Thursday, February 14, 2008

An Open Letter to Senator McCain

So, Senator McCain, you hate "gooks". Do you have any idea what you just said? Let me attempt to enlighten you. The term "gook" entered the American vernacular during the Korean War (it was actually the second time American had been involved in a conflict on the Korean peninsula, but that is a story for another time). The word "gook" in Korean is a suffix and it means "kingdom" or "country". The word itself is derived from Chinese where word means, literally, "kingdom". Korea, which used to be spelled, in English, Corea (the spelling was changed during the Japanese occupation so the "Korea" would appear after "Japan" in English dictionaries, and, no, I'm not kidding), is called Hangook (or Han'gok). The word "America", when spoken in Korea, at least prior to the Korean War, was pronounced "Mi'gok" (megook). Today America is simply called "America". Functional English is spoken by the majority of the Korean population.

You might see this one coming but here it is anyway. When American forces liberated villages in Korea during the war children would run to them screaming "Mi'gok!" 'Mi'gok" (American! American!) to which some anonymous American responded "Ok, you're a gook". A decade later salty and crusty veterans of the Korean War were shipped to Viet Nam and they brought the term along with them and started referring to the Vietnamese as "gooks". And that his how the word "gook" became a slang term for anyone of Asian heritage.

So there you go, Senator McCain. Carry on about your duties and try not to sink any friendly ships in the future. Ok, yes, that was a low blow, but I don't like your politics. Once Obama defeats Clinton (please please please) I hope he replays you comment that "we should be in Iraq for 1000 years". If were campaign manager no American would be able to claim they did not year you make that statement. It is only a few words, but it speaks volumes.

Did I mention I loved my time in Korea and I miss the people, culture and language of that fascinating land greatly? One day I hope to return, if only for an extended vacation.

1 comment:

viridari said...

McCain, Hillary, and yes even Obama are all racists.

The difference being that McCain is the most unapologetic and blatantly malevolent of them.

I honestly don't believe Rodham is much better, but at least she has had the political sense to keep her mouth shut about it most of the time.

Obama is a great inspirational speaker, ironically the closest thing to a Ronal Reagan in this playing field today. But when you slice through the lofty talk, you find a Socialist hiding behind the otherwise very likable guy.

I remember in the 2000 election season, Bush took a lot of votes from Gore not because of policy so much but because voters identified with Bush as "the kind of guy I'd like to have a beer with". Look where that strategy got us.

Face it, we're screwed, no matter what.