Another Year

It's rapidly approaching that time when everyone is reflecting on the year. There have surely been many newsworthy events that have transpired over the past twelve months. The inauguration of Barack Obama as the first African-American President of the United States, North Korea's failed satellite launch and subsequent second nuclear test, former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun's suicide, outbreak of H1N1 virus around the world, Iranian presidential election and its subsequent pro-reformist demonstrations that have continued, death of Michael Jackson, riots in Xinjiang between Han Chinese and Uyghurs, Roxana Saberi's detention and release by Iran, Laura Ling and Euna Lee's detention and release by North Korea, coup d'etat in Honduras, typhoons ravage Taiwan and Southeast Asia, the emergence of the G-20, the 2016 Summer Olympics to Brazil, President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize and its subsequent controversies, escalation of War on Terror in Afghanistan, healthcare reform in the United States, and so on.

On a personal note, the year has flown by. I can't believe another year has come and gone, and I don't even know where it went. Quantitative analysis, national security and WMD proliferation, insurgency and counterinsurgency, nuclear North Korea, intelligence and foreign policy, and political risk analysis. Internships at the Hudson Institute and the Korea Economic Institute in the summer and fall. Waiting for security clearance for internship next semester. Paul and Gina in February, Moses and Julie and Dyon and Shlim in May, Mike and Liz and Dave and Anita in June, and Yohan and Grace in October. Missed out on P.Jimmy and Grace in June and Dave and Jihye in October. My brother's graduation from UCLA in June. Two trips to Ann Arbor in May, and two trips to SoCal in June. New church plant in DC. Start of job searches and the preparation for the beginning of the end of my formal education forever. And the list goes on and on.

It has been a year of many ups and downs, but like all good things, it must come to an end. I can't wait for the ball to drop in Times Square and usher in a new year, a year that will bring new blessings and new challenges. But before then, I wish to reflect some more, especially on a spiritual level. I want Psalm 42:1 to be my prayer throughout next year, to long for God in a deeper and more meaningful way.

One Baby

It ain't about the presents, the Christmas trees, and the mistletoes.
It sure ain't about Santa Claus and his team of reindeers.
It most definitely isn't about the shopping madness online or in the malls.
It ain't about the carols, the jingle bells, or even the hymns of old.
It ain't even about attending midnight mass or any religious service.
It ain't all this and much more.

Everything boils down to just one thing.
It is the one thing that has given hope to a bleak and cold world.
That one thing was a he, and he came from humble origins, origins from ancient of days.
Love came down, and it has changed everything.

do not be afraid. I bring good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

Thank You

A couple of friends and I decided to pay a visit to the final resting place of a fallen friend. We had the day off, to commemorate Veteran's Day, and we felt it was only appropriate to spend time at Arlington, paying our respects to the men and women of the armed forces who paid the ultimate sacrifice for country. It was a dreary day, with the rain coming down at a steady rate and the cold wind blowing in our face. But the experience of seeing families, friends, veterans, soldiers, and visitors walking the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery to pay tribute to fallen colleagues, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, friends, and strangers was unforgettable.

A lot can be said about the politics of war. The debate of what to do about Afghanistan continues to rage inside the Beltway, as President Obama wrestles with one of the hardest decisions a president surely has to make: whether to send more soldiers in harm's way. But I leave that discussion for another day. This day, I thank the men and women of the armed forces for their incredible sacrifice and valor. We, as a nation, are indebted to their service. I also thank military families for their sacrifices that go largely unnoticed. Last, but not least, I thank our fallen heroes whose lives have been cut short but never forgotten.

Here is a blog entry written by a stranger who, even after three years, also cannot forget the sacrifice of Andy Kim,our fallen friend who was KIA in Iraq. Andy Minhee Kim, you are remembered. Thanks, friend, for everything.

In light of Veteran's Day, here is one of the most moving advertisements I have ever seen. Thank you.

Tear Down This Wall

Given the significance of today's date in history, I figured I'd break my drought of blogging and reflect on the momentous occasion of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Ich Bin ein Berliner. President John F. Kennedy's speech in June 26, 1963 was a rallying point for West Germans at a time when the lines of the Cold War were drawn with the erection of the Berlin Wall. "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" President Ronald Reagan's speech in June 12, 1987 was another momentous occasion. Finally, on November 9, 1989, the physical wall that separated a city and a country came crashing down. The wall that had physically divided a nation was no more, and families, separated for decades, reunited. Democracy had prevailed, and twenty years later, the world commemorates the anniversary.

But another Cold War relic continues to divide another people group half-way around the world. The Koreans, historical victims of great power politics, remain divided. President Bill Clinton once remarked that the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that separates the two Koreas "is the scariest place on earth." North Korea has more than a million-member army with hundreds of short-range missiles aimed at Seoul, ready to reunite the country by force at a moment's notice. South Korea, along with U.S. forces, is bunkered along the border ready to defend the South. North Korea has been developing nuclear weapons, while the United States has extended its nuclear deterrence to protect South Korea. The Korean War remains technically unresolved, with no formal peace treaty ever signed.

In this context, families have been separated for more than sixty years. Once in awhile, the two Koreas have agreed to allow pre-selected families to reunite in historic summits, which have generally been emotional affairs that have garnered international attention. The latest family reunion took place a couple of months ago at Mt. Keumkang in North Korea. Yet, unlike the dissolution of the artificial division in Germany, the two Koreas remain at odds with each other, well into the 21st century. And there is no end in sight.

Yet, I am hopeful that one day, the strength of the human will can break down the finally legacy of the Cold War. I hope that in my lifetime I will see a people group, long divided over ideology and politics, reunite at last. I hope to see a stronghold of tyranny and oppression be replaced by rule of law and justice. It is long overdue that the wall that divides a people be torn down. And I hope it eventually will. But until that day comes...

Hear Our Cry

there are times when words are not enough to capture the emotions of the heart.
despair. anger. shock. awe. ambivalence. helpless.
the list goes on. and on. and on.
until there is nothing left to say.
when the silence becomes so deafening.

Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy). in Vietnam. in the Phillipines. Indonesia.

---

what is the body?
if one part suffers, all suffers with it.
we are blessed to be a blessing.
our inconvenience is their lifeline.
this is the body.
do something about it.

world vision. others.

Whirlwind

I don't think I've ever been this busy in my life. I hope I don't burn out. And I hope I survive. But I'm excited. It's been a good start to the semester, and I'm hoping that that will continue.

Some have said that I've kind of fallen off the face of the earth. I apologize. It's like so hard to find time to just chat, talk on the phone, email, et. these days. Unbelievable, isn't it? So I decided that the least I could do to update people (the few that actually read this) is to update my blog.

My second (and hopefully, my final year) of graduate school is well underway. I'm taking a full course-load, and all the classes are very interesting. Nuclear North Korea needs no explanation. Political Risk Analysis is a class where I learn how to build political risk models. Intelligence and Foreign Policy is a class where I learn how intelligence is used to support foreign policy of a state. My classes are Tuesday through Thursdays from 8:10pm to 10:40pm. Needless to say, night classes are really tiring. I've also resumed taking Chinese class which is on Mondays from 6-9pm.

In addition, I'm interning full-time at a think tank called the Korea Economic Institute. It has been a worthwhile experience, learning new things (sometimes more than I actually learn from school) about international economy, North Korea, U.S.-Korean relations, Northeast Asian affairs, etc. I get to meet a lot of important people including former assistant Secretary of States and other officials in previous administrations. So that's been really cool, but very tiring since I work 9-5 everyday.

I've also been looking for jobs more intently, since many of the jobs I'm interested in require security clearance that can take up to a year. I've applied to or am in the process of applying to several fellowships including the PMF that would be awesome if I got. But I'm not putting all my eggs in that basket, and so I scour usajobs.gov for federal jobs and other sources. It's been discouraging at times when all these jobs require so much experience in the field. But I believe God will provide the right job at the right time. Just gotta hold onto faith.

So, my day-to-day schedule is packed. Sleep and even eating regularly have become a luxury. I try to squeeze in a Michigan game and a pro-football game in the weekends, but doesn't always happen. To make things "worse," this schedule will continue next semester because I was informed that I got another internship next semester at the Dept. of State. And next semester, I have to write my thesis. I'm really excited about what God has graciously given me, but I'm also terrified that I'll burn out by the end of the year.

I've also begun checking out a new church plant in the city. I had been going to Open Door Presbyterian Church (which is in suburban Virginia) for the past year, but one of the pastors left to plant a church in downtown DC. I really liked the pastor when he was at ODPC, and I began wanting to go to a church closer to the city so that I could reach out to friends who live in DC and bring them out to church. They do church planting differently than HMCC (the only frame of reference I have when it comes to church planting). If you want to know specifically how they do it here, email me and I can share with you. I'm still undecided if I'm going to stick with the church plant, and I signed up for a small group at my previous church (it's definitely awesome and encouraging to be a part of it). So we'll see what happens.

This was a long long update, and for those of you who've lasted this far, I applaud you. If you haven't reached this point, then you are not my friend. Just kidding.

Shoot me an email, a phone call, or gchat. I'd love to keep in touch with all of you, my dear friends. =)

Laura Ling and Euna Lee

In today's Los Angeles Times, Laura Ling and Euna Lee give their personal account of their abduction, imprisonment, and release by the North Korean regime. What they attempted to do by going to China-North Korea border was brave. Along with the two reporters, I also share the importance of shedding the truth about the plight of North Korean refugees. But while I do share in their passion, I also question the implications of the outcome of their plight. I'm not saying that they deserved the ten years of hard labor. But something about their story doesn't sit well with me.

Journalism, like in many professions, is a competitive world where everyone is trying to get an exclusive story to get a comparative advantage. That's the nature of the business. Ms. Ling and Ms. Lee were caught up in this business, knowing the risks of traveling to the border. But in their cost-benefit analysis, they figured doing this story was worth the risk. That's what journalists do to produce quality works of journalism.

But in the process of their reporting, they got caught. Caught for what? To westerners, they were merely doing their journalistic duties of exposing the truth. But to the North Korean regime, they were engaging in "hostile acts." One must understand that for the North Korean regime, its political legitimacy stems from its ultra-nationalistic sentiment against "imperialists" who threaten its very existence. The term "human rights" is nonexistent in the North Korean vocabulary, and the regime views those who illegally cross into China as traitors and subversive elements. So in this context, a reporting of North Korean refugees could be interpreted by North Korea as a hostile act, an act to undermine Kim Jong Il's government (which for us is ridiculous and laughable). In their drive to report on a story they were passionate about, they badly miscalculated the political realities of the region and put themselves in danger. They also admitted entering North Korea illegally. It was their wisdom to ignore the laws and endanger themselves. Whether North Korean guards captured them in China is a secondary issue.

What is more, their arrest and subsequent release has endangered human rights activists in Northeast China, forcing many church leaders involved in the North Korean refugee issue to temporarily cease activities along the border. And I think this is the part about this entire crisis that bothers me. For the past two decades, Christian missionaries, human rights activists, and others have been tirelessly working on behalf of these North Korean refugees. Many have paid dearly with their lives. Many more continue to work unafraid. Then come along two American reporters whose adventure puts all their work in peril. It's unfortunate.

At the end of the day, not many remember what the original intent of these two reporters were. All that people remember is the fact that they got caught and sentenced to ten years of hard labor until former President Bill Clinton negotiated for their release. So what exactly did their trip accomplish except making US-North Korean tensions worse and life harder for aid workers along the China-North Korea border? And I'm supposed to be so sympathetic to these reporters? I'm not so sure I can do that.

I'm thrilled they've returned safely to their families. But something about the LA Times piece appears to be an attempt to exonerate themselves amidst criticisms from many South Korean church leaders and human rights activists whose lives are heavily invested in this kind of work, unlike Ms. Lee or Ms. Ling. Sometimes, passion and idealism can have unintended consequences that could be detrimental.

Exactly One Year

One year.

One year ago, I was packing eight years of my life into a single mid-size sedan and driving hundreds of miles to a brand new city to start a brand life.

One year ago, I was bidding farewell to people that became like family.

One year ago, I was starry-eyed, arriving in the nation's capital with all these dreams and expectations.

A lot has changed in that one year. Nothing has changed either. I am a living a new life consisting of attending classes, writing papers, networking, and finding a new community. Yet I am also reminded that I am still the same sinner saved by grace alone.

I would like to think one year has changed me into a more complete, more mature, more wise, more confident, more diligent, more holy, more loving, more forgiving, more sacrificial person. I would like to think that I have everything figured out: what I'll be studying; what I'll be doing next year, in five years, in ten, in fifty; who I'll be spending the rest of my life with; how God will use me in His divine purposes. But I am not sure if I have changed and not sure what the future holds in store for me. I am still like a child, full of flaws and faults, holding the hands of a loving father, trusting that he knows where I need to go.

It has been a trying and difficult year in some aspects. It also also been exciting and thrilling in others. I am thankful for all the experiences, bumps and bruises included. There have been times my soul has cried out in anguish, and I've pleaded for God to remove the thorns. There have also been times when grace never seemed so amazing, and my eyes melted into tears of joy.

I have probably failed God more times than I have pleased Him. I have probably done things that I should not have and did not do things that I should have.

But God has reminded me on a daily basis that I am still a work in progress. I will stumble and fall many more times. I will disappoint and be disappointed many more times. And all the mistakes I have made, am making, and will make will be redeemed somehow in some time that God would so choose.

MJ Mania

Yesterday, the so-called "King of Pop" was eulogized at a memorial service in downtown Los Angeles. While watching the live feed of the memorial service at work, I could not help but find amusement in what turned out to be a media circus instead of a real memorial. For the record, I admire his artistic genius, the way his music inspired others, and the way he gave attention to social needs around the world.

I find it so ironic that millions of "fans" around the world were crying at the loss of their musical "hero" when just a few years ago, none of them would have gone out in public to defend and support him during his several legal troubles involving child molestation. Where were these so called fans who were seen on television weeping and lamenting when Michael Jackson pulled one of his many strange antics in recent memory?

And then at the memorial service, there were a few things that stood out to me. What right did Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson have in speaking at MJ's service other than the fact that they played basketball in the same city where MJ lived? And what the heck was Magic talking about when he claimed MJ made him a better point guard?

Of course Al Sharpton had another one of his moments when he elevated MJ's contribution to the civil rights movement on par with or surpassing that of Martin Luther King Jr's. And he proceeded to say that "there was nothing wrong with Michael Jackson" and turned a memorial service into a rant about racism.

Then there was the price tag on this entire show: $3.5 million. And who would fit that bill? Why, no other than the near bankrupt City of Los Angeles. Nevermind the city closed down a 6-lane freeway just to transport MJ's hearst. After all, it isn't like LA suffers from the worst traffic congestion in the US...(that was sarcasm if you didn't get it). At a time when LA and the state of California faces one of its worse budget crisis that threatens to shut down the government, at a time when jobs such as police officers and teachers are being shed so quickly, the thoughtful family sends a $3.5 million dollar bill to city officials (again, sarcasm). The argument that such a large public event will produce a net economic gain for the city is misplaced since statistical economic analysis of large sporting events have marginal economic benefits. But that is besides the point.

And then the media coverage has been laughable. Is it really "breaking news" that Paris, MJ's daughter, said he was the best father imaginable? Is that what journalism has come down to? At a time when hundreds are dying in the worst ethnic fighting in recent memory in China, when genocide continues to happen in Darfur, when Iran's political situation is still illegitimate, Paris's remarks is what CNN calls breaking news?

At the end of the day, I'm sick of all these "fans" worshipping MJ as if he were God incarnate, without blemish. It was mortifying hearing Al Sharpton tell a revisionist version of MJ's life, that his kids had nothing to be ashamed of regarding their father. Regardless if MJ wasn't convicted of any of the child molestation charges (note: multiple allegations), you cannot possibly say that he's completely innocent when he reached a $20 million settlement with one of his allegers. If you're innocent, why cut a deal with the accuser? Then there's the baby dangling issue, his multiple facial reconstruction and skin issue, his mismanagement of his finances leading to enormous debt, and the list goes on. Yes kids, you have nothing to be ashamed of...just like every child in this world has a perfect dad (again, sarcasm).

Yes, yesterday was a memorial service, and in memorial services, its important for the family and friends to bring closure to the loss of a loved one. And I respect that. I do not argue that it must have been emotionally difficult for the family, especially the children. But to make a memorial into some political, revisionist, and often inappropriate charade (note the horrible performance by Mariah Carey, who wore a rather overwhelming outfit that exposed just a bit too much of herself) was more humorous than anything else.

The world lost an iconic entertainer for sure. But let's not make him out into a saint in the midst of the mania that has somehow swept across the world.

Separatism and Missions

As the struggle for Iran's political future continues, albeit largely overshadowed by the media's saturated coverage of Michael Jackson's death, there's another struggle that is bursting at the seams of another authoritarian government. In Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the Uyghur minorities are taking to the streets in Urumqi and Kashgar to voice their displeasure against the communist government. Theirs is a long and tense history fueled by racism and brutality from both sides. In order to keep stability at all costs, the Chinese government has pulled all the stops by turning off the internet and social networking tools and clamping down on the riots that have already claimed hundreds of lives according to official count.

Media coverage of this new rebellion is hardly as colorful as the Iranian struggle and even the "saffron revolution" in Burma in 2007. Is it because all Uyghurs have been generally portrayed as separatists and terrorists according to China, the United States, and the European Union? Perhaps. But whatever the reason for the limited media coverage on this issue, this recent spade of violence in Xinjiang saddens me on a personal level.

It was only two summers ago that I walked the very streets where blood has been shed these past few days. In the Uyghur sections of Urumqi and Kashgar, my team and I snapped photos, talked with locals, and even shared the gospel of Jesus Christ. The smell of fresh naan and lamb meat is still freshly vivid as is the signs of decay in the shanties. Children played with plastic bottles in lieu of toys, unemployed men loitered around the local mosques, and women covered from head to toe walked down the streets. The people I talked to voiced their displeasure of Americans and of the Han Chinese. They talked about their grievances--of lack of economic opportunities, of limited freedom to worship, of exploitation, of secondary social status, etc. They talked about George Bush and how his wars have only exacerbated their conditions.

These were the people we lived with for three weeks. These people, most of whom had never heard of Jesus Christ, were the ones that God called a team of eleven college and young adults to preach the good news to. These people, whom we had previously never knew existed, would open our eyes to a new world and teach us how much God so loves his people.

But as the state clamps down on these very people we reached out, I often find myself having a very pessimistic view of the situation. The missionary that we worked with in Urumqi had said that one of the main obstacles for Uyghurs to put their trust in God is that there is no viable indigenous churches in Xinjiang. And to make matters worse, the burgeoning underground church movement in China has largely skipped ethnic minorities, especially in the western part of China due to the long and complicated history between the Han majority and their ethnic minority peers. And if race relations between the Hans and Uyghurs continues to escalate into violence, how will the gospel penetrate into this lost people group?

But at the end of the day, I'm reminded that God is the one in charge, not me. My pessimist view on reality is dwarfed by the way God can work in impossible situations. Even in such a tense climate, I'm challenged to have faith that God is at work even when we cannot see it. It just reminds me that I need to be more dilligent in praying for the people that I met and for a local church to grow and reach the lost.

Cost of Freedom

A few nights ago, I tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Halfway across the world, my peers were standing up against a political establishment, itself, established from popular uprising three decades ago. As I lay in bed that night, I thought about the parallel lives that these young and courageous Iranians were living. Risking imprisonment and even death, they took to the streets in the biggest sign of uprising in the thirty-year history of the current Iranian theocracy. Moussavi, himself, has indicated that he would accept martyrdom in the pursuit of greater freedom.

I often take the freedom that I enjoy for granted. For all its flaws, the American political experiment has survived the test of time, insurrections, wars, and other external/internal factors. It enumerates freedoms that I, as a citizen, am entitled to, and the justice system is, in theory, out to ensure due process of law. I am able to freely express myself, among other things, and anticipate my voice to be heard. I have economic opportunities with the possibility of upward social mobility. I don't fear the state's security apparatus barging into my apartment and dragging me off to prison on trumped up charges. I have the ability to gather in public rallies and demonstrations. I can move around the country and the world without government approval. The benefits of living in an open society can go on and on.

Like many outside of Iran, I've been glued to the television and the internet, watching and reading the most current news coming from Iran. I was particularly moved when it was reported that protesters addressed the issue of government crackdown on public rallies. They said that a million lives lost for greater democracy would be worth it for the forty-some million other Iranians and subsequent generations. This is the cost of freedom. Generations before have all paid their dues, many with their own dear lives. In America and in the rest of the world, brave men and women, often students, have shouldered the call to have their voices heard.

Hopefully, future Iranians and global citizens will look to July 2009 as another watershed moment in the pursuit of greater freedoms.

Twenty Years Later

On June 4, 1989, tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square and the army fired on its own people. The world watched in horror as China brutally suppressed any signs of open rebellion to cement its political legitimacy.

20 years later, there are rampant fears that history will repeat itself in another area of the world. Days have passed since the apparently fraudulent presidential election was complete, and the streets of Tehran continue to be hotbeds of political dissent as demands for legitimate democracy are heard with no end in sight. Analysts expect the situation to only worsen. And many anticipate that it is only a matter of time before the tanks coming rolling down in Tehran.

If Iran experiences its own Tiananmen Square incident, what will happen next? Will it lead to the broader mobilization of revoluationary activity? Or will it effectively quell any future prospects of democratization?

I'm no expert on Middle Eastern affairs, but something about this is captivating. I've been swept up in the revolutionary spirit. Although I cannot imagine what these brave men and women in Tehran are facing, I embrace the principles they stand for and am there in spirit with them. In a speech, former President George W. Bush once said, Everywhere that freedom arrives, humanity rejoices; and everywhere that freedom stirs,let tyrants fear." So in that spirit, let Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Khamenei fear. And let the seed of democracy runneth over into other tyrannical regimes in Sudan, North Korea, Burma, China, Zimbabwe, and others.

Let freedom ring.

pictures courtesy of Boston.com.

death to the dictator

The world holds its breath as Iran's future holds in the balance. The streets of Tehran are colored in green, the color of Iran's newest revolution, a revolution built upon the promise of real democracy.

The voices of the people can no longer be suppressed. The will of the people can no longer be denied. Death to the dictator!

For photos, click here.

Hodge Podge of News

It's becoming a busier summer than I had originally anticipated. Work at school has been crazy busy these past few weeks as I coordinate this US-Korea event the day before the South Korean president meets with President Obama. On top of that, I've been reading like crazy for my internship. And then I'm traveling almost every weekend in June. It's been hard to find any meaningful me-time, when I can just relax and recharge. But in the end, this is the road I chose to take. It is what it is. I cannot complain.

There's been a lot of world news that is of interest. North Korea has an heir apparent. It also exploded another nuclear device and fired short range missiles into the Sea of Japan. It put two U.S. reporters on trial for trumped up charges and sentenced them to 12 years in a forced labor camp. South Korea joined the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative in response to North Korea's provocative acts. Its former president committed suicide by jumping off a cliff. It enacted economic sanctions on North Korean companies. China and Russia are apparently showing signs of frustration with North Korea. China stepped up its censorship efforts leading up to the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident.

Elsewhere around the world, Pres. Obama delivered a conciliatory speech to the Arab-Muslim population in Cairo that was received with "cautious optimism." That speech is partially credited with the success of the U.S.-backed political coalition in yesterday's Lebanese parliamentary elections which denied the Shiite Hizbollah from increasing in power. That election could foreshadow the results of another Middle East election coming up on Friday in Iran. In Pakistan, there are signs that locals are fed up with Taliban incursion with local militia fighting Taliban forces in the tribal areas. An Air France flight fell off the radar and into the Atlantic Ocean, presumably killing everyone on board.

All in all, there is no shortage of interesting events going on around the world. We live in challenging but exciting times. I'm cautiously looking forward to Iran's presidential elections that pits the incumbent Ahmadinejad against three other moderates in a seemingly tight race. If Mousavi, the main oppositional leader, can win, it would truly be a promising sign of improving relations in the Middle East and hopes that extremism will continue to wane. But we shall see.

Marriage and Men

In the past three weeks, I've been to two weddings; in the past three months, I've been to three. In the next month, I'll have gone to two more; in the next four months, I'll have gone to three. In the span of eight months, I'll have attended six weddings and missed out on several more. It is the season of mass weddings, and though it is taking a toll on my already limited budget, I couldn't be happier for my friends who have tied or are tying the knot.

All these weddings have obviously got me thinking about my own status. Though I do wish I could at least be in a relationship, I am thoroughly content in my singleness in my current state. I've got enough immediate concerns with graduate school; but then again, if God were to make it abundantly clear to be in a relationship, so be it; I'd embrace that additional responsibility in a heartbeat for sure.

With that thought and fresh from Dave and Sarah's wedding this past weekend, I listened to a powerful and convicting sermon dealing about relationships/marriage given by none other than Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church out in Seattle. I'm telling you, the man is anointed. He spoke about how men in the church fall into two extreme camps: chauvinism or cowardice. Falling into either of these categories distorts the institution of marriage, and at the end of the day, the fault lies with the men. The sermon wasn't necessarily a new topic, but God used it powerfully to speak to me about my flaws as a man and how much more I need to grow in my character before I'm called to be responsible for another person in my life.

One thing that I've heard him often say is guys tend to think that marriages will make them men, and he rips that philosophy apart. I have to agree with him. As I'm learning what it means to be a man of God, it starts with taking responsibility for my own life. It starts with spending time with God daily. It starts with loving my neighbors as myself. It starts with basic responsbilities like getting a job, cleaning after myself, being organized. How could I expect to take responsibility for another person when I'm having trouble taking care of my own affairs?

I vouch for men like Dave, Moses, and Paul. I respect men like Pastor Jimmy, Yohan, and Davis. They, among others, are good men, striving to be like Christ. I believe God will bless their marriages abundantly as they love their wives as Christ loved the Church. I'm excited for them, and I hope that God would continue to grow me so I can be with someone who I will lay my life down for as Christ gave up His life for the Church. But until then, I will work on the plethora of flaws I find in myself (not including the many others that other people may find in me).

Cool to be a Nerd

Let's get the facts straight. I'm a nerd--not a dork and not a geek. There's a huge difference among the three terms. What that is, I cannot tell you. But there is a difference. I promise. And I am a bonafide nerd. I swear being a nerd is better for the social status than being a dork or a geek. I stand by that.

I wear this badge with honor. Coming to the nation's capital, I've quickly learned that the coolest people in this part of the country are the nerds. The talking heads on cable news, the so-called experts of their fields, the ones with a billion letters after their names; the bookworms who devour obscure journals for lunch; these are the cool kids on the block. It's a weird thing in actuality. In most places the cool cats are the ones who are fashionable, who are rich, who are fun, etc. But not here. And I want in on this club.

Being in graduate school forces one to be a nerd. That is my opinion. I should run a statistical analysis to confirm this hypothesis. On second thought, I barely got through stats this semester, so maybe I shouldn't. But in any case, reading hundreds of pages of scholarly articles and books a week for class and research papers make it pretty easy for one to become a nerd.

I wonder if I'll ever get to the level where news reporters, industry leaders, world leaders, community leaders, and others will come to me for advice on a matter I would specialize in. Not that that would be a specific goal of mine. But it would certainly be cool, no? Okay maybe not.

In any case, I love what I'm studying. If I can get paid like a real salary on which I could live off comfortably, I wouldn't mind being a student for life. I could sure live with becoming an expert on North Korea, an expert on nuclear proliferation, an expert on counterterrorism, an expert on human rights, etc. I have one more year, two more semesters with my program. Then it will be on to bigger and greater things, or so I'm told. Choices will lie before me. And I want to take the proverbial road less taken, the road of becoming a real life nerd in Washington D.C., a road full of white men in their suits walking around downtown looking all important. Okay maybe it's not the road less taken according to the standards of Washington D.C.

But regardless, I like being a nerd. I don't care what people say. It's cool to be a nerd in my book.

The Soul-less World of Politics

It seems as if politicians these days have no integrity, no soul. The political pandering to interest groups never gets old, and promises of government transparencies are being found hard to keep. Voters are regarded as fools for believing messages of change, while elected officials on both sides of the aisle keep posturing to do whatever they can to keep their seats in the Senate and the House.

One GOP senator jumps ship, citing ideological differences with the more conservative elements of the Republican Party. But in a state that is increasingly becoming more Democratic, was it just mere coincidence that Senator Arlen Specter switched affiliation to the Democratic Party with his re-election season coming up?

The man who said that we can, and promised a new wave of transparency in the government, has recently upset his friends to the left when he decided this week to prevent the release of photos from Abu Ghraib. What happened to transparency, Mr. President? Keeping electoral promises isn't so easy now, is it? And now today, the White House confirmed that the US would continue to employ former President Bush's controversial military commission to prosecute detainees in Gitmo. That sure does look like change to me. Yes, we can.

And then there is the first madam speaker of the House of Representative from California. Nancy Pelosi, the vocal critic of the Bush administration, finds herself in a bit of a sticky situation. The madam speaker is adored by those on the left for her outspoken objection to the use of torture during the Bush administration. I sincerely applaud her stance on that. But you see, Ms. Pelosi forgot to mention that in 2003, she, along with other House Intelligence Committee members, were briefed by the CIA on its interrogation methods during the war on terror. Today, she disputed CIA records that listed 40 briefs that the committee received from the intelligence agency in which members of the committee were allegedly told the use of waterboarding during interrogation. A record of 40 briefings in which she was told that the CIA was torturing detainees in 2003, and she waits until 2007 to formally decry the CIA's methods of interrogation. Does Ms. Pelosi really think we're idiotic enough to actually believe her?

So in conclusion, politics is a soul-less world, void of any meaningful convictions and integrity. Flip-flopping around is the norm, and doing anything politically expedient is to be expected. But hey, at least in America, people like me who publicly criticize officials expect to live after wielding such criticisms unlike in other countries. I have that to be thankful for, right?

read more here and here and here and here.

Mid Point

It is over.

Eating at odd hours, often at fast food joints; sleeping at the crack of dawn, only to wake up a few hours later; writing and rewriting, always dissatisfied with my efforts; breathing to survive, rather than to enjoy life as it was meant to be enjoyed. The shining sun never seemed more gloomy than those days, holed up in a room of like-minded peers with the ferocious click-clacks of keyboards drowning out the laughs and shouts of frolickers on campus. But it was what it was. And it is now finished.

Nuclear proliferation. North Korea. WMD threats. Insurgency. Counterinsurgency. Al Qaeda. Iraq. Taliban. Muslim Brotherhood. Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya. Egypt. Xinjiang. Uyghur extremists. Human trafficking. Multivariate regression analysis. Statistics. All interesting topics, some more than others. But I'm ready to move on.

President Obama's inauguration. John Kim-Dave Lee joint-bachelors party in the Poconos. US-Asia Institute Lunar New Year Reception. Paul & Gina's reception in Chicago via Ann Arbor. Spring Break to New York. US-Asia Institute's 30th Anniversary Gala at the United Nations. North Korean Freedom Week. Moses & Julie's wedding in Michigan along with Class of 2009 commencement. An eventful semester outside of school. I'm looking forward to more fun times in the future.

It's scary to think that it was only nine months ago when I was packing the last eight years of my life into my car and driving back to the east coast. Nothing could have prepared me for all the various experiences of the past year: all the struggles, all the crises, all the drama, all the joys, all the fun, all the times spent dreaming, all the steps taken towards making those dreams realities. I would have it no other way. I'm grateful.

Here's to the beginning of my final year in school. Surely there will be more challenges. But as the sun fights through the clouds to shine its light ever so brightly, I know I will need to fight through whatever obstacles lie in the future to do what God has called me to do. It's only the beginning of good things all around, and I'm excited.

Christians Endorsing Torture?

A recent survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life indicates that 54% of churchgoers (as defined as people who attend church at least once a week) says that torture is often or sometimes justified. Granted that the way the survey defines churchgoers don't distinguish between devout Christians and cultural Christians. But regardless, this is a startling statistic. This confirms that the bible-belt Republicans are more influenced by the likes of Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld than they are by the words and values of Christ.

I cannot possibly fathom how the use of torture can be justifiable by Christian doctrine. Throughout the New Testament, Christians are told to love our enemies, to pray for them, to bless them, to turn our cheeks when they turn to strike us. When Peter wields a dagger and cuts off the ear of one of the guards who came to arrest Jesus, Jesus rebukes Peter and heals the guard. This is the Jesus I see in the Bible, not the Jesus that the likes of Dick Cheney seem to see.

The likes of al Qaeda and Islamic extremists pose enormous threats to international security. Their tactics are savage and heinous. They should be tried for crimes against humanity. But these reasons do not justify any use of torture. I am extremely saddened that the president of the National Association of Evangelicals declined to comment on this. He should be the first person to oppose the use of torture.

I'm no theologian by any means. I have my faults and sins. I do not wish to judge the people in this statistical sample who advocated the use of torture. But I find it appalling that there are Christians who can somehow reconcile two ideologies that seem polar to each other. To read more, click here.

At the United Nations

It started at 6am. Had to get out of the house by 6:40 at the latest in order to catch the bus to New York. I was paranoid that I wouldn't wake up on time, but somehow, I did. Got to the bus stop with ten minutes to spare. Most of the interns/volunteers had arrived. The last barely made it, and by 7:15, we were heading for an adventurous day.

A couple of my friends had been interning at an organization called the U.S.-Asia Institute, which was dedicated to bettering the relations between U.S. and Asian countries. For their 30th anniversary, they decided to throw a gala at the United Nations, where foreign representatives, U.S. congressmen, and other dignitaries would come to join in the celebration. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke and former Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao among others were being honored for the contribution to U.S.-Asia causes (unfortunately those two couldn't make it due to pressing needs). The event officially started at 6pm, with guests arriving at 5 for a tour of the UN building. The interns and volunteers would do anything and everything to make sure that the night went as perfectly as it could.

The moment we stepped on New York soil, we were running around. I have no idea how women wear high heels all day. Even before the event started, my feet were starting to hurt. I told one of the interns I was working with, and she gave me a dirty look. I learned my lesson. I shut up and did my job.

I was chosen to help take photos for the event. There were two other professional photographers they hired for press releases and whatnot. I have no idea why they needed me. But they asked, and so I obliged. It sure beat the mindless grunt work the rest of the interns and volunteers had to do during the event (one of the other interns also had it good; she followed the three photographers and made sure we knew who and what to take photos of). The entire night was a blur: lots of running around, snapping photos, trying to stir up conversations (the conversationalist that I am...), trying to make professional connections, and just enjoy my time at the United Nations. I got a free meal out of it, although the portion of filet mignon was a bit tiny.

All in all, I'm thankful that I got the opportunity to go and mingle. It also provided a chance to get to know my friends from class better as well as the other interns and volunteers. During the dinner portion of it, albeit a very short portion of the entire day, I got the chance to talk to some of them and hopefully be able to continue to develop friendships outside of once-in-a-blue-moon opportunities such as this. Networking has never been my forte, but I'm trying to get more and more comfortable in it--not just for professional advancement but also to meet new friends, especially those who share similar interests as me.

I would attach some photos with this entry, but alas, I did not bring my USB cord, and so photos will have to wait until I go back to Washington DC and after I am done with the semester.

CIA Memos

This past week, Pres. Obama released four CIA memos during the Bush Administration that detailed the use of torture in interrogation. In the news cycle of Pres. Obama cozying up to Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, a vocal anti-Americanist, the release of CIA memos has seemingly gone under the radar. But as much as I try to give the benefit of the doubt to the new president, I cannot understand how he could have supported to reveal highly sensitive intelligence memos to the public in the midst of war.

I am vehemently opposed to the use of torture in any circumstance. The Geneva Convention is not outdated just because the world is threatened by non-state actors and terrorism fears. Supporters of Pres. Obama's decision to release these memos argue that the CIA tactics should never have been used in the first place and will never be used anymore; hence, the release of these memos expose no real national security threat. However, while I understand these techniques will never be employed, I believe these memos are highly classified information and its release serves no purpose except to mollify Pres. Obama's supporters who've become antsy in the president's lack of willingness to stray too far from the Bush Administration, especially the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was a politically expedient move that throws the CIA under the bus at a time when both wars hinge on the gathering and analyzing of human intellegence. Sure, the Obama administration has not called for prosecution of CIA agents, but nonetheless, idealistic decisions like this hampers the intelligence community from doing its job and protecting the nation's interest while emboldening terrorists abroad.

The honeymoon stage is over for President Obama. His first hundred days are coming to an end, and now he can no longer rely on the anti-Bushism to secure his legitimacy. He alone must own up to foreign policy decision like this and piracy in Somalia as well as domestic issues such as the economic crisis. And from the looks of his decisions of late, behind the charming and eloquent rhetoric of his speeches, he seems to be choosing to do whatever is politically expedient for his political legacy rather than the interest of the American people. The change that he promised during his campaign has not come in any shape or form, and Washington politics is business as usual (although I will praise Secretary of Defense Gates' proposal to completely revamp the military budget to scrap Cold-War era projects and shift military priorities towards emerging challenges in insurgency warfare, etc.). Its time to keep Pres. Obama accountable on his promise of bipartisanship and change.

The Great Love of Christ

"Jesus loves us so much that He would rather go to hell for you than heaven without you."

Entering this semester, I had high hopes for God to do amazing things in my life. I wanted Him to teach me new things, to open my eyes to more of His vision for me, to lead me on new and exhilarating adventures, and the whole nine yards. What I didn't expect was to enter a dry spell. But that's exactly what happened. I'd go days without spending time with God. I'd go to church for the obligatory expectations of a good Christian. I'd attend small group to just hang out with people I'm still in the process of getting to know. The passion, the zeal, and the heart were simply not there. School has been overwhelming this semester. The demands of graduate studies kept me occupied with the need to always be reading about nuclear weapons, terrorism, insurgencies, statistical analysis, etc. And in the midst of all that, the desire for God waned and waned.

In the days leading up to Good Friday, I sat on my bed, popped open my study bible, eager to reconnect with God once again. It had been awhile, and somehow I had managed the time to get away from my books to focus on God. I read all four Gospel accounts of the final days of Christ, leading up to the time Jesus prays in the garden of Gethsemane. The words of Christ to Peter, John, and Andrew took on new meaning for me that night. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." As I began praying, I began falling asleep. Two hours later, I woke up and realized that I had fallen asleep while praying and reflecting. This was the condition of my heart. I was weak. I was weary.

During Good Friday service, the pastor preached on this very account, Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. Without going into depth, the one thing that he said that has stayed with me is this: Jesus loved us so much that he would rather go to hell for you than heaven without you. Bearing the entire wrath of God, He took the shame of the world and became sin for us. I don't know why but after that night, it felt like a weight was taken off my shoulder, and I could worship God freely again.

It's only been two days since, but I have regained the hope and expectancy I entered the year with. I know I'll falter and fail, but I also know that I have a great God who will pick me back up and push me forward again and again. Praise God for His great love.

White House Liaison to Hollywood?

If you haven't heard by now, Kal Penn, the actor who most notably played Kumar in the Harold and Kumar movies, is now on the government payroll as the White House Liaison to Hollywood. His official title in the Obama administration is "Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison" and will be responsible for outreach efforts to Hollywood, arts group, and the Asian-American Pacific Islander groups. Does anyone else think that this is a waste of taxpayer money? And even if there were even a remote need for a position like this, the Obama administration could not find another more qualified person for the job?

For starters, I don't see why Hollywood needs any additional representation in society and politics. Actors, directors, producers, and other players in the business have ties to enormously strong political lobbies, most of which are on the liberal spectrum. What more outreach is needed to this already hugely influential bloc of society? Then there's the question of the Asian-American Pacific Islander matter. How is it that a person who is responsible for outreach to arts groups also responsible for outreach to an ethnic group? I don't understand how the arts and Asian-Americans are related in any fashion.

For all I know, this may prove to be a great move by the Obama administration and Penn can do influential things during his tenure in the White House. But I have my huge doubts that this is yet another example of the Obama administration's growth of bureaucracy in the federal government and wasteful spending. Even if there were some good things to come out of this (I can't imagine what that may be...), I don't think the benefits outweigh the costs, especially when Pres. Obama is tackling a bajillion number of issues already.

But enough ranting about useless political banter. Baseball season is upon us, and school is three weeks away from being over. Let the good times roll.

Michigan

It seems there isn't much to be elated about in Michigan. The economy is seriously tanking with unemployment easily exceeding 10%. The Big 3 auto companies continue to be in dire situations as the global recession continues to affect car sales. Then there's the politics in the state, stained by decades of corrupt and scandal-ridden public officials--most notably, Kwame Kilpatrick. How Governor Granholm served on the board of economic advisers to Pres. Obama during his campaign was beyond me given that under her helm the economy has soured all the more.

With all those woes adding to the burden of all Michiganders comes the hardship of Michigan sports. Let's not even talk about the Detroit Lions with their winless season and decades of futility. The Detroit Tigers had one magical fluke season a few years ago after decades of mediocrity. Now they find themselves near the bottom of their weak division trying to attempt another improbable season. The Detroit Pistons, I will admit, had a good run in this decade, with smart cost-cutting moves and emphasis on team play. However, that run is on its last legs, and unless Joe Dumars is a magician of sorts, it would seem the Pistons would need to undergo a painful season of rebuilding. Detroit natives will argue that the Detroit Red Wings are the premier team in the NHL, but I would counter by saying that hockey has always had a limited national audience and it is close to be irrelevant outside the northern states.

College sports have not treated Michigan that well these days either. My alma mater, the University of Michigan, won its last national championship in college football in 1997. The last decade has been marked with high expectations and disappointing results in major bowl games under Lloyd Carr. The jury is out on the Rich Rod era (although I do have high hopes as he begins to get the type of players who'll buy into his offense), but last season, U-M suffered through its ugliest season in its storied program. U-M's basketball program deteriorated since the Fab Five era, suffering under the mediocrity of Tommy Amaker. However, there is hope with the Jon Beilein era, with the Wolverines getting their first invitation to the NCAA tournament since 1998 this year and even beat Clemson in the first round before bowing out to Oklahoma. Hope does exist. I believe. Then there's Michigan State. Their football program has always been inferior to U-M's, and despite their relative success last year, it is laughable to think their program can vault into the upper echelon of college football programs. The only thing Michigan State has going for them is its basketball program under Tom Izzo. Its last national championship in 2000 under Izzo and Mauteen Cleeves.

So with all this being said, it was funny to hear people talk about Michigan State's destiny to win another national championship at Ford Field last night against North Carolina. They had to win it as a source of encouragement for all of Michigan, to have something that Michiganders could have pride in. But to the entire state's dismay, the heavily-favored Tar Heels put a licking on the Spartans. I particularly enjoyed, I will not lie. I have no real Michigan loyalties (aside from my alma mater). In fact, I loathe all Michigan sports except for the Wolverines...but especially Michigan State. I couldn't understand how U-M alums and fans were supporting MSU. That's like sleeping with the enemy (figuratively). Besides, I've been a Carolina fan all my life. But watching the game reinforced the fact that it must really suck to be a Michigander these days. I am sorry for all you Michiganders. Hopefully, sometime in the future, things will pick up for you once again.

Trafficking of Children

It's hard to imagine what it would feel like as a parent to have my child abducted. It's harder to imagine what it would feel like to know he/she would be sold to a trafficker.

I came across this article in the New York Times as I was doing some research for a paper that I'm writing for a class. There are simply no words that can express the sorrow and anger I feel.

We're taught, especially in higher institutions of learning, that humans are intrinsically good and that evil exists because of corruption in society. But I don't buy it. How can one justify the essence of humanity's goodness when millions of people are involved in the trafficking of kids?

And what is more saddening is that there are not nearly enough people who care about this. Too busy worrying over the 401k and job security in this economic crisis. Are we that self-absorbed that we tolerate selling of children into brothels, into warfare, and into other abhorrent places?

Sadly, I think we are.

World Baseball Classic

Last night was the championship game of the World Baseball Classic (WBC). The inaugural WBC was played in 2006, with Japan beat Cuba in the finals by the score of 10-6. Three years later, with the WBC garnering more international interest, the championship game pitted Korea against the defending champions and bitter archrivals, Japan. Under the lights of Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, the game certainly did not disappoint fans of all stripes. It was a thrilling extra-inning affair, with Japan coming out on top 5-3, much to the agony of Korean fans all over the world.

People suggest that I have an identity crisis. Having lived in the United States for all but three years of my life, I am automatically assumed to have my loyalties towards America in all things. But that hasn't always been the case. Often times in international competitions such as the Olympics and the World Cup, my allegiance has usually gone to the place where I was born. And people question how I can do that when realistically speaking, I have far more connections with America than I do with Korea. To them, the only answer I have is that I don't know. All I know is that for some reason, I have a deep sense of nationalism towards Korea, and I don't perceive this to die down anytime.

This morning, I was asked by a non-Korean friend why Korea-Japan rivalry is such an emotional affair. One word: nationalism. It is very much like the Yankees-Red Sox, Michigan-Ohio State, Lakers-Celtics, and North Carolina-Duke rivalries in American sports. The only thing is that this is exponentially more intense because there's political, historical, and social components to the Korea-Japan rivalry that doesn't exist in a domestic sports rivalry. For many Koreans and first generation Korean-Americans, emotions can run high when it comes to anything related to Japan, as Japan raises memories and stories of atrocities committed by Japan during its colonization of Korea from 1910-1945. Such resentment towards Japan continues to be fueld by modern political developments such as the Dokdo/Takeshima island dispute, visits to the Yasukuni War Shrine by Japanese leaders, and Japanese revisionist history textbooks.

I understand that from an American perspective, it can look highly irrational and even annoying that a small country with under 50 million people goes crazy every time there's some international competition. But with such sporting events is the power of the "rally-around-the-flag effect." For a country whose people have felt betrayed by the world since 1895, lived under three decades of brutal Japanese colonialism, and bordered by a menacing nuclear threat, Korea's "rally-around-the-flag effect" includes the performances of its athletes in the world's greatest stages as well as high profile Koreans breaking glass ceilings in academia, American politics, international politics, and so on and so forth. To put it very bluntly, this, I don't think, can ever be truly understood by an American in a world dominated by the United States.

With this being said, it is no surprise that Dodgers Stadium was filled with tens of thousands of Koreans with their Thunderstix screaming "Dae Han Min Gook" for four hours straight. And even though I have two papers due this week, I rushed home from the library to watch this epic game on my couch and unable to hide my anxiety throughout the game. And even despite the loss, I am still proud of the team for reaching the finals and showing the world that Korean baseball has arrived in the big stage. And even though they did not win, I'm still going to buy this.

Two Sides

There are two sides to every story.

Today, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the president of Sudan, Omar Hassan al-Bashir. It represents the first arrest warrant for a sitting leader of a country. Many have heralded the move as a great thing because of the crimes against humanity that al-Bashir is accused of in Darfur. It could set a precedent to other dictators and perpetrators of mass injustice against their own citizens.

But I am not necessarily celebrating like many others are. Why? It is not because I believe al-Bashir is innocent. By all means, I think he is a ruthless dictator that embodies evil for the intentional slaughter of his own people in Darfur. So why am I not exuberant? It is because the ICC has no mechanism to forcibly arrest al-Bashir unless he were to step out of the country and be caught by international forces. The arrest warrant is simply a powerless political tool to convey a message without teeth to enforce it. However, it gets worse. The arrest warrant has provoked al-Bashir to action; he has kicked out humanitarian NGOs that provided a bulk of the administration of humanitarian aid to the Sudanese in retaliation against his perceived adversaries. So while the issuance of an arrest warrant is a great symbollic gesture, it has led to a negative side effect of kicking out organizations helping the needy in Sudan, making the humanitarian situation in Sudan even worse than before.

This is one of the fundamental problems of international human rights advocacy. States have limited power to affect another state's human rights record without considering military actions, which most states will never consider for a humanitarian need after the U.S. debacle in Somalia in 1993. I do not mean to rain on the idealists and champions of human rights all over the world. I do wish, alongside them, that human rights will be promoted from the gulags of North Korea to the plains of Darfur. But the more I study, the more I'm beginning to see that change must come from people's convictions and not governments' actions. It is the concept of the power of one person that will tidal wave into a movement to create external (and sometimes internal) change. It is by no means easy, and often does demand blood,sweat, and tears (and very much likely sacrifice of lives in the case of repressive governments like al-Bashir's). But I'm convinced that the will of the people will triumph and grassroots movements is the only viable means to see that systematic genocide will cease to be a state's political goal.

Friends

This past weekend was Paul and Gina's "wedding" in Chicago. It's always awesome to see two friends come together and be able to celebrate their joyous occasion. It was also great to reconnect with old friends again, especially some whom I have not seen in quite awhile. Even though there was not enough hours in a day to catch up with all of them, it felt great to see familiar faces again.

On the way home, I realized how special these friends were. I remember coming to college thinking that my high school friends would be the people that I could lean on and call friends for the rest of my life. But years later, I can safely say that although I still cherish my high school friends, at least those that I've still kept in touch with, the friendships made in college are the ones that have lasted.

I'm not sure why I got really sentimental last night. It's not like it was the first time I've had reunions of sorts with some college friends since I've graduated and/or moved out of Ann Arbor. But for some reason, I really began to think about the friends I had made in college and how influential they've been in my young life. As I was talking to those friends that I only get to see at a big gathering of sorts, it's awesome to know that distance won't keep me apart from them. One of the things I'm learning is how much more valuable depth of friendship is to me than quantity of friends I have. Some friends have truly walked through the valleys with me, witnesses to God's continual redemption project. Some are relatively new friends, but equally as influential in my current state. Regardless, these are the brothers and sisters that I've come to appreciate--their hilarity, their rebukes, their prayers, their care, their concerns, and their company.

Even though my friends maybe all around the country and the world, they are still my friends whom I can trust. Though they are not perfect, they continually point me to the perfect one. That is all I can ask for.

Insurgency

One of the classes I'm taking this semester is a class on insurgency. The overarching theme of the class is what factors contribute to the rise of insurgency movements--from the Jewish revolt against the Romans in the first century to the Iraqi insurgency in Fallujah--and what can be done to counter insurgency movements. It is a very fascinating class, and I'm glad I decided to take this class.

This past week (when I wasn't stressing over my nuclear proliferation paper that was due yesterday), I read one book and skimmed another that dealt the role economics plays in insurgency movements. It is generally accepted that insurgents gain momentum in places with abject poverty. I'm not convinced that abject poverty alone is the cause of all insurgency movements (there was a well-known study done by a University of Chicago professor who analyzed data of every terrorist activity in the past three decades and more than 75% of them were middle-class men). But I do believe there is an association between poverty and insurgency. One of the books (the one I read) talked about the "bottom billion" who have missed the boat of rapid globalization and are trapped in poverty that will be really hard for them to get out of without the assistance of the developed world and good governance. The other book (the one I skimmed) talked about how foreign aid doled out by the developed world is not doing much to solve the issue of poverty and is, in fact, perpetuating it in many regions of the world. If you are interested in international affairs, international development, public policy, human rights, etc., I strongly urge you to pick up either or both these books. Or if you have free time and want a good read, you should too.

That being said, this class has also given me the opportunity to research about a particular insurgency that I have personal attachment to. In 2007, I went on a summer trip to the western part of China, home of ethnic minority groups such as the Uyghers and Hui people groups. Previous to that trip, I had never heard of them, and so when I went, it was fascinating to learn about their culture and history (I admit it. I'm a nerd).The Uygher people have been the object of many oppressive policies throughout much of its history. They've been in the news in and out throughout the latter part of the 20th century, most notably by the atrocities committed against them by Mao and the Cultural Revolution. Independence movements have been ferocious at times, and now the region is considered to be a hotbed of rising terrorism, particularly troublesome with Afghanistan sharing part of its border. With the U.S.'s war on terror fully operational, the Chinese government saw that as a carte blanche to crack down on these so-called terrorists/separatists. There are many Uyghers being held in Guantanomo Bay as a result of the war on terror.

All this being said, reading up on material on the Uyghers and separatist movements in XinJiang has been making me nostalgic about that trip. I've talked to some friends I went with, and all the more, it makes me want to make another trip out there. But somehow, I don't think that'll be possible, at least not anytime soon. But in the end, I'm remembering to keep that people group in prayer, a people group lost without hope.

Kristof Essay

Two years ago, Nicholas Kristof opened up a yearly opportunity for a student to go on a reporting trip with him to the developing world. Now that I am a student and therefore eligible, I decided to put my name in the running. I had to write a 700-word essay about why I would like to go on this trip.

I don't expect to win, of course (realistic expectations). But the self-inflicted grueling process of writing a 700-word essay was a good exercise in communicating why I'm here in Washington and doing what I'm doing. I'll be the first to admit that in the company of type A personalities who are driven by worldly ambitions, it's really hard to keep my intentions pure and holy. I catch myself chasing after the dreams of being significant and doing all these glorious things for myself rather than building the kingdom of God. This exercise helped ground me to some degree. I've decided to post it online to share with you. I went through nine drafts before I finally (primarily because I ran out of time) submitted this one to the New York Times. I'm not perfectly pleased with it (since when I am ever?), but it's good enough. Enjoy.

I’m usually not a talkative person, but I love telling stories. Whether in short prose, blogs, or other avenues, I want to tell stories that I find interesting. My creative writing professor taught me a lesson I’ll never forget: “Find your own voice. And find your own story to write.” With the help of The Times, I wish to tell more stories in my own voice—stories of struggle and triumph, stories of injustice and hope, stories to awaken the souls of the world to the cries of the voiceless. And more than my desires to tell a good story, it is my conviction to help others that fuels me to seek this opportunity.

This conviction to help those most in need took root during my last semester in college. Prior to then, I had been your run-of-the-mill, self-absorbed teenager who could care less about human suffering. But it was largely the writings of Nicholas Kristof that brought me out of my bubble and into a world where systematic injustice existed, even though I had lived through my share of economic inequality, racism, and xenophobia. Being immigrants, my parents worked more than twelve-hour shifts in laundromats and grocery stores to barely make ends meet. Growing up unable to speak English, I was spat upon and made fun of countless times in school. My own teachers called me by racial slurs. I thought I knew all there was about injustice—until I realized that I would never be sold into brothels like the women whom Mr. Kristof had interviewed for his articles dealing with sex-trafficking in Cambodia. It was then that the words of Edmund Burke echoed in my head: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

I soon found myself on a plane to Cambodia, partnering with an organization to provide a means of livelihood to people whose own government labeled a lost cause. Many of them were stricken with leprosy and/or other diseases, and they were thrown out of society to fend for themselves. Even worse, their children rummaged through garbage to find food to eat and things to sell. As I watched in horror, I could no longer justify my indifference. I needed to do something.

The organization I worked with had built a school to provide free education for children in the area. I volunteered to teach and give them a childhood that I believed they deserved. Our team introduced them to games that we had grown up with—four corners, tag, jump-rope, and the likes. We wanted to enable their dreams and provide a safe environment, away from traffickers that were always lurching in the villages.

Three weeks later, I came back to America changed. I can’t completely say that I was no longer entirely self-absorbed and indifferent, but I wanted to find meaningful ways to get involved in making this world a better place.

Today, I am a graduate student studying international politics as it relates to injustices faced by children, the most vulnerable elements of society. Children actively fight grown men’s wars, labor in atrocious sweat-shops, and service tourists in brothels. More often than not, their plight has largely gone ignored and their stories have reached deaf ears. They are victims of the truest sense of the word, and I can no longer stand idle as they are taken advantage of.

I am no journalist. I am a student with a drive to keep learning. I am a political scientist who loves to capture stories. I am a human being who wants to make a difference. And I am not perfect. I am sure there are many others who are more qualified than I am. But what I lack in experience and ability, I bring relentless passion, deep-rooted conviction, and steadfast devotion. My out-of-the-box thinking, communication skills, and technical experiences, including photography and videography, will be an asset to your team. But most importantly, this trip will give me a unique experience of translating my interests in politics, writing, and humanitarian work into a lifelong commitment to combating injustice in the developing world as well as a medium to mobilize others to do the same.

25 Random Things

To follow on the 25 random things about me trend on facebook, here goes my list:

1. The first memory I have is when I was around four years old. My dad chased away a would-be carjacker...with me in his arms. Oh and my dad couldn't speak English at the time.

2. I grew up in a predominantly Jewish and Italian neighborhood. Up until 5th grade, my childhood friends were Jewish, including one of my closest friends named Asaf. But I never went to a bar mitzvah because my parents didn't know what that was and didn't let me go.

3. I went through 2.5 years of ESL classes. I loved it at the time. Only later did I realize that my peers were making fun of me because I couldn't speak English (I didn't understand what they were saying).

4. When I was in 5th grade, I wanted to become a cartoonist for Disney. My 5th grade teacher also taught art and he loved cartoons and inspired me to want to draw. Needless to say, that did not pan out.

5. The only movie I remember ever crying in is Saving Private Ryan when Tom Hanks' character is on the bridge after being shot and tells Matt Damon's character to "earn it." What a touching moment.

6. I almost didn't go to Stuyvesant High School even though I had gained admittance. I wanted to go to high school with my friends, who were going to Tottenville High School. But my parents forced me to go to NYC's premier high school instead. I don't regret it now.

7. My dad loved to travel. Every year we would take a roadtrip as a family to various places across the United States. I hated some of the trips, but looking back, I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to spend so much time with my family in going to so many places that many of my peers can only dream about.

8. I almost drowned in Jones Beach when I was really young when a tide came in and knocked me under the waves. Ever since then, I am not a big fan of swimming although I do know how to swim now.

9. When I was 9 or 10 years old, my cousins and I went to Great Adventures in New Jersey. We got on this ride that would gradually flip us upside down. That particular day, the ride malfunctioned and we were left hanging upside down for awhile. I've never enjoyed amusements park ever since then.

10. I went through a rebellious stage during junior high school. I would instigate fist fights between friends, order Indian food to a friend I didn't particularly like (but we were still friends, which I don't understand), and egg cars during Halloween.

11. I had no intention of even applying to the University of Michigan. I submitted my application past the deadline. It was the first school that I heard back from.

12. I found myself very close to being put on academic probation during the first two semesters of college. I never went to class despite taking Orgo I and II, Calc I and II, Engin 100 and 101, and Physics I and II. How I managed to graduate in 4 years and get into graduate school still confounds me.

13. I am a closet nerd. I grew up loving to read. I still do. And I love what I'm studying right now (international politics).

14. I'm a better communicator in writing than I am in person. I can passionately argue and debate in writing; I am far less effective in person.

15. I started listening to Korean music in junior high school. I listened to it religiously up through college. Now it is somewhat behind me. I have not kept up.

16. One of my guilty pleasures is to watch Korean dramas. But I only watch one or two dramas in a given year. And its usually a show that has one of my favorite actresses in it, who I think is one of the hottest women. Period.

17. I have a hat fetish. I love buying baseball caps. The only bad thing is, I have a tendency to lose a lot of them.

18. I have had the same aol screenname since freshman year of high school: xlazybuttx. I still use "lazy" or "lazybutt" as a nickname for things like tshirts, video games, bowling, etc.

19. I am not the most musically talented person in the world, although I did take piano lessons for years. I do, however, love to go karaoking. I miss my NRB crew.

20. I am good at disguising my emotions to a fault. I am exceptionally guarded and have a hard time opening up to anyone. My inner circle is really small. I need to work on this.

21. I've always wanted to be a National Geographic photographer. I've also wanted to film a documentary to raise awareness and start a movement.

22. Nicholas Kristoff is one of my heroes. I would like a job like his: to travel the world and report on social issues that should matter to everyone. William Wilberforce and Adoniram Judson are two other heroes.

23. I'm not particularly a picky eater, but I hate fish. But I love other types of seafood like crab, lobster, muscles, shrimp, oysters.

24. I'm allergic to fresh apples and peaches. But I'll still eat them because they are so yummy. I am also allergic to bee stings. If I get stung, I need to be rushed to the emergency room or hit up with an epi-pen or I will die.

25. People's first impression of me is that I'm serious and intimidating. I don't know why. In fact, I love to laugh a lot. Even if its not that funny, I'll probably be found laughing. And they say I have a weird and unique laughter. I don't know if that's a good thing or not.

Yes We Can

January 20, 2009: the day the United States of America inaugurated its first minority president in its history. While I disagree with some major philosophical/political ideologies, I recognize the significance of this moment. So I decided that given the fact that I'm a hop, skip, and a walk away from downtown Washington D.C., I would be part of history in the making by joining with millions of other Americans in celebrating the new dawn when the office of the presidency is not an exclusively Caucasian office. Despite the impassable crowds, the frigid temperature, and the minor inconveniences and annoyances, I am glad I ventured out into the crowd to witness this momentous occasion.

A quick side note, it is indeed amazing how the son of a Kenyan immigrant who was virtually an unknown junior senatorial candidate from Illinois in 2004 came to hold the ultimate office of leadership in the country. Only in a country like the United States can that even be considered a possibility. It speaks volumes of the maturity of our democratic process in an age when many "democracies" still resort to violence and policies of exclusion to direct their domestic policies. I am proud to be an American citizen. I am even prouder to be a Korean-American. I wonder if it will at all be a possibility of seeing an Asian-American ascend to the highest office of this land. For all intents and purposes, what Pres. Obama has achieved is a milestone for all minority groups, but we have not yet arrived.

Back to the inauguration. Pastor Rick Warren's opening invocation was powerful. I know that liberal and secular commentaries are saying how overly Christian the prayer was, but the dude is a Christian evangelical pastor. What were they expecting from him? But from my vantage point, where I was standing (near the Washington Monument which is about a mile away from where it all happened), his prayer was indeed powerful. Echoes of "amen" and "hallelujah" were heard from around, while tears flowed in the eyes of some other believers. I, too, was moved by the content of his prayer. I especially liked when he prayed, "When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you—forgive us. When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone—forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve—forgive us." Powerful.

Like some other commentaries and analysis I've read and heard, I did not think the inauguration address was all that impressive. Don't misunderstand me. It was a fine piece of writing delivered in typical Obama-style brilliance. But the content in it of itself seemed a little less memorable than previous addresses like the JFKs and the Lincolns and the Reagans. Perhaps Obama's 2004 DNC speech and many of his subsequent speeches have spoiled me to the point where I expect his next speech to top his previous.

I have so many thoughts from the inauguration. Perhaps I shall share them on a post later on. But for now, I leave you with words from his inaugural address that I liked and a few pictures I took. More pictures can be found on my flickr site.

"What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and the promise of citizenship. This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny."

"America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

End of an Era

Last night, the 43rd President of the United States addressed the people one last time. In a rather short-winded speech, President George W. Bush thanked the people for the honor to have served as president. Immediately following the live telecast, media outlets wasted no time in colorfully commentating on all the negative legacies of President Bush.

It has been eight long years for sure. I supported George W. Bush in 2000. I knew, even back then, that he was not the most eloquent speaker, the most charismatic leader the United States could offer. I wasn't completely sold on his credentials. But I thought he would be the better person for the job than the seemingly smug and condescending Democratic nominee, Vice-President Al Gore. His campaign for compassionate conservatism seemed attractive at the time.

I also supported him in 2004. While his actions immediately following the tragic events of September 11th, 2001 were commendable, he had led the country into an ill-advised war, stirring up the hornet's nest in Iraq. His decision to proudly land on an aircraft carrier with a banner that proclaimed that the mission was over would come back to haunt him. The years following the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom was not what he had envisioned. Thousands of U.S. soldiers returned home in flag-draped caskets, and many more returned physically and psychologically disabled. Yet, I could not get myself to support the Democratic nominee for President, Senator John Kerry. I could not agree with Kerry's domestic policy plans and more importantly, his foreign policy goals. The election of 2004 became the election of the lesser of two evils.

Forgotten in the midst of all the political backlash from his decision to invade Iraq on faulty intelligence is one of President Bush's greatest foreign policy achievement. Former Senator Bill Frist wrote an excellent commentary for CNN today that gave the American people a rather positive view of the outgoing president. President Bush's commitment to fight AIDS in Africa produced the PEPFAR bill in 2003 that committed $15 billion over the next five years. It was more money committed to fighting the disease in Africa than any other presidents before. And it is widely credited by doctors, health officials, and aid workers from across the political spectrum as being highly effective in addressing a critical health need in the world. The commentary also goes on to speak of President Bush's legacy on the fight against malaria in Africa and other domestic health initiatives.

All this being said, the eight years of President Bush's administration is up. There have been many successes and failures. From rising on the ashes of the World Trade Center to flying past New Orleans in the wake of Hurrican Katrina, from passing the bipartisan led No Child Left Behind to deregulation of the financial industry, the past eight years have been eventful to say the least. But he made the hard decisions based on what he knew at the time like President-elect Obama will do when he takes office on Tuesday. Hindsight is 20/20, and knowing what we know about Iraq and Afghanistan, we can blast the President all we want. But what's done is done, and I loved how he quoted Thomas Jefferson last night when he said, "I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past."

On Tuesday, Barack Hussein Obama will take the oath to become the 44th President of the United States of America. It is the end of one era and the beginning of a new one. May God bless America!

New Start

Tomorrow, I start my second semester. It is exciting in a new way. I kind of know what to expect now, now that I've got one semester under my belt. The last two-and-a-half weeks of the previous semester is not something I want to repeat this time around. I vow to keep up with my work and not leave all my final papers til the last minute. I found out that one of my classes has a 30-page paper due. At least it's due a month earlier than most finals, if that is any consolation. But given the craziness I endured last semester, I'm very pleased with my performance. I've never seen grades that high next to my name and the letters "GPA". Horray for God's awesome faithfulness.

Recently, I finished Randy Pausch's book, "The Last Lecture" and watched the last lecture he delivered at Carnegie Mellon University where he had been an associate professor of computer science. If you've never heard of him, Randy Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a type of cancer in which less than 10% of those diagnosed live past six months. With less than six months of good health left, he went on to deliver a poignant lecture that touched the hearts of those in the room and beyond. If you have not listened to that lecture and/or read the book, I strongly urge you to do so. They will surely not disappoint.

The book/lecture got me thinking about some stuff. Often times, good books and/or talks will do that to you. Here was a man diagnosed with one of the most severe forms of cancer there is and he's so optimistic on life. Yes, he is deeply saddened by the fact that he will soon leave his wife by herself to rear three children who will never fully know who their dad was. But he does not live with bitterness and a woe-is-me attitude. He does not play the victim. He says in his lecture, "That is what it is. We can't change it. We just have to decide how we'll respond. We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." And he played it as best as he knew how.

There are so many life lessons I got out of this short little book at first reading. I'm definitely planning on going back and re-reading it. I believe it has valuable lessons of what it means to be a person. But the one lesson I want to focus on today is the power of attitude. I look at myself and I see someone different from this Randy Pausch person. I get one parking ticket, one paper cut, one lousy grade, one missed lunch, and I get all bent out of shape. Here is a man who's been sentenced to death, and he lives happily and fully to his bestest abilities. There is something wildly attractive about that. Sometimes I fool myself into believing the lie that I cannot change who I am. I'm a pessimist, a half-empty kind of guy. But that doesn't mean I need to stay that way. I want to be optimistic on life. I want to be able to live a full life where even if something doesn't go the way I would hope, I can still move on quickly to bigger and better things.

That is what I'm going to try to do this new year. I don't necessarily believe in new years resolutions. But I want to try something new. I want to remain as upbeat as possible no matter what may come.