Bush is at it again...

[playa_playa]

I am a second-generation Korean-American living in the United States. I have lived in the States for over ten years, yet I am fluent in Korean and English. I am fully aware of the culture of both Korean and American societies.

My father, who turned 56 not long ago, lived through the Korean War during his boyhood. My grandfather, with whom I had a great relationship with and regrettably passed away last year, also lived through the Korean War. I have many uncles, aunts, and other reliatives who shared similar experience during the dark times of Korean history.

My paternal as well as maternal family are from Kyung-Sang Do - the county in which the No Gun Ri incident occured. Both families have some ties to some of the survivors of the incident.

With these facts provided, let me just say that the data I have of No Gun Ri could be skewed. It could be incomplete. And it could also be problematic. However, they are far from incomprehensive to render me useless in making the decision as to whether the incident was an accident, massacre or tragedy.

I've heard quite a few stories where American soldiers opened fire on refugees during the incident. granted, they could have been North Korean troops desguised as civilians, but does that suspicion grant the soldiers to open fire without checking them out first?

Some of the survivors had told my grandfather that the shots came without warning. In fact, most of the shots were rendered this way according to what the survivors had told my grandfather.

Perhaps murder was an incorrect term to apply to this situation. Murder entails intent to kill. The gunners may have not had an intent to kill the refugees. But they fired shots at civilians without checking them out to see if they were desguised. And that, to me, is inexcusable. Can you refute this?

But let's get back to my original point: every country has its share of shady history. No country ever does the just thing all the time. I was not generalizing the United States as an evil society due to the No Gun Ri incident. As a matter of fact, I think we're in a just frame of mind despite some lapses we may have bore. However, I was pointing out that every country, whether it'd be Arab, Asian, european or American, commits wrongdoings. viewing a group of people based on these mishaps is wrong, plain and simple.

Just as I did not dismiss America as an evil nation based on the No Gun Ri (whether it'd be legitimate or not), do not dismiss a nation based on what extremities you may see.