Snow Day in Korea

Finally, after eighteen months of teaching in Korea, I had a snow day. By what I read before coming here, I assumed that they were doling out snow days at the immigration counter to every teacher that passed by. I saw pictures from the Korean War, and the soldiers were always covered with patches of the stuff. However, we endured two cold winters without much snow. Until last night. And it was one of those surprise days off. I had no idea that it had snowed when the phone rang at 5 am. I thought it was Kristie, since she was touching down in Seattle around the same time. No, it was the gym teacher bearing that great news of unspeakable joy.

As I referenced, Kristie left for a short visit to Seattle and Portland yesterday. I already miss having her here. I cooked chicken on the barbecue on our patio for dinner. We had a pack in the refrigerator, and I cooked it all at once. There are few things as lonely as cooking five chicken breasts on a propane grill in the cold for yourself. Those breasts were mocking my solitude, I could sense it.




I just looked outside and it is snowing again. I hope the gym teacher calls again.

Embassies torched in cartoon fury

Danish, Norwegian embassies in Syria attacked by Muslims

Why isn’t the world addressing the foolishness of this? Imagine what the reaction would be if Christians were burning down embassies in protest over a comic Jesus appearing in the latest episode of “Family Guy.”

Islam and Violence

Muslim fury over a cartoon? Violence over satirizing the connection between teaching of Islam and violence? I’m sure the irony is lost. Unlike the rhetoric we hear in the news, Islam is not by nature a peaceful religion. It is not just a “small sect of extremists.” Rather, there is a link between the religion and the permissive nature toward violence to protect Mohammed's name and teaching. It is in a different category than Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism in that its leaders advocate and endorse violence in the name of Allah. There is not a word for jihad in the other three religions.

You have already interjected the oft-use question, “What about the Crusades?” Need I remind you that bringing up the Crusades is for another argument? We’d have to compare the Crusades of the Catholic church with the actions of Muslims 800 years ago. We cannot compare the Crusades with modern-day actions of Muslims. Look at the actions and teachings of Christians today with the actions and teachings of Islam today. Jesus teaches us to turn the other cheek. The Buddha tells us that all life is sacred. Currently, there is violence in the Muslim world because a Danish newspaper published a cartoon.

Think of how many times the name of Jesus is blasphemed each day. “Jesus Christ” or “Jesus f-ing Christ” are phrases we hear from movies, friends, and songs. Can you imagine if the Christians rose up and attacked a co-worker because of this? It would be as ridiculous as Muslims rioting because a non-Muslim published a picture with a bomb in Mohammed's turban. If Islam was a religion of peace, would this be happening? It’s strange how on one hand Americans are rabid for free speech; on the other, they are so careful to not offend Muslims and their “peaceful religion.”

Setting aside the war on Iraq, look around the world for the hotspots of violence. What is the religion of the area? I know it is a logical fallacy to say that all Muslims are violent people; at the same time, it would be incorrect to say that there is not connection whatsoever between the religion and a proclivity toward violence.

Here’s a small recap that I copied from CNN:
1989: Iranian spiritual leader Ayatollah Khomeini calls on Muslims to kill British author Salman Rushdie for alleged blasphemy in his book The Satanic Verses
2002: Nigerian journalist Isioma Daniel's article about Prophet and Miss World contestants sparks deadly riots
2004: Dutch film maker Theo van Gogh killed after release of his documentary about violence against Muslim women
2005: London's Tate Britain museum cancels plans to display sculpture by John Latham for fear of offending Muslims after July bombings


I’m sure all of these are just strange coincidences.