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Imelda’s shoes: one of great symbols of excess
An alert dictator always keeps one eye on the nearest exit in case, as so often happens with autocrats, a speedy departure suddenly becomes in order. Such a fate befell Philippines strongman Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Imelda, in 1986 after 20 years in which they and their cronies looted…
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Ideological exclusion in Korea
Korea’s recent hosting of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Jeju Island was sadly marred by the government’s decision to quell legitimate debate by barring the entry of four foreign attendees suspected of being opposed to the construction of a controversial naval base at…
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[Indonesia Report] Nine terrorist suspects arrested in major cities
Indonesia Counter-terrorism Squad, Detachment 88, arrested another terrorist suspect in Mondokan Village in Solo, Indonesia on Sunday (Sept 30). Indonesian police and army forces seized the location around 11 a.m. local time to clear the crime scene when Detachment 88 arrested JP, Kompas, Indonesia Mass Media, reported. According to a…
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Insulting Muslims
One of the first scenes in the ridiculous but thoroughly nasty film “Innocence of Muslims” shows angry Muslims running through the streets smashing things and killing people. So what happens when a clip from the film dubbed into Arabic goes up on the Internet? Angry Muslims run through the streets…
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On ‘Gangnam Style’
Psy’s jumpy dance hit “Gangnam Style” has taken the world by storm, leaving Koreans shocked and surprised. The song broke out on YouTube and has jumped to No. 11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in just two weeks. The distinctive “horse dance” is infectious. The popularity of the song…
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One more apology
Park’s problem is not about history but democracy Rep. Park Geun-hye, presidential candidate of the conservative Saenuri Party, expressed “somewhat evolved” views Monday about her father’s past misdeeds. It’s a regret we can’t give higher marks to Park’s apology for the history related with nearly two decades of dictatorial rule…
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Normalizing Italy
LONDON ― Italy’s political exceptionalism ― its chronic inability to marshal coherent governments backed by stable parliamentary majorities ― is weakening Europe and threatening the eurozone’s survival. More than electoral reform is needed: Italy requires comprehensive institutional renewal. Italy’s particular characteristics put its political system and institutional framework at odds…
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[Indonesia Report] Protests against anti-Islam film cause closure of U.S. embassy
Friday (Sept 21) United States Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, was closed due to protest by some groups of Indonesians against the film of ‘Innocence of Muslims’. Indonesian’s faction of Justice Prosperous Party (PKS)’s meeting, scheduled on Friday (sept 21), with United States Ambassador to Indonesia was cancelled due to the protesting.…
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[Korea Report] Edgar Noh’s concert “La Vie En Rose” held successfully
The light became dimmer when notes of piano, guitar, contrabass, drum, percussion, flute, and clarinet started to fill the air. A man came up from the audience row, playing a viola and excited everyone in Bear Hall, Samsung-Dong, Seoul. The man is Edgar Noh, a Korean violist, who just released…
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Thoughts on the day of Chuseok
Waves of the East Sea and the East China Sea are high due to aggravating disputes on territorial sovereignty over the Dokdo Islands and the Senkaku/Diaoyudao Islands. China, Japan and Korea are involved in these disputes. Nonetheless, these three nations share the same tradition of observing Aug. 15, Full Moon’s…
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