By The NY Times article about the bus racism incident in Korea has generated plenty of opinions in the comments section and now Michael Hurt from the Metropolitician has now opined on what he thinks about what commenters are saying. Below is an excerpt and picture from his posting, but make sure to read the whole thing:
Publicity like this will hopefully wake up enough decent people to the point where they will stop taking this kind of shit from the usual suspects, the people who cause 99% of these incidents:
DRUNK, MIDDLE-AGED AJUSSIS WITH AN INFLATED SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT.
No one likes these assholes, not even most Koreans in the subway car, office space, or classroom there with you. They are just too used to taking it or looking the other way.
But engaging in conversations about how much certain groups of people do or don’t ACTUALLY smell, or making “Clash of Civilizations”-level, hyperbolic predictions of cultural doomsday in Korea is just as stupid as it is non-productive. The problem is actually very simple: stop accepting this bullshit and stigmatize it away. [Metropolitician]
Metro also has another posting about the New York Times article posted as well, but unfortunately he also seems to buy into the Mr. Hussein belief that whitey doesn’t get bothered in Korea:
I was glad to hear people reporting on how other brown people avoid the buses and subways. I also wonder whether certain white folks can stop the implied victim blaming when they puzzledly point out, “Well, I never had a problem.”Well, that’s YOU, white man. Good ON ya. [Metropolitician]
I have had no where near the crazy things happen to me that Michael Hurt has had, but I have dealt with plenty of dumb ass ajushis in all my years in Korea and it wasn’t always when I was with my wife. I had a crazy guy grab and assault me for no reason outside of Jongmyo Shrine when I went there to take some pictures. Fortunately a security guard standing at the front gate of the shrine pulled this guy off of me. It must be something about tourist attraction in Seoul because I was verbally accosted by a Korean woman at Gyeongbokgung palace as well that one of my KATUSA’s had to intervene in. Don’t even get me started on the cab drivers, who I was in constant conflict with in Uijongbu.
So I continue to maintain that the generalization that whitey doesn’t get bothered in Korea while people of darker skin color do is unfounded at least from my experience. What does everyone else think?
4:58 am on November 5th, 2009 1
I have had far more positive experiences than bad ones in Korea, but being white has not shielded me from racism. I’ve been struck several times just walking to Korean classes, spit on several times (and my car for pete’s sake), denied service, called “kaeseki ya” at least a dozen times all while being modestly dressed, stone sober and minding my own business. (only two incidents while walking with a Korean girl)
….
One incident was actually quite funny after the fact. I was walking to Yonsei for class and a guy in car stuck his head way out the window and screamed in perfect accentless English “F*** You GI.” He was driving and coming around a curve so he probably had 1-2 seconds to decide he was going to do it. In hindsight I think it must have been Tom.
…..
Now for the good points. After being told to leave a restaurant (and called a Me-Jae-nom well before the HW accident)an elderly Korean gentleman took me by the arm forcefully and pushed me into a seat. Then he let ajumma have it and she skulked around and made my meal. I actually didn’t want to eat there at that point but felt obligated. It wasn’t that great.
…..
On a subway in Seoul I had three young men kicking me in the feet and giggling. I gave up my seat to an ajumma who watched for about 1.1 seconds and she snapped the palm of her hand into the closest one’s causing him great distress. They all moved to another car and she grabbed my backpack and held it on her lap until my stop.
…..
I have a lot of good stories, but I will stop here. Racisim is ugly in any country but there are good people out there.
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November 6th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Don’t take the bus or the subway and buy yourself a big ass car (the bigger the better). Have the windows tinted black like I did.
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5:36 am on November 5th, 2009 2
Drunks are drunks in any country. My experiences in Korea has been positive. I cannot think of a bad incident. Oh, but talk about racism in the USA. Occasionally in my life I have venured into parts of cities where I was of different color. Not only have I been called bad names, on many occasions I feared for my life. I don’t think Americans of any color can pass judgement on Koreans in regards to racism.
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November 5th, 2009 at 7:41 am
Of course we can. Passing judement is done on an hourly basis by everyone when they are not sleeping. You passed judgment with your response! Just as I did here.
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5:39 am on November 5th, 2009 3
As far as I can see Mike’s posts on the subject have been very rational and representative of the problems faced by “dark skins ” here. While he did generalize that white guys do not get attacked, by and large it is true that the brown/black skins, even if they are NOT “undocumented workers”, have it worse than the white skins…. But I could realize his anger at disgraceful comments made in your earlier post on the subject, referring to the ’smelly curry munchers’. You do have a lot of white racist English teachers here with a chip on their shoulders. They think that if a brown/ black guys complains about discrimination it is for an ulterior motive, but if a white guy complains it for legitimate reasons!
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November 6th, 2009 at 7:46 am
Hey- the disgraceful curry muncher comment was mine. If that hurt someone’s – anyone’s feelings- I apologize. Not my intent.
Racism is always going to be out there amongst us- but the key is understanding our built in likes and dislikes- yeah, our BIASES. We all have them, individually and culturally.
As long as were not either grossing each other out or outright killing each other, there’s room for all of us.
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6:38 am on November 5th, 2009 4
On his Facebook he clarified that the whiteys-don’t-get-bothered line was a response to white people who said there was no racism in Korea. Not that incidents against caucasians don’t happen.
Oh, am I becoming a Metro-apologist?
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November 5th, 2009 at 7:08 am
You are late and you ain’t sayin’ nuthin new. AGAIN.
The Metro is right. AGAIN. I thank you The Metro, for speaking the truth. TRUTH, READ IT, EAT IT, BELIVE IT. Don’t feel too good does it ZENKIMCHI. The Metro rips a fresh on on the backside of the RACISM INDUSRIAL COMPLEX.
The Metro gets a smackdown pretty much everyday, from the so called “yellow” man, the so called “model minorty”. They ain’t so “model” when they are keeping him down.
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6:50 am on November 5th, 2009 5
I’m sure that people with darker skin get it far worse, but to state that “whitey doesn’t get any abuse at all” is just ridiculous!
I’ve gotten it in public and public transport seems to be the worst place as you are trapped- no where to go.
Most people don’t cause trouble and most people don’t get trouble.
However, if it never happened to you, don’t act as if it never happens or just think of it as someone else’s problem.
When the drunk ajeoshis who are looking for trouble are out, foreigners of all colors always seem to be the best target as the ajeoshis believe that a non-Korean deserves even less respect than the almost non-existant pittance of respect that he gives the rest of his fellow countrymen/women. Also, he believes that there will be no consequences to heaping a big ol’ bile of sh*t all over the foreigner. Sadly, this is too often true.
One can hope that this case is a sign that people may not wish to continue ignoring it any longer.
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7:05 am on November 5th, 2009 6
Anyway, I guess the main point of the whole deal is that since forever, drunk, and even sober, @$$holes have been able to get away with abusing people in public with little or no consequences.
It’s time to end that freedom to abuse situation.
The message is to anyone who states that “it’s never happened to me, so it doesn’t happen” or “there is no racism in Korea”, you are perpetuating a lie/delusion and you are doing nothing to help those who get abused with impunity.
I would like to add, anyone who states that Americans have no right to criticize racism in Korea is absolutely full of sh*t!
First off, the person making this statement is insinuating that the U.S. is very racist while other countries are not. That’s just stupidly ignorant. All countries have their fare share of racist elements. However, most enlightened countries have enacted laws that punish acts of racism and have done enough to raise awareness so that the general society does not condone blatant acts of racism.
Korea is still very far behind in this respect.
Hopefully, progress is being made.
The only way a person should be disqualified from being able to criticise racism is if they themselves are racist.
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7:08 am on November 5th, 2009 7
I don’t know, GI.
I think that Mr. Hurt does not buy into the generalization that “whitey”, as you put it, doesn’t get harrassed. I feel that your assertion that he buys into it is a gross generalization.
If you read his comment, he says that “certain” white people say that.
I’m inclined to agree with him for i’ve heard quite a few white people say that. I’m white, by the way.
I’ve been messed with more that a few times in my 13 years here. But never as much as people who happen to be darker skinned. That is just a fact here in the ROK.
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7:16 am on November 5th, 2009 8
I&t1/’s bad
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7:28 am on November 5th, 2009 9
I no longer read the metro, as he seemed to find hate where ever he went and I became tired of it.
Sometimes it is fun just to “show up”. When you know your very presents will piss people off. Right Metro?
I’ve seen prejudice coming from every race in my time. American blacks are good at showing prejudice for all other races. Koreans can be masters of prejudice. Just ask tom. Whites must be added with an “of course”. We all know that the white man is by nature an evil racist. Ask american blacks and they will be happy to tell you so.
I’ve also seen it from the hispanics. But I have also seen friendship from members of all the above groups. Some people just need a reason to hate. Skin color is an easy reason. Some people need a reason to justify their failures. Again, skin color is easy.
I had a Platoon Sergeant once who was hispanic. He could not believe that a white guy that shaved his head was not a racist. I had another Platoon Sergeant who was black, who felt the same way, and tried to also make my life difficult. Where as the only time korean guys ever acted in such a way was when I was with a korean woman or in 2002-3.
I generally except that blacks don’t like white “men”. White women are trophies. Koreans don’t like NON-koreans. Browns don’t seem to have an ingrained hate, in my experience but some have learned it. Military (army)is good, very good at teaching non whites to expect racism from whites. Not so good at the reverse.
Those that want to find racism will always be able to do so. It will not go away. Tom will always hate non-koreans. The Metro will go to locations where he knows he will find racism—and then bitch about it.
I will go to places where I know whitey is an ok dude and stay away from places and people that have a problem with my looks or race or sex.
Except for Korea. I’m coming back to Korea just to piss off Tom
I am so very happy that America has a black president. Never again will I listen to a black american talk about “the white man be keepin us down” without a good response. “Obama made it! So it must be YOU that is keepin you down.” Now, “the man” is black. Is that racist. Is it racist to notice. Do I care? It will be racist to some people. To some people, just being white will make someone a racist. Koreans love to fall back on that as they expose their own racism. As I said, it will never go away.
Put three guys in a room together, for a long enough time and two will turn on the one, that is most different. Women are no better by the way.
Religion doesn’t help. Just another way to divide the people into groups. Like we need more division. (See Rev Wright)
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November 5th, 2009 at 7:46 am
I am so very happy that America has a black president. Never again will I listen to a black american talk about “the white man be keepin us down” without a good response. “Obama made it! So it must be YOU that is keepin you down.”
lol good one, you tell ‘em
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7:53 am on November 5th, 2009 10
Old Man story(me) While I was teaching in Cheoungju I stayed a ta yogwan for three years.
Too lazy to move. It was my custom on a warm summers night to sit outside on the steps, to the side. It was a busy street but rarely did I encounter any problems. One night, SURPRISE, a drunk ajoshee decided to take umbrage..he was upset that i existed.
In a nano second my landlady was on him like white on rice…I never saw her so angry…he cowered and fled.
Ahh, Mrs Rhee, you were a very nice lady..I miss you.
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8:23 am on November 5th, 2009 11
Finding racism/hate around almost every corner is the norm in korea for biracial koreans. Unless you’re a biracial korean, no one has the right to comment on the racism they experience from a people who supposedly share the same jeong with them.
The Metro does not have to make excuses, the guy’s a biracial Korea. Imagine how those people must feel in korean society. He knows korean hypocrisy first hand.
Again, unless you’re a biracial korean, not one person anywhere knows what it’s like because racism IS around every corner for them in korea. Just ask the kind, warm-hearted Tom about how biracial koreans are treated in korea. Better yet, ask Hines Ward’s mother about it.
Unless you are in the Metro’s and other biracial Korean’s shoes, questioning, doubting or belittling their experiences with racism from koreans is quite pathetic.
koreans in general allow this to happen, so I hold most koreans responsible.
Look what they teach their children:
http://www.judyhan.com/otherwise/?p=1255
Now please tell us you non-biracial koreans what it’s like for biracial Koreans to live in korea…especially biracial Koreans born and raised in korea, it’s obvious you know.
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November 5th, 2009 at 10:28 am
JohnT
I haven’t got a clue on biracial experience. Nor did I say such. But America has open arms. Too hot in korea? Move. Hines Ward and his Mom did. As a Steelers fan, I’m glad they did!
As a multi-racial white guy and a vet, I will comment on any issue I have an opinion on.
What is wrong with you, telling people that they can’t speak out on an issue.
When I was active duty (2005), racism WAS around every corner in the army. No race has ownership of this problem. As people from ALL RACES are guilty of racism.
Stop crying and man up. Your a victim. OK. I have been, will be again.
I had a friend years ago in korea. He was adopted — by whites — as a baby.
He was 100% korean—outside. He got to know korea. They called him a banana. I’m sure you know why.
He was drinkin one day and I dropped by for a shot also. My friend turned on me and gave me the korean line about all americans being “muts”. So interbred
that we didn’t know what we were. I looked at him and smiled. He got pissed and asked what was funny. I told him, “I know what race I am. I’m an American.” Now there is some irish in me, american indian, german. God only knows what else. There are people out there that will have no problem finding a reason to hate me. Some people just like to hate and will find a reason. I had “leaders” in the army plot, yes I said PLOT, against me, for no other reason than I was white skined. Trying to uncover a racist, when all they had to do was look in the mirror.
So don’t tell me, or anyone, not to talk about Racism. Talk is the beginning of understanding.
Oh, my friend became an officer in the army and married a white woman. Likely has some biracial kids now.
What was your special problem again?
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11:17 am on November 5th, 2009 12
I haven’t said a peep and people are mentioning my name left right and center in their fit of hysteronics based on overdose of “oh poor is me” victimization fest. How terrible it must be for you in Korea, to be white and be all this target of racism and violence. Oh I’m so ashamed.
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November 6th, 2009 at 3:56 am
They talk about you because you are an uber racist and the article is about racism. I’m glad I could help you out with that one, take your meds.
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3:27 pm on November 5th, 2009 13
In that blog, one of the commentators make this beauty comment.
“I still have to say, as a black man myself, I dont think I’ve ever heard of anyone getting as much shit as you. Some folks are just targets for whatever reasons.”
I bet the blogger is some kind of an activist, just like that Indian on the bus who is an activist. These are the type of people who follow troubles and blow everything out of proportion.
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November 6th, 2009 at 4:42 am
The Metro is beat down daily by the “yellow” man. To call him a racist is like calling a woman who gets her anal raped, by several men, and then gets her gina raped, and then gets her mouth raped, and then they do it once again in a different order, and then the next day it happens again, a racist. Dude, once the Metro blogs about you, you are OVER. Before you accuse the Metro of racism, spend a day in his shoes.
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7:20 am on November 6th, 2009 14
“I still have to say, as a black man myself, I dont think I’ve ever heard of anyone getting as much shit as you. Some folks are just targets for whatever reasons.”
Like indulging a footwear photography fetish on hot Korean woman in public. I’m not saying anything is wrong with knee-high leather boots on a smoking hot asian chick but someone could attract serious negative attention to themselves with this type of activity.
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10:59 am on November 6th, 2009 15
“Like indulging a footwear photography fetish”
YOU SIR ARE A RACIST.
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