In this globalized world and, inexorably, getting smaller and smaller world (점점 더 작아져가고 있는 지구촌), there is the periodic need to examine the current state of the world to make sure and to understand where we stand in that world stage.
Everything we do has global implications; it is just a matter of directly or indirectly, and right away or later the impact is felt. It is because everybody is watching everybody else through relentless media and social outlets. My firm conviction is that we have to affect the world Positively enough so that we can see the constructive effect. At this time, I'll just leave the definition of the positive as self-evident. Once we understand where we stand in the world, we can continue our journey though life with more focus and confidence.
We can start from anywhere in the world; I'll just start from where I live, the USA. There are so so much to talk about to understand the Country. There was a poll by Gallup and the number said much about US. 136,000 people were asked all over the world if they worked for themselves; if they considered themselves as a boss. Vietnam 40%, Egypt 14%, Argentina 13%, Germany 9%, US 4%. The US had lowest percentage. This one poll spoke volumes about the state of US, economically, politically, socially, culturally, historically, and a good indicator of the probable mood of the country.
'The land of opportunity' has been mainly because people from all over the world can find a job here, and much of that jobs have been the mom-and-pop stores. We know what is happening to those mom and pop stores, it is being devastated by huge investors intent on making the last dollar with helping hands from politicians/decision makers who got to the position with the helping hands from those huge investors. To do justice to this one topic, it requires a few volumes of scholarly books. I'll end this section with a reminder that the Country started with small farmers, Jeffersonian Democracy envisioned a country with independent small farmers. Small farmers are the quintessential their own bosses.
We can talk about Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, Caribbean Islands with their own stories and futures. The world attention was on Brazil, recently; very interesting. But right now even a glance, some other time.
Ireland, England(Scotland, Wales); interesting, unforgettable.
Continental Europe; what a story!
Russia; the epic 'War and Peace' dealt with the Napoleonic War; my favorite movie 'Dr. Zhibago', the background was the Russian Revolution and WW1; right now, Putin's Russia is tempting with a war even though the size of the war is the size of Putin. No more comment at this time.
ISIS; unbeliebable or too understandable; misguided souls who can't see the alternative or too much PTSD to be eternally patient. For sure their days are numbered. The world has the responsibility to come up with reasonable alternative/vision for the region. The main emphasis is on the quote " It is time for them to grow up."
Palestine and Israel; feel very sorry for both of them in a way like for North Korean people; history dealt them very bad hand; too much PTSD to overcome their angst anytime soon. Their difficult and tragic situations are affecting the world. May time heal the souls. I remember the book and the movie 'Exodus'. It was a very difficult time, also, but there were a certain romance, and ideal/perhaps troubled from the beginning if looked carefully. They should rediscover the romance, vision, and ideal of the people who were once friends before, now, a long time ago.
Iran; they can be very very patient.
South Asia; they need a period of peace and stability to get their act together. They are trying.
Korea, China, Japan; got to grow out of their feudal, medieval identity; trying very very hard, if fact, some part of it seem to go backward because they try so hard. This region, also, needs a period of peace, quiet, and stability to improve their infrastructure, both soft and hard.
They can really use the upgraded vision of themselves, the region, and the world. I'm confident that they are on their way.
Really brief glance of the world, but, each sentence requires a few volumes of book length discussion/forum. I'm planning a forum to begin the task of understanding the world at the community level. This is going to be the outline of the speech at the forum. Wish me, no, wish all of us the success.
** The Forum date has been set to October 4, 2014, Saturday 3PM at Korean
Martyrs Catholic Church. (6003 Buford Hwy NE. Doraville, GA 30340). (770) 455-1380
This is a secular event. Korean Martyrs Catholic Church read our proposal and kindly offered their location for us.
The Rationale for a Forum
Looking around the world, we can't help but feel a change/shift is in the air. Looking at the vast Pacific Ocean, both sides of the ocean as well as in the middle have problems. The U.S., we all know, have her own problems. In the middle, some of the islands are threatened by the climate change and the rise of sea level. They are facing an existential, seemingly, impossible problems. The other side of the pacific, the region is facing a renewed and growing edginess. Without clear understanding of the situation and the cause of the edginess, there is a distinct possibility it may get out of hand. We can't let it happen. We can't afford to let it happen.
Around Indian Ocean, things aren't much better. The same goes for the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea region. It is a turbulent world out there.
There is an urgent need to understand the state of the world, and the more people pay attention and understand the situation the better the chance we can find the remedies for our problems together. Last month, a participant, at a conference of the Salzburg global Seminar and the international Peace Institute, and the author/historian Margaret MacMillan made an observation that "We are in for troubled times." This is from the author of the popular and authoritative book on WWl, "The War That Ended Peace: The Road to1914." We may not agree with her assessment but it is definitely worth examining the current state of the world at a community level. Ordinary citizens in every community should be aware of the forces that are shaping the world, at least, there should be an attempt to do so. So that people with voting powers can make informed and wise decisions.
One of the problems we are facing is that there are unverified, unreliable, biased, emotional, and purely subjective, selfish, and clueless ramblings all around us. It is easy to pick and choose some of these ramblings that suits one's own preconceived ideas and attitudes, and become more and more partisan or the extreme end of the spectrum. We need a movement where ordinary citizens can come together and touch base with each other at the community level.
Let's get together and talk to and listen to each other. I beg you one thing, though, when you come leave your metaphorical gun at the door. Enter with open and curious mind. It's an order. After all, our goal is raising a fresh new voice in the U.S.A. and the world.
The Rationale for a Forum
우리의 세상이 급변하고 복잡해지는 것을 우리 모두가 목격하고 있읍니다. 이러한 현상은 각 개인의 차원 부터 한 공동체 나아가서는 국제정세까지 포함 됩니다. 이러한 역사의 숨가뿐 흐름은 우리모두가 이 흐름의 맥을 제대로 잡아야되는 필요성을 불러 옵니다.
이 맥을 제대로 잡기위해 서는 정보가 필요하고 이 정보를 정확히 소화 시킬수있는 투시력과 넓은 시야가 필요합니다. 요즘과 같은 정보범람의 시대에 현명한 정보의 처리가 요즘 세상의 중요한 과제 중의 하나 입니다.
사실상 우리는 한 정보 뒤의 이야기를 이해하여야 합니다. 이것은 많은 노력을 필요로 하고, 여러가지 문헌 내지 의견을 경청 해야만 가능합니다. 그래야지만 그 정보를 제대로 소화 시킬수있는 능력이 생깁니다.
세상에 범람하는 정보를 한 공동체로서 서로같이 정확히 이해하려는 노력은 한 공동체를 유지할수있는 진보적, 보람, 가치, 의미가 있는 공동의식 형성의 필수입니다.
바람직한 공동의식이 있아야만 그 사회는 발전 할수있는 사회 입니다. 현재 미국의 한인사회는 이러한 공동체 의식속에서 서로를 좀더 이해하고 앞으로 나아갈 길을 머리모아 연구할 필요가 있습니다.
이러한 의미에서 대화의 광장을 제의 합니다. 우리 서로서로 가 서로를 발견 하는것 부터 시작해 앞으로 구체적인 방향제시까지 할 수 있다고 봅니다.
몇사람의 연사를 모시고, 그러나 모두에게 표현의 발표의 기회를 드릴 계획입니다. 또한 세상을 이해하는데 도움이 될수 있는 어떤 과제도 모두 환영할 계획 입니다.
모든 분의 도움과 참가를 부탁 드립니다. 겸허한 마음으로 모여 서로서로를 경청(傾聽) 합시다.
대화의 광장의 목적(대화의 광장을 가집시다), The Call for a Forum
우리자신을 좀더 알고 지냅시다.
우리가 지금 살고있는 세상을 조금더 정확히 이해하면서 삽시다.
더 정확히 이해한다는 것은 우리 자신을 좀더 정확히 발견한다는 말입니다. 즉 우리 자신을 이해하기 위한 세계관에 관해 대화를 나누자는 말입니다.
Understanding myself a little better, historically, politically, socially, economically, culturally, and etc. and etc. through a forum where we have a chance to express what is important to us and share ideas together.
이러한 목적은 어쩔 수 없이 그 주제의 범위가 넒을 수밖에 업습니다.
방대한 주제의 범위는 산만하다는 느낌을 줄 수 있습니다.
이것을 책을 읽는 것에 비교하면 한 장편소설을, 대하소설을 읽는 것과 흡사하다고 봅니다. 처음에는 이야기의 줄거리도 많고, 목소리도 많지만 읽다보면 그 의미와 진가(眞價)가 나타난다고 봅니다. 단편소설들이 읽기 쉽고 주제 파악이 빠를 수 있으나 대하소설은 결과적으로 좀더 깊은 폭넓은 의미를 가질수 있다고 봅니다.
This kind of forum, inherently, carries the risk of being not very coherent or focused because of the vast nature of the subject matters. I'd like to give the analogy of reading an epic novel. A good epic novel has many characters and story lines caught in a turbulent and troubled historical context/milieu. But stay with the novel long enough, the readers get the meaning of all. Short stories may be quick and fun to read and serve its purpose well. The purpose is different from a long and epic novel. In essence, an epic novel is a collection of many different short stories. That, in the end, somehow makes a sense.
우리 모두 편한한 마음으로 즐기는 배우려는 자세로 대화의 광장에 대화의 잔치에 임해 주시기를 바랍니다. 누군가 이야기 했듯 말의 구호의 단어의 힘은 엄청난 위력을 발휘 할 수 있습니다.
Let's enjoy the forum. It is a festival of ideas, language, and communication/dialogue. Who knows we may get to someplace. After all, a lot of people have already pointed out the power of good words and ideas.
이 모든 노력은 결과적으로 좀더 잘 살아보자는 말입니다. 좀 더 밝은 장래를 위해 노력해 보자는 것입니다. 우리 모두 서로를 믿고 도울수 있는 세상을 만들기 위해 머리를 모아보자는 이야기입니다.
This is an effort to create a better world for all of us. It is a very difficult task. Many learned men have said that humans are doomed to repeat their mistakes because of their nature. I agree. But that doesn't mean we give up hope, vision, and passion for a better world. After all, giving up is not an option.
**포럼은 2014년 10월 4일(토) 오후 3시 애틀랜타 한국순교자천주교회에서 개최됩니다. (6003 Buford Hwy NE. Doraville, GA 30340). (770) 455-1380
**이 포럼은 종교와는 아무런 관계가 없으며 특정한 소수가 아닌 우리 커뮤니티 모두가 참여하는 열린 마당입니다. 여러분의 많은 참여를 바랍니다.
