From: phantom@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (James Choi)
Subject: Re: Dual citizenship.
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois.
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1992 17:03:49 GMT

I see that many people are up in arms because of the statement I made on
going to a war on the U.S. side even if the enemy is Korea.

Instead of throwing stone at the one who expressed his idea, why don't you
people express yours?  Are you people U.S. citizens under the condition that
U.S. remains in friendly terms with Korea?  Are you people going to do
whatever you can to help Korea once the U.S. goes to war against Korea?  If
so, the Japanese internment should be repeated.  Human right is one issue,
having spies and snipers on one's backyard is another.

So, Mr. Byungseon Kim and others who were shocked at my idea, please post
your opinion on what naturalized Korean-born U.S. citizens are to do in
times of conflict.  All this criticism is fine and valid.  But say what you
think also.


In article <26SEP199209172538@zeus.tamu.edu> b0k2481@zeus.tamu.edu (KIM, BYUNGSEON) writes:
>     Aha!  Now, you are changing.  You want to participate selectively
>     like Clinton.  Will you name the wars or invasions you would have
>     participated?  -- Mexico, WWI, WWII, Korean, Vietnam, Honduras, 
>     Panama, Gulf,........ you name them.
>     I don't like Republicans, but I don't like Clinton either.

So, what is your point?  What do you think I should do?  Tell me YOUR
opinion.

>     What do you know about Kwangju?  Who said people in Kwangju tried
>     kill?  This is irrelevant here.  If you don't know well, stay away
>     from it.  The judgment day is to come yet.

At the time, I was in Brazil.  I heard of the event in more detail than
any citizen in Korea, complete with vivid pictures.  I might say that if
you do not know me well,  you know what to do according to your stated
opinion obove.

>     Come on, Mr. Choi.  Again, we are talking about internation matters,
>     not quarrels between brothers, not the Unions and the Confederates.

You are shocked and I am a monster just because I am your "brother".  We
ARE talking about the extent of the brotherhood.  Don't change the subject
yourself.

>     You are right.  I didn't have to say this. 
>     BTW, why do you call Korean-Americans "Koreans in the U.S."? 
>     It is not supposed to be your attitude, isn't it?
>     Do you call black-Americans Africans?  Stick to your philosophy.  
>     They are all naturalized Americans like Washington and Kennedy.

Koreans in the U.S. suffered from the L.A. riot.  I have no idea how many
of them were naturalized citizens.  I get the feeling most of them were
recent immigrants.  These people have Korean passport.  Thus, Koreans in
America.  They just abandoned (perhaps temporarily) their mother land for
better OPPORTUNITY in the U.S.  Once they make enough money, they may go
back to Korea, as many have alreay.  They are just taking advantage of this
OPPORTUNITY.  That's why this land is officially known as "THE LAND OF
OPPORTUNITY."  Extending that further, ALL foreign students came to the
U.S. for better OPPORTUNITY to study new things that they did not have as
much OPPORTUNITY in their homeland.  That's why they leave their motherland
behind for BETTER OPPORTUNITY.  But once they learn enough, usually at the
U.S.'s expense, go back to their homeland.  They took full advantage of
this OPPORTUNITY.  Welcome to the land of OPPORTUNITY, landies and
gentlemen.

>     As I said, I do not blame you for your philosophy.

May I ask what you are blaming me for?  What is all this criticism based
on?  You meant to say it is all personal?  Please clarify.  Thank you.

>  I meant you 
>     have no right to accuse  Mr. Salas as liar or opportunist in any
>     circumstances.

In case you did not notice, I appologized to Mr. Sala in public and in
private.  After hearing his circumstances (via e-mail), I realized I would
have done the same thing.  So, you are right about your statement above.
It was my fault.

>  To me, Mr. Salas was a lot more natural and humane.

Should a born-again Christian be friendly and social to his old drinking
buddies, and go out occasionally with them, just for the sake of
naturalness and humaneness?

Should a married man be affectionate to his ex's?  So that he remain more
natural and humane?

>     And you seems to me more opportunistic (I don't say it's bad) by
>     changing your idea completely.

When did I change my idea completely?

>  I believe there are a lot of
>     Korean-Americans like him.  If, I mean if, both of you were to be
>     Korean citizen again, he wouldn't have to change his mind completely
>     again.

Indeed.  That's why I will not become a Korean citizen again.  And my
ideology from my childhood was more in tune with western one, as I found
out only after I left Korea.  Maybe that's why I did not have any culture
shock living in three countries in the West and had a heck of problems when
I visited Korea again.

Among two theives on the cross by Jesus, who would you rather befriend?
One that changed his mind at the last minute?  Or the one that refused to
change?  I choose the one that did not follow Jesus.

>     I don't think we need to talk this issue any more.  It really hurts
>     some people emotionally.

Why did you start it in the first place?  It really hurts me that you never
stated any opinion of yours.  All you told me was I was wrong, shocking,
and a monster.  Please state clearly what a naturalized Korean-born
American citizen is supposed to do in case of the war against Korea.  From
the way you put it, the only solution seems to be the internment.  A well
deserving one at that.

If you do not have any better idea, indeed, be quiet.

>B. Sean Kim............................

James Choi

Newsgroups: soc.culture.korean