there is no hope, politics is dead. The greatest gift of hope is peace. We must remember the realization of a peaceful world is the spirit behind the political movement for unity.  Pope Francis said: "A good politician teaches us to live for the good of God and neighbors."

Even Music Can Be Translated

Reading the signs of the times has been an important part of our lives as Christians, especially after Vatican II. Our whole sacramental system is based on signs and symbols. Creation is a symbol of God's love and Jesus is the personification of that love. Life would be less a mystery if our senses were able to grasp what was present in nature but we need help.
 
A literal understanding of reality leaves much unsaid. Without someone to present, transpose, translate, explain, we are often like a blind person faced with reality.

Much of life pass us by because we don't have the means to understand what we see. Foreign languages are just one example, the world of Mathematics, Science, Music, Art, the Sky, the Earth, spheres of knowledge known and unknown that no one can exhaust in a myriad of lifetimes. Our response is one of humility and openness to the mystery of life. We need teachers to introduce us to the beauty, truth, goodness, and oneness of existence.
 
However, in any translation from one medium to another, we do have lacuna and this is often bluntly expressed: translators are traitors. We can readily see that translating from one language to another much will be lost. We should be thankful for the many teachers that enable us to remove the veil over so much of life. Remembering always that discernment on our part is always required for we have mistakes and deliberate false transmissions.
 
A college professor writes in a diocesan bulletin about his discovery of how persons can translate a written piece of music into symbols that can speak to a blind person. And this for him almost miraculously.
 
Persons who know how to translate ordinary characters into the Braille system, using the tactile sense, open up to the blind the most complicated pieces of music. Notes, scales,  dynamics of the music, can be put on paper so the blind can read it; the special signs of music number over 200 and can be transmitted with just six dots on raised paper.
 
Ten pages of a musical score will take a transmitter two weeks of work; one can imagine the work involved. Completed the proofreader goes to the piano to see if the translation is true to the sheet music. It's a difficult task to give the blind the tools to perform the most difficult music.
 
We also need help to access much of the knowledge that humanity has become familiar with over the centuries. Thankfully, it's possible but would it not be a great gift if those who were transmitting the wisdom of humanity would do it with the same kind of devotion as the those who work in transposing print to braille. Computers can translate as we know but not like a devoted person motivated with skill and love.

Suicide Reporting Concern

It is well known that Korea ranks number one for suicide among the 36 countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Korea has held the top spot since 2003. So begins an article on suicides by a one-time editorial staff member of a daily newspaper.
 
The suicide rate in Korea is 25.8 people per 100,000 population and the average for OECD countries is 11.6 people. 36.8 people die each day from suicide.
 
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of suicide deaths in Korea for the past four years from 2007 to 2011 was 71,196, which is more than the number of soldiers and civilians who died in the Iraqi and the Afghanistan war during the same period. Despite the recent decade of declining figures, it is still number one of the OECD country.

In addition, Korea has the lowest fertility rate among OECD countries. This is the reality the church needs to face since the respect of life is one of our greatest values.
 
Increase of the divorce rate and traffic accident deaths are also at the top of the world rankings, so we can't but look back to what has brought us to this situation. It may be the structural and inevitable consequence of our search for material growth. Now it's time for leisure to reflect on the meaning of life and develop a spirituality. 

In the process, if the government and the people make a concerted effort, the suicide figures can be significantly lowered. Many countries have worked with the government, cooperating with various sectors of society. Finland is one good example.

Finland once had the highest suicide rate. She conducted a national suicide prevention project in the 1980s—a study of all the suicides for one year and with the results made a psychological 'autopsy' and for a  period of 10 years implemented countermeasures, reducing the numbers by more than half.

There was a great deal of media coverage.  They were careful in the way they covered the suicide cases. The media actively participated in the suicide prevention project. Well, known is the fact that the media can incite those with these thoughts to mimic the suicide they read about, a fact that has been confirmed through various surveys. In 2008, when a well-known actress committed suicide, the number of suicides increased by more than 1,000, from the norm and the manner of death increased nearly two-fold. At that time, the media spent a great deal of time reporting on the suicide and her family.

The Korea Journalists Association established a  'Code of Ethics for Suicide Reporting' in 2004 with the Korea Suicide Prevention Association and revised it some years later. Recommendations are based on nine principles: minimizing the reports on suicide, prohibiting the positive report of the suicide, and prohibiting specific descriptions of suicide and methods— there are nine such recommendations. The reporting on suicides needs to be taken seriously.
 
However, media don't always adhere to the standards and codes of ethics. Today, there are numerous kinds of internet media, not only traditional media such as newspapers, broadcasts, movies, etc, so cooperation of media for suicide prevention becomes more important. Many sites where clicks themselves are directly linked to profits,  actively exploit suicide articles. Methods and means are shown in detail through articles, pictures, and videos.

If great change came to the way the media covered the values of life it would be a great gift to society. However, encouraging suicide, and failing to support the value of life will be a disaster, worse than fake news.

Small Happinesses

Happiness is one person's emotion. No one can experience happiness for another, it comes from within the person. We presume another person's happiness by seeing their activities, peacefulness and hearing their words. Each one's happiness is unique to the person. God made all us different and our experience of happiness is different. So begins an article in Bible & Life on happiness by a psychiatrist.
 
The way we define happiness is different depending on the person asked. The writer wants to see it as the moment you want to last a lifetime. We know that this moment will not last but it is our prayer and our desire.
 
In the network of the cells of the brain are many chemical neurotransmitters.They are different from hormones but they are substances in the brain similar to hormones: serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine and influence our emotions and actions. Since the neural network of our brains is influenced by these hormones—the chemical condition of our brains—many materialists and atheists see life from this viewpoint,  the writer does not.
 
All these elements which we can't see are all God's creation. God is not only with us in areas that we can understand, but in those we still have not discovered. At any rate, each neurotransmitter can directly or indirectly influence neurons in a specific portion of the brain, thereby affecting behavior. However, depending on which neurotransmitter is active, it determines which part of our brain is active or sleeping. In the state of happiness, neurotransmitters in the brain will be in balance.
 
Serotonin is connected with peace, security. Meditation and prayer are ways to activate this area, when this is not activated harmoniously we have depression. Dopamine is connected with conflict and reward. To receive a feeling of joy or a sense of accomplishment dopamine is necessary, liquor, tobacco, and gambling etc, also bring about the secretions of dopamine and the reason for addiction.

"Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way because it promises life both for the present and for the future" (I Tim. 4:8). What we lack because of the chemistry of the brain God can work in his own way. If we were always happy we would never understand what happiness meant. "When times are prosperous, enjoy your happiness; when times are bad, consider this: the one is God's doing as is the other..."  (Qoh. 7"14). Happiness is fleeting, we remember those moments of happiness in life and pray.
 
A mistake we often make in the community is to think that what I need is what other's need. With this self-righteousness, we often inflict pain on others.  God's grace is different for each. God and I both know whether my mental condition is one of peace or not. He concludes the article  with a quote: "Do not neglect the spiritual gift that  is in you..." (I Tim. 4:14). In this realm we are easily deceived. We need to find joy in God and find many small happinesses in our journey of life. 

Problems With The Loner Society

In the Catholic Peace Weekly a publishing critic writes in Diagnosis of Current Affairs column about the bright and dark sides of the 'Myself-Generation'. He begins with the short story: One-Person Dining Table. The main character registers in a school that teaches how to prepare meals eating alone. 

He found it difficult eating with his colleagues at lunchtime and the bitter memories moved him to start eating alone. The institute taught him the 5 steps necessary from the coffee shop and instant restaurants to eating at a sushi bar.

One day he sees  a fellow classmate eating alone in a restaurant. He went alone to the movies, amusement parks, walked alone, shopped alone he was an expert in living alone.

A few years ago a survey was  conducted of 1,884 adult males and females. About 20% of the respondents said that they were members of the alone generation. More than half of the respondents (68.9%) replied,they enjoyed eating alone, drinking and traveling alone. 94.0% of the respondents said they  cooked rice alone.

A college teaching psychiatrist is quoted as saying, persons who are living like loners  are normal people without mental problems. Many of these people use more than 90% of their energy to survive in their working situation. The rest of their private time they try to stay in energy saving mode as much as possible. Organizations demand so much that it dissipates the energy of the individual, consequently they want to limit unnecessary connections outside the organization that consumes their energy. Just living takes all one's energy.

The writer quotes a 'Breakdown Expert' who says the collapse of a culture is the last stage following the financial, commercial,  political and social collapse. At this stage, people are able to live with almost perfect loneliness. In a society full of loners, the connections between others are weak, making it impossible for organizations to have trust.
 
It is not necessarily negative when we have persons who value their freedom and seek to have unnecessary contact with others reduced. However, when this develops to a point where trust in society ceases, this is serious.