Day 141: Rebuttle
Alrighty. I don't usually respond to comments that people write me, even though I do read (and love!) each and every one, but I received one today that I just *HAD* to respond to. It was a response to my opinions regarding the TV commercials on AFN and my "American-bashing." Although I still stand behind my opinions regarding the subject matter of TV ads on the Armed Forces Network, I first off wish to apologize if I offended any of my friends/readers. As mentioned in my blog, all of my 'cons' listed in that entry are either exaggerated or mostly just written in jest/sarcasm. However, I again wish to apologize if my humour caused any offense amongst my loyal fans.
At the same time, however, I also feel strongly compelled to defend my opinions and return the criticism back to the source of the comment. For those who haven't read this comment below (under Day 139: Life In The Village), the author alludes (but does not outright say) that I'm hypocritic in my views regarding America and American culture. They strongly scold me for "American-bashing" while in my next breath I go on to write about many other American cultural products (ie: media, restaurants, etc.) that I enjoy.
I feel that this argument is ill-informed and incorrect in using this simple comparison, and that it also unfortunately narrows down the argument to a mere 'black-and white' scenario - posing/suggesting the thought that I have to either love everything about America or hate it all.
But sir/madam ~ I beg to differ! It doesn't have to be one way OR the other. Both viewpoints (and a million other variations inbetween) can *and should* coexist together in the same world.
Life is never black and white. Everything is in shades of grey.
Here's why:
I CAN hate American foreign policy and government leadership AND still admire America as a nation.
I CAN criticize and dennounce and strongly dislike certain specific Americans AND still love other Americans as individuals (most of my family, in fact, is American, and I have many very dear friends who are US citizens.)
I CAN critique the influence that American cultural biproducts have on mass globalization and the rapid extinction of foreign indigenous cultures AND still enjoy the very same American cultural biproducts myself.
I CAN voice my strong opinions about the current actions of the American military, both here in Korea and elsewhere abroad AND still be thankful for the historical role they have had in keeping South Korea safe.
I CAN hate the sin but still love the sinner (sorry to use a Catholic reference!)
I CAN strongly criticize America in terms of its cultural influence, global military role, mover-n-shaker position in the world AND not have an inferiority complex.
I CAN be displeased with the actions of the world's most powerful nation AND realize that my own nation Canada, much like every other single other nation on the planet, is also not perfect.
I CAN possess and formulate and voice my own opinions against political and cultural entities, such as the United States of America, AND still be a good guy (and *not* a 'basher.' Since when does having opinions that disagree with your own equate to "bashing"? What happened to 'agreeing to disagree' in this world?)
I CAN *NOT* be 'Either With You Or Against You'.
The world is a complex place filled with complicated people. Nothing is ever easy or simple or instantly clear or always agreeable or contintually fashionably neutral and pretty all the time. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a lot of very strong (and occasionally controversial) opinions regarding that nation south of the 49th Parallel.
It's just who I am, and I'm not going to apologize or feel guilty for possessing such thoughts. I never mean to cause personal offense, but I *strongly believe* that we need discontent and discussion and dialogue in this world in order to make it work. I'm proud of my own thoughts and ideas and opinions, and am not afraid to share them with the world via my blog. (Cause at the end of the day, it still is MY blog. I can write whatever the hell I feel like. Right?)
I would like to say, in final, that I was disappointed that the criticizer of my blog entry did not even leave their name so I would know the source. If you're going to fire a shot against me, at least have the balls to sign your name to your own work. I always encourage and appreciate everyone's thoughts and opinions, (yes, even when they greatly differ from my own) but prefer to know where they come from.
Don't I at least deserve that much respect?
posted by S2H at 12:48 p.m.
15 Comments:
Scotty I completely agree with what you said. For the most part I feel the same way. No country is perfect and we know as well as any that we have plenty of problems e.g. Native Issues, Quebec Separatism, etc. It seems a lot of late that anyone that disagrees with the policies of Bush and his government is automatically labelled a US basher or worse yet an enemy of the USA.
In all honesty I'm surprised that the American people themselves don't revolt against their government. Their actions of their government (note I said government not ALL AMERICAN PEOPLE) have been no better than some of the dictators and barbarians they are fighting against.
It seems that anyone who speaks the truth lately gets the butt of the hatred out there. Look at Michael Moore especially now that Fareinheit 911 is now in wide release. There is a man who is American and I admire. I admire him for his courage to speak out against the all powerful American government and tell people how crooked and wrong it's actions are. This man truly has courage.
Everyone has a right to their opinion and there will always be people who don't believe you or agree with you. It does not make either you or them wrong. It just makes us all different.
2:46 p.m.
AMEN, Brother. Couldn't have said it any better myself.
Leese
3:03 p.m.
Scotty,
Regardless of how some may comment on your BLOG, we still love you. Your comments are a constant source of entertainment...notice how I said 'entertainment'? If this person is so offended by your entries, he/she should refrain from indulging in your quips and contemplations! Personally, I enjoy your comments; and occasionally, they even make me think...hmmm.
And kudos to Cindy. Finally, she's making some sense (*just kidding Cindy*). I couldn't have said it better myself.
Ciao for now,
Karen
3:23 p.m.
Mr. Scotty 2H Erdman,
The "America bashing" post was from me. I didn't allude to any hypocrisy on your part. It just seems that people take things for granted. The many goods that my country is responsible for far outweigh the warts we have. With freedom to do great good comes freedom to make mistakes. I completely and totally acknowledge the shortcomings of my country.
It seems however, that the shortcomings of no other countries have made it into your blog.
You have every right to express the long list of "cans" you write of in your response to my comment. You have invited comments to your blog and I made one. It obviously hit close to home based upon your response. I described your comments as American bashing. If they are made with no intent to communicate anything other than contempt what should they be referred to as? What line of communication do you open with the phrase, "We're American so we're great - read: FULL OF OURSELVES - and everyone loves us so bow down and kiss our asses" ?? Not really a comment that generates the productive exchange of ideas...
Its interesting that you felt the need to extrapolate my short comment into an attempt to change your list of nine "cans" into "cannots". You make assumptions that are "ill-informed and incorrect". Your reaction seems to be a bit of an overreaction.
The armed forces network can be turned off as easily as I can stop reading your blog. Its a station meant to serve the 30,000 Americans that are pretty much the only reason that North Korea hasn't taken over the entire peninsula. You're sitting in a country that 36,940 Americans and 516 Canadians died to preserve. Maybe a little respect mixed in with your disagreement might be appropriate?
The only "can" you propose that I disagree with is the one concerning your ability to critique "the influence that American cultural biproducts have on mass globalization and the rapid extinction of foreign indigenous cultures AND still enjoy the very same American cultural biproducts myself." How can you critique it if, by patronizing and supporting such byproducts, you are contributing to the extinction you bemoan?
As far as me not leaving my name on the first comment, I kind of thought you would know who it was. I failed to leave my name because its a pain in the ass to register on your blog and I merely failed to put it in the text. Not trying to post my views with no accountability. No disrespect intended. I respect you enough to read your blog almost daily and to even leave a comment (at my own risk it seems). We can agree on many of your opinions regarding my country but will have to disagree on the ways you choose to express those opinions.
Just food for thought Scottie, your American friend doesn't take offense as easily as you seem to. I will continue to follow your travels and triumphs on the S2H World Tour.
Best wishes from your friend and namesake south of the 49th,
Scott Erdman
(Yes, Scott Erdman, tell 'em Scottie)
6:08 p.m.
Well said, Scott. I can always count on you for a well-written article. :)
It constantly amazes me that, on the net, there are people who will repeatedly (granted this person was just an isolated complainer) sit and complain about something when a click will take them away from it, never to be seen again. Well, Penny Arcade's Greater Internew Fuckwad Theory never fails to explain things like this.
Keep up the good work, Scott. Best wishes from Taiwan.
6:17 p.m.
Now this Bolg is getting good! You see how one comment left on your blog generated your defensive “Rebuttal”. It is natural to get defensive and protect your beliefs. It is natural to argue with those who spout off sarcasm. Even though I did not post the comment, I applaud whoever did for having the balls to “react” even if it is sarcastically. No one wants an apology no one wants black or white. As for Cindy, “revolt against our government”, you have no clue. Sleep well tonight… chances are … you can thank some American government for it. Now comments like that will really get things Juicy! Okay, I am getting off my soapbox now.
JMc
6:55 p.m.
Scott
Okay heres the deal. You post an thought. I can post a thought. Hell most of the time we all post some kind of thought. You might be right you might not be right. Like Cindy posted Michael Moore is just one of many that has these same thoughts. What "frined south of the 49th" has to relaize is that his government may not be perfect, but you show me a government that is perfect and you will see the most perfect society. Thats right there isn't one.
Also how can he state that we are ill-informed, peronaly I watch CNN on a daily basis I watch the major networks and their coverage of what is happening in the Good Old US. I think I have a better understanding of what is happening in there country than some of them do.
I don't really think that it is fair for scott to suffer all this backlash from one "guy/girl" becuase he posted something that was ment in a funny/satiritical comment.
One finaly thought, he posted the "cans" to get the point across. Scott in all honest this is was a heavy subject to take down but good job in that. I did enjoy the porn monets better, make more of thoes happen.
Jason Thunder Bay
7:21 p.m.
Yes, More porn ;-)
9:37 p.m.
Scotty,
I completely agree with everything you said, and i hope you continue to keep speaking your mind on everything you experience in Korea. Afterall that is what you are there for to experience the Korean cultural in all its good and bad.
I feel i must give my opinion like some others, especially coming from an anthropological view.
The other Mr.Erdman asked the question of why you targeted Americans and not any other country well i would think that would be a very simple answer. Hello Do you see any Candain, British, French, Russion,Chinese,etc military in S.Korea. I dont think so. It just happens that the American Military is in that country so that is what is going to be observed.
I think Scott was only trying to make the observation that just because the American Military is in S.Korea why is there pro-American propoganda and no the other way around. There should be S.Korean propoganda instead. This is the trouble with the world today, many cultures are losing themselves do to globalizations, instead everyone should be working together to preserve them. You can say well the Americans are in S.Korea to protect just that, and they are doing a fine job, but then on the flip side like Scott has mentioned there is the influence of American propaganda which is doing the opposite.
Americans are not the only ones guilty of doing this just look back in recent history Britain, France, and Spain did this as well. Every country has their faults everyone is guilty of something. It is important however, that everyone be aware of what is happening, not only to be well informed but to also take action in trying to correct the error or "wart" as some have put it.
Keep on writing Scotty we all love it!
Barbiez
1:04 a.m.
We can all sit here an argue about this till the cows come home but after the American election we'll see how much the people of the USA agree with Bush and his "War against Terrorism". After that we'll really have something to talk about.
1:49 a.m.
Why is anyone who supports the USA a "Bush Supporter"? Stop and think about the presumptions you make when you type what you type. Is it possible that an anti-Bush American would make the same comment? Assuming that possibility, why are you so sure in your assumption that a USA supporter automatically supports Bush. Its a two party system, the polls are running 50/50 and all the Americans who vote are the Americans who will stand up for their country. It's a privilege and a responsibility that we all take seriously down here. Michael Moore couldn't make films in North Korea or China. Michael Moore LOVES the fact that he's an American.
American Boy
2:27 a.m.
Do you people even realize what the American government has done in the past 50 years? Scott Erdman the Second eluded to the fact that something like 35,000 Americans and 500ish Canadians died in the Korean war. Hmmm.... wait a minute, that was the imposition of will by the American government on the people of Korea in fear of Communism. It was a genuine fear for themselves, not for the people of Korea. Same with Vietnam. "Damn those Commies, they'll be coming here next!!" - - it was that kind of Cold War fear that had the whole Western world on edge. I call it insecurity. People died because the Americans decided it wasn't good enough to let the people of those countries revolt on their own.
Then there was Iraq. Same shit different pile. This time it was oil and not commies. Do you think that George Bush Sr. gave a hoot about Iraqis or Kuwaitis? Nope. There's a lot of oil there to be had but us Westerners. A lot of people died there too. And then, George W. Bush shows up, and wants to continue daddy's legacy. I detected a slight smirk when Bush was told about the attack on the World Trade Centre. In his not-so-functional little pea brain, he was like "Woohoo! Something major happened, now I'm gonna be important!". And that sparked a huge excuse to go and meddle in the affairs of other countries. And yes, I believe that Sadam Hussein may have been a dictator, and he *MIGHT* have done some awful things to his people, but that's what we have the UN for. (PS. I don't really know what I believe there because of American propaganda.)
So I'll leave you with this: How is going into a country, beating the heck out of them and then telling them that they have to have a democratic government NOT a dictatorship? George W. and his cronies didn't say, "Here, we've cleaned out the bad guys, why don't you make a government?", they said "Here, we've cleaned out the bad guys, YAY us, USA RULEZ!! Now here's your government. You don't get a choice. So there."
I realize that I left out a lot of details because 50 years is a long time, but I think you can fill in the holes yourselves. Bottom line: let the UN do its job -- the American government decided they were too good for the UN's suggestions and went off on their own accord. How is *that* democracy? In a democracy, not everyone agrees about everything, but they go with the majority. That's what the UN is... but the American bully decided they were going to rebel. *shrug* I wish someone would clear this up for me... too much inconsistency and confusion for this political scientist.
Leese
**Disclaimer: I do not hate the USA -- it has provided us with many GOOD things, and its people have an admirable sense of patriotism and genuine love for their country. They like to stand up for what they believe in, which is also admirable. They just need to elect a more left-leaning, less "all-about-the-money-keep-the-rich-people-happy" government. A government that is concerned with creating a social network so EVERY American has access to its world-class health care and higher education and all of the great things the Western world has to offer us.
Good luck to all of you.
2:28 p.m.
Well said Leese!
5:22 p.m.
Nothing like a good exchange of ideas to prompt a rote, re-used, re-heated round of Bush bashing. Its nice to hear the elder Bush re-bashed. Dust those well-preserved arguments off. Atleast you're recycling.
Bubba
11:44 p.m.
One of the things I enjoy Scott's blog for is that I can see his perspective of Korean culture as a Westerner and as an American I think his comments about the US and the US military in particular were spot on. SOme of my fellow Americans who have complained about Scott's comments seem to suffer from the rampant patriotism and blind belief in "our country right or wrong" which has troubled me about America for as long as I can remember. Many of the points I would make about American imperialism have already been made by other people on this list. But as an American I wanted to post my own message to say that I agree with Scott whole-heartedly and that Scott has the right to his opinion and this is his blog which is not the same as an open forum. Imagine if he wrote these comments in a diary or journal and someone read it and told him he couldn't write those things. That would be absurd. In my opinion, the best antidote to this closeminded patriotism that many Americans possess is to try to see things from other people's (or country's) perspectives. A great way to do that is to travel, see the world, start to understand that there are other views of the world besides the American one. That's why I love what Scott is doing and I'm sure he will be enriched and grow as a human being because of his experiences in Korea, in Europe or where ever the World Tour takes him.
8:11 p.m.
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