Thoughts on Bush & the "Axis of Evil"
from an Oregonian in South Korea

Brenda Ann (who is, as the title suggests, an American living in South Korea) writes:

Don't know if you keep up on international news, but here's something you may be interested in. Bubya's inclusion of N. Korea as a part of his "Axis of Evil" has affected our relationship with S. Korea in a negative way. The majority of people here are longing for the reunification of Korea, since after the war, tens of thousands of families were torn asunder by the division of Korea into two countries. Bubya has been attempting to drive a huge wedge into those reunification plans.... but maybe not for long.

A long series of US actions, either on a personal, military, or administrative, have been causing consternation among Koreans in general. The final straw was the recent aquittal of two US Army sargeants in the death of two young Korean girls who were run over and crushed by a military vehicle in June of this year. This aquittal has brought angry protests demanding the ouster of the US military from Korea. The president here has ordered his cabinet and legislature to prepare to consider modification of the SOFA agreement, which governs how US military and civilian support are handled in legal matters.

Along with this, it's been my observation since being here that the average American GI is not exactly the best of goodwill ambassadors. Many of them treat their Korean hosts much the same way they would treat them if they were in the US (and I don't mean like fellow Americans.

Sorry to go on here, this is one of my pet peeves. I have not much use for people that a) believe they are above the law or b) think they are better than everyone else. (and/or are just totally RUDE).

And a quick note: I'll be posting people's answers to "what's your favorite euphemism?" soon.