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The Korea Times

Entertainment & Arts

SCMP
Asia

The Korea Times

Opinion

Columnists

20. Casey Latigue

I, cultural trespasser

Korean friends often ask me what Americans think about various topics or about what they like to do. I used to respond, “How would I know? There are almost 320 million people in the U.S.A.” That did not satisfy my friendly Korean inquisitors, so I embraced being the nation's unelected spokesman: “Americans love reading, writing, talking, and singing and dancing to Prince, New Edition and swing music.”

2015-08-11 16:57

Black lives matter

Sometimes the worst thing that can happen to an idea or slogan is that it is put into practice. The reality rarely lives up to expectations, dreams, or hopes. At a conference at Harvard University in late May, an advocate of the "Black Lives Matter" movement presented an impressive PowerPoint presentation highlighting ways that negative media images harm black people.

2015-07-28 17:02

The media is to blame

The latest “man-bites-dog" story is a Korea Times news article in Monday's newspaper reporting that a court has ruled that a piece of a broken credit card can be considered a lethal weapon. This case involves a man, surnamed Kim, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison, but suspended for two years. “He was indicted for beating and choking a woman at her home in Seoul at 4:30 a.m. on Dec. 22 last year. He also broke his credit card in half and put it to her neck, threatening to kill her.”

2015-07-14 17:03

Korea is doomed (in 2750)

"Koreans to Become Extinct by 2750" was the eye-popping headline about a simulation commissioned by the National Assembly of South Korea. The National Assembly Research Service forecast that, based on current trends, South Korea's population of 50 million would shrink to 10 million by 2136 and become extinct by 2750.

2015-06-30 16:59

'How black is he?'

In late 2012, I wrote a Thoughts of the Times column reflecting upon some racial slights that I received in South Korea during the 1990s. Unfortunately, I have experienced a few cases recently that topped all of those. A Korean professor who is a fan of mine has been recruiting me to join her university. She secretly let me know her colleagues pushed back. One concern: I might be too independent. She says that Korean professors typically seek colleagues who won't challenge them, so I will need to show humility.

2015-06-16 16:56

Give, not 'give back'

As my project helping North Korean refugees has grown, it has, unfortunately, also attracted more volunteers saying they want to "give back to the community." It is now so commonly stated by applicants that I am pleasantly surprised when it isn't mentioned.

2015-06-02 17:07

Get your own column

One reason I am suspicious of job references and calling someone's previous employers: Who checks the references of those giving references? If supervisors and colleagues I have worked with ever had a meeting, expect a chaotic scene demonstrating the difference between a job and a career. Some would give such loving testimonials that I would know what pancakes must feel like when syrup gets poured on top: So sweet!

2015-05-19 17:03

What to do about Baltimore?

During the summer of 2002, I was a frequent attendee of a month-long boycott of a Chinese food takeout by black residents in Washington, D.C. No kidding, the protest began after a local activist accused a cook at Kenny’s Carryout of attempting to cook a piece of chicken he had dropped on the floor and kicked around like a soccer ball. By my unofficial count, there were about 100 protesters marching and chanting some days, but one key person was missing: Rev. Jesse L. Jackson.

2015-05-05 17:05

I hate 'Somebody'

No matter how long your to-do list may be, there is someone with an even longer one: “Somebody.” With the amount of work waiting for him or her, I don’t blame “Somebody” for hiding.

2015-04-21 17:02

Creative people say 'no'

When people ask which living or dead famous person I would most like to meet, my response is "no one." After getting over the shock of being alive again, someone like George Washington might be disappointed to learn he first has to chat with a lot of people (including the FBI, conspiracy theorists, doctors). You may want to interview him, but he may have other things on his mind after being resurrected after two centuries.

2015-04-07 17:03

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