To self-labeled ‘patriotic person’

Thank you for your “sincere letter” in response to my submission “Unseasonable diplomacy,” which appeared in the Sept. 2 issue of The Korea Times, concerning various issues, mainly diplomatic, between Korea and Japan.

You left neither a name nor address so I can only respond to your anonymous reply in this column. You claim that I am very far from understanding the “knack” of diplomacy. I agree. My career has been confined to teaching English and I am a stranger to the complexities of international relations.

Thus far, I apologize to you and to any others provoked by adverse sentiments to my “ignorant” opinions. My opinions must seem naive and superficial compared to those of someone like you with the mature knowledge gained in a professional career.

Your alias, “a patriotic man and a descendent of Choi Chi-won (a distinguished Silla scholar), demonstrates your patriotism to me. From your standpoint my article deserves censure, and even your disparaging remark that I should stick to teaching English and not hanker to undertake any other commitments could make sense.

However, I cannot help asking myself if my opinion is really so offensive as to incite your anger. If you think my snobbish opinions ignore important matters by beating around the bush, please give me the detailed explanations to support your opinion.

I am sure you can because you know the topic inside out. Actually my purpose in writing the article, “Unseasonable diplomacy” was to reveal and underline the impact of the antagonistic international mood on the current economic situation. Everyone has a reason and a right to their own say.

These days, sadly, many teenagers commit suicide because they are unable to overcome and endure bullying or indiscriminate verbal attacks perpetrated through smartphones or social networking services. The reason they are bullied seems to be crystal clear: It is because they seem awkward in voice and manner and their words and behaviour are not consistent with so-called norms.

The aggressors may feel enlivened in attacking the victims with horrendous swear words, indifferent to the misery of those they attack and bully. Though you didn’t afflict me with such grave verbal abuse ― because you are the descendant of a great scholar ― I still can’t help being reminded of witch hunts.

Korea is a country where freedom of speech is guaranteed as long as it does not run counter to the spirit of our Constitution. As societies become increasingly diversified, more and more people of different color and background come out and add to the wave of innovation. In this context, I think that diversity is no less important than unity. Otherwise, we may become trapped by the tyranny of the majority.

A real democratic society is realized when individuality is as respected as consensus. If an individual is pelted with stones just for harboring unique and different opinions, who will dare speak out?

Given this, I defy your insistent suggestion that I must only teach English and do nothing else. I will express my opinion even if it is inconsistent with the majority. I remember the saying that innovation comes not from the satisfied but from the unsatisfied who delve into the other side of truth to find a better life.

You are of course welcome to criticize any opinion of mine with which you disagree but please, not with offensive words but with reasoned arguments which support your point of view. Once again let me say that I appreciate your sincere response but I must apologise for not following your advice.

The writer is an English teacher at Gimhae Girls’ High School in South Gyeongsang Province. His email address is eungtae@gmail.com. <The Korea Times/Lee Eung-tae>

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