A Korean’s Death in Iraq

During practicing for the drama presentation, a Korean was kidnapped in Iraq. The kidnappers, who were members of an Islam organization fighting for Iraq’s independence against the U.S.A., demanded that Korean troops leave Iraq in a day. They warned that unless the Korean government accepted it, he would be beheaded.

By the way, I was surprised to watch his appeal shivering with fear because a part of his speech was the same as Ms. Rabbita’s dialog in my script.

“… Your life is important, but my life is important, too. …”

The moral in my script was that one individual has to be sacrificed for a group. I wanted to talk with members in my group about this philosophical theme through the drama, so I told this event to them. Unfortunately, they were not interested in it.

Irresponsibly, the Korean government announced that nothing would be changed and it made him a victim for national interests. The Korean man, Kim Sun Il had worked for the U.S. Army and he believed innocently that his government would rescue him. Before dying, he screamed many times feeling betrayed.

“…President Rho! Moo! Hyun! I want to live. …”

After a while, the kidnappers had him beheaded and showed his head in front of the video camera. I was very shocked. Most of Koreans might also have felt the same. In the 20th century, we experienced enough of the cruelty of war. Nevertheless, why do our governments sacrifice young lives without reason? For whom are the national interests? I was so sad and ashamed of my government.

Father, Are You Comfortable in the Sky?

I sometimes met my lovely father in dream. I could look at his bright smile. It seemed to be real but he passed away 2 years ago in winter. I can’t forget the day of his death because his face awfully was full of peace as the poet wrote he came to picnic in this world and then he seemed to go to other world.

He was healthy although he was old so he always walked everywhere. However, he fell over a stone in front of the bank where he dropped to deposit. My elder brother took him right away to hospital but in vain. The doctor told our family to prepare his death.

It was a fatal accident so he couldn’t go to toilet by himself and never eat food any more so he lost his energy gradually. He only could drink some spoons of water. He couldn’t sleep at night so our family took care of him by turns. Especially, my elder brother and his wife were hard to take care of him. My elder brother is the only son so my father likes him very much. My father always called his son so my elder brother couldn’t sleep enough.

After one month passed since he was wounded. One day he suddenly left a few last words to my mother in the afternoon. He wanted her to live for a long time then my mother was crying in front of him. Finally that night, our family and many relatives were present at his deathbed. Our family was crying loudly but his face was peaceful at the hour of death.

After one week, suddenly one small yellow butterfly entered in his room in the morning although it was bitter cold in winter. It was impossible so my mother believed that my father became the butterfly and his soul came. He liked to travel everywhere so his soul could travel.
He always worked hard to grow and educate his many children and taught us to be independent people so I respect him forever. Even though he wasn’t this world he never dies in my heart. He sometimes came to me in my dream.

“Father, are you comfortable in the sky?”

Beyond Difference

Nowadays, the world is called the globalization. It is natural that the race and the culture are different so certain powerful country can’t be the main in the world. We need to have a global mind to comprehend differences.

When we presented about the country that we don’t want to travel, I heard from some classmates who don’t like Indian. The reason is because Indian has bitter smell but their smell comes from their food culture. It is merely strange smell for us.

Besides Thai students always speak that the street is dirty and dislike unhesitatingly about Malaysia and they compare with their country. Most people like their mother country so I also think my country is comfortable for me. However, it is wrong that their country is only the best because most countries don’t have the same cultures. Though their judgment and opinion is right, their complaint in front Malaysian is a rude conduct.

I also have narrow-mindedness about Thai without consciousness. I often feel that they are careless about other country and people. Of course it is wrong. I have to throw away these opinions because it is also narrow-mindedness.

As the proverb says “The frog in the well doesn’t know the ocean”, I can become like the frog that knows well about the whole world, as it looks at the narrow sky in the well. These persons never communicate with foreigners and misunderstand them so they will be able to hurt other persons’ heart.

I have rare opportunity to meet special friends in KDU so I would like to talk about their feelings, history and various cultures. The purpose I study English, the real reason is because I expect communication beyond all differences.