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. =)
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
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.
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.
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