GlobalStudies06

17 responses so far ↓

• 1    globalspartan // Jan 7, 2007 at 2:35 pm

  1. I think the sanctions put on N. Korea would only hurt the image even more about the United States has through the eyes of N. Koreans. The ppl of N. Korea already are poor and barely eat so they are already suffering to begin with with out the sanctions.
  2. I think the differences between the two countries stems from many point. Their goverment is basically brainwashing the ppl into believing everything they are told in the correct way. History is also important becasue the Korean war is still fresh in their minds.
  3. Much of what the N. Koreans were saying was not completly true but the fact that they know little about the U.S shows our country not everyone in the world knows us.
  -Monica C

• 2    globalspartan // Jan 7, 2007 at 3:14 pm

  1. After reading first hand stories of North Koreans who would be impacted by the increased economic sanctions I think sanctions are a bad idea. North Koreans clearly have a strong hate towards America and Americans. They will use their nuclear technology against the United States because they stated that these weapons were to defend North Korea, which they would be doing so.
  2. I think the root cause of this stems from political and educational teachings. North Koreans really look up to their leaders both Kim II Sung and his son Kim Jong II. The country will grow to hate the United States if their leaders show hate towards the United States and influence their education so the students learn to hate the United States.
  3. One criticism of the United States found in these articles that I think has some merit is that “the nuclear test for North Korea is absolutely useful and that it’s about time that Korea put pressure on the United States, just as the United States puts pressure on the rest of the world”(Sawyer 3). Many countries do feel that the United States is a powerful country that puts pressure on other countries but for once another country is putting pressure on the United States and we aren’t sure how to react.
  Alli B.

• 3    globalspartan // Jan 7, 2007 at 5:32 pm

  1.) If sanctions were imposed both North Korea and America would be impacted. Imposing sanctions to threaten North Korea for their nuclear tests in my opinion is not a good idea. They have told us that they have these nuclear weapons for their own protection, and they obviously all hate Americans a lot, and it was stated in one of the interviews that “The sanctions must be lifted for progress to begin”
  2.) I think that the widespread distrust of people from North Korea towards Americans is impacted by all four of these differences. Culturally, they are stricter then Americans, Many Americans tend to do what they want, not following tight cultural guide lines. Historically, they keep referring to the Korean War, and how we Americans killed many of their people. This is a main tribute to why they do not like Americans they have not yet forgiven us. Politically, they worship their leader and all wear pins and read his books. Where in America, everyone has their own opinion of president bush, some good and some bad opinions. And in school those children are tough to hate Americans from the start. So kids are growing up already hating Americans.
  3. Criticism of the U.S. was mentioned a lot in these articles. It was surprising to see other peoples views on our country, especially when theirs views of us are bad. I found two quotes that where interesting to me, “It’s about time that Korea put pressure on the United States, just as the United States puts pressure on the rest of the world” (Sawyer 3). This shows how intense that United States is and the fact that someone is actually standing up to us. Ambassador Li Gun says “But we just simply demonstrated peacefully that we have these nuclear weapons” (Sawyer 1). This is interesting because if they have nuclear weapons then they obviously have then for a reason. So why would they even have to mention them to us “peacefully” to use if they did not intend to use them?..
  -Sorry I wrote a lot. But I liked these articles!
  Shawna O.

• 4    globalspartan // Jan 7, 2007 at 8:25 pm

  1. I think it might be good for the American image if we did not impose sanctions. The Korean people seem to expect them from us, so if we didn’t go through with it, it might cause some of them to realize we’re not so bad. Plus, the government will see we are willing to listen to their desires.
  2. I agree with Alli, that political teachings are largely responsible for the Koreans mistrust of Americans. In America, we are given every possible opinion of any topic and then allowed to form our own. In Korea, the various viewpoints are not presented. They are given the opinion of the leader and told to treat it with respect. The United States is given the blame for hardships over there, they are told “they are the happiest children in the world,” and they are told blonde hair is not traditional. Well, it’s not traditional for Korean culture, but it sounds like they don’t even know it is common or traditional in other parts of the world. Furthermore, some people seem to know what to say when asked about America, but don’t seem particularly worked up about it. Like the bowlers. They denounce America and then invite Diane to bowl.
  3. The criticism that immediately hit me was on the first page, first line: “If President Bush continues to ask North Korea to ‘kneel,’ war ‘will be inevitable,’” (Sawyer 1). Using the term “kneel” just implies that they are lower than us somehow, and I think that’s exactly what the Korean government is trying to disprove. This statement makes me angry at Bush, so I understand why North Korea is up in arms.
  ~Kara B.

• 5    globalspartan // Jan 7, 2007 at 8:30 pm

  Party in Pyongyong
  1- In relation to N. Korea, I think sanctions will only stagnate talks and further hamper efforts to negotiate. This is mainly because N. Korea has not been a U.S. economic partner for so long, and in as much, they ahve come to be unreliant on U.S. aid. Of course, I’m disregarding the famine in N. Korea, because it (N. Korea) has learned to live in perpetual starvation. What I’m trying to say is that N. Korea wouldn’t be affected by sanctions becasue it has china on it’s side (communist, proliterian solidarity). Also, sanctions would humiliate it and further mar talks.
  2- America has always been looked up to. In some this will spur admiration, in others, contempt. C’est la vie. On top of this, America has been involved in many risky adventures (defending western society, fighting agianst communism, stomping out terror), and these will undoubtedly lead to some hatred. When it comes to N. Korea, it has never felt the golden spotlight of positive American attention, and therefor it still tastes the bittersweet taste of the Korean War. So, because America is a pedestaled power that fought on Korean soil, agianst koreans, we are hated in Korea.
  3- Change happens, America needs to adapt to new politics. We’re no longer in the Cold War- America can’t handle the role of group leader in this new arena. Korea rivaling us with this nuclear issue is going to help us in the long run by aiding us to retreive our over-extended arms.
  ~The man, the myth, the legend… big pete.

• 6    globalspartan // Jan 7, 2007 at 9:12 pm

  1. I think putting sanctions on North Korea is a bad deal because they already dislike America and there is no telling what they will do if we put sanctions on them now. They are capable of using nuclear weapons and do not seem scared to use them.
  2. I think the root cause is from policical and educational teachings. People living in North Korea have a stong liking for their leaders and what their leaders think. If their leaders think something is good or bad, then the citizens will believe the same thing. They think what they are taught is correct and the only way things should be taken care of.
  3. One criticism of the US I found was when Diane read the president’s statement, “warning a grave consequences for North Korea should the nation continue nuclear testing or transfer nuclear technologies to third-party conutries” (Sawyer 1). I think this shows how involved the US wants to be and that there will be severe consequences should North Korea continue with its nuclear weapons.

  Jamie W

• 7    globalspartan // Jan 7, 2007 at 9:35 pm

  1. I believe that if the US were to imposed with the santions that it would set a “stepping on north koreas toes” situation and possibly set off something worse. I think that there are other ways to possibly work the situation out, although I am not fully understanding of the santions situation in the first place.
  2. After reading the articles and watching the interviews it really felt like all the north koreans knew was what they were taught. It seemed like they were brainwashed and only what their parents knew who only knew what their parents knew so and so forth. It’s frightening to think that these are the only things they are taught. They have little opinion and don’t have the chance to speak their minds. Even though everyone is thinking the same thing. Kinda freaky actually.
  3. My response for this is the same as kara’s I thought that this interview was very good because I think after Diane was over in korea she started to see how the Koreans were viewing things and it was interesting to see her perspectives on things after talking to the koreans.

  Alex S.

• 8    globalspartan // Jan 8, 2007 at 8:45 am

  1. Opposing economic sanctions is a good idea because it is clear that North Korea is trying to build nuclear weapons. All though the sanctions do not work as well as most would like at least we are doing something that will maybe deter them from doing this.
  2. I agree with Ali and Cara I think that the root cause is political teaching I think that because Kim II Sung has such hate an animosity towards Americans that is how all the people feel. North Korean people really respect the opinion of Sung and do a believe what he tells them to believe. This was made clear in the video that we watched on Friday.
  3. One criticism is that the economic sanctions are not allowing them to defend themselves. North Korea said that they are testing nuclear weapons to defend themselves. I think that this has some merit because they are afraid that the U.S might try to attack them and they want to protect they themselves. Beacause the U.S is a very powerful country and since N. Korea has made an enemy of the U.S they feel they need protection.

  Jamie I.

• 9    globalspartan // Jan 8, 2007 at 9:13 am

  1. I feel that economic sanctions against North Korea being increased are the wrong idea completely. For starters the people whom need those things that are trying to be traded would be horribly negatively affected. And two in previously read works we read that sanctions to halt nuclear weapons growth, does not work, we have had sanctions on North Korea for over 2 decades already.

  2. All of the above. Yes there are cultural changes that are true and that causes some distrust, two historical differences are present, from the Korean War, which they are still upset over and taught that they should be. And the teachings are present to push the historical differences, and then few negative incidents are than generalized into the entire country.

  3. I don’t have my article with me so I can not answer this question, so I will hand it in during class. I wrote the answers to the other two down at home then brought them to my Penn state class and forgot the articles.

  joe affel

• 10    globalspartan // Jan 8, 2007 at 9:54 am

  1. I think that the economic sanctions that they want to do against North Korea is a bad idea because its just going to make the situation worse. I think that we should deal with this situation very differently…you know a one that doesnt involve that much force that could hurt the people in North Korea.
  2. I believe that there are many differences between the two countries. There are many cultural differences, how we deal with politics if different as well as what we teach the children in our country is different. All of these differences cause each country to think differently and badly about the other one.
  3. One critism in the article was how the North Koreans say things about us which are untrue. They dont really know anything about us cause they judge us on our actions and most of the actions towards them arnt good ones so they just asume things…

• 11    globalspartan // Jan 8, 2007 at 9:54 am

  ooops, the last one was by me Christina Newsome

• 12    globalspartan // Jan 8, 2007 at 10:01 am

  1. I think that sanctions wouldn’t be a good idea because North Korea are making them for a reason so they could use it against us.
  2. North Korea is going to have hate towards the United States for a long time. The schools in North Korea are teaching young children to hate the U.S. If this doesn’t stop soon then they could hate us for a very long time.
  - Torri C

• 13    globalspartan // Jan 8, 2007 at 10:38 am

  1. I feel that if the sanctions are put in place then both the North Koreans and other countries will be affected. I feel that if the sanctions are put in place then they will either ignore them or test the bombs more just to prove a point. I feel that if the sanctions are put into place then everything is just going to get worse.
  2. I feel that the root of the cause is political. The people in North Korea are taught to both honor and respect their leaders. They show how much they love their leader and never speak badly of their leader. This is very different then in the United States. If we have problems with Bush we are able to say it but they do not ever fell this way and if they do they never make it public.
  3. One criticism is that the United States should bowl down to North Korea and respect them. They feel that they are better then the United States and that the United States should really show how much they respect them.
  Erika I.

• 14    globalspartan // Jan 8, 2007 at 10:39 am

  1) I think sanctions would not be very good, mainly for the United States p.r. to the North Koreans. There is strong animosity and negativity towards Americans as it is and to impose these sanction will only hurt our already terrible image.

  2) I think the main root of their distrust is a combination of historical differences, and political and educational teachings. Ever since the end of the Korean War, North Korea has strongly disliked America. Ever since, North Korea has hated us and has continually taught its people that we are the enemy, still recounting the atrocities committed against them in the Korean War.

  3) One criticism that I found intresting was “If President Bush continues to ask North Korea to ‘kneel,’ war ‘will be inevitable,’ said by North Korean General Ri Chan Bok. It is striking how Korea sees these talks as “bowing” to the United States. North Korea refuses to accept any terms ultimatim except for keeping these weapons or war. It’s their history and culture that morally prohibits them from considering any other choices and it is very different from the American way.
  ~Hope H.

• 15    globalspartan // Jan 8, 2007 at 11:56 pm

  1. After reading first hand stories I disagreed with sanctions. The people of North Korea are so terrible poor they do not need more things being taken from them, unless its plutonium…
  2. I believe that it is in political/educational teachings. At first I couldn’t choose between which options, but education is key. Hate is learned, and where is this learned-schools and family. If a nation isn’t even taught of the wonders of the Western world, how do they know any better? They are taught to worship their leader almost like he’s their salvation; I don’t think it’s healthy.
  3. One criticism of the U.S. found in these articles that I think has some merit is, ““If President Bush continues to ask North Korea to ‘kneel,’ war ‘will be inevitable,’” This expresses how America looks down on North Korea and they know it, who would respond with ‘yes I am lesser than you.’? It kind of makes sense why North Korea is so upset.

  ~Carly S.~

• 16    globalspartan // Jan 9, 2007 at 8:56 am

  1) Sanctions against North Korea would be a bad idea. Sure, their nuclear power must be watched but if we place sanctions on them it will only force them to be more angry. That would quite possibly push them to do something bad with there power.

  2)I think that it comes from political/educational teachings. The North Koreans see how and what we are being taught and do not like it simply because it is not they way they do things. They feel it is there way or no way at all.

  3)One criticism on the US that has some merit is there views on Bush, because hes just not that great.

  -Dylan L.

• 17    globalspartan // Jan 12, 2007 at 11:21 am

  1) I think sanctions against North Korea is a good idea because it seems like they are making the nukes for use against the U.S. and they already hate the image of America over there and the fact that they hate us cannot get much worse.

  2)Political teachings are deffinalty the reason they hate us. They are taught to worship whatever the leader thinks, says, or does no matter if its good or bad, they do whatever he tell them to.

  3)One criticism on the U.S. that has some merit is that they think we are scared of them. This has some Merit because I think some of our politics are afraid of them but not our whole country.

  (Jay Long)

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