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China-Japan-Koreas

South Koreans doubt relevance of MacArthur

2005-01-18

More than 50 years after he directed a brilliant amphibious invasion that repelled North Korean forces during the Korean War, Gen. Douglas MacArthur is no longer welcome. The focus of the latest outpouring of South Korea's anti-Americanism is on a bronze statue of the general, mounted on a massive 16-foot slab of concrete in this port city's Freedom Park. Police have guarded the statue 24 hours a day since it was targeted three years ago by protest groups angry with American policies.

Pull the guards. Let the vandals destroy the statue. It's their country. We'll know next time not to bother sending another McArthur...

Now civic groups are angry that taxpayer money is being spent to protect the monument. The dispute over the MacArthur statue is symbolic of South Korea's internal debates over its history, the division between North and South and sweeping generational changes. "In the urgency of the Korean War, he was the hero," said Choe Woong-ki, 68, looking at the statue. "I don't know what other people think, but for someone like me who has been through the Korean War, he was a contributor to our country. I don't understand."
How do you want your Chinese food prepared...losers.

Posted by:Captain America

#13 Help build up Japan's capabilities. Encourage the Japanese to keep a tight watch on Korea a w as China.

Posted by: lex 2005-01-18 3:38:00 PM

#12 The inscription at the monument reads: "We shall never forget what he and his valiant officers and men of the United Nations Command did here for us and for freedom. And until the last battle against the malignant infection of communism has finally been won, may we never forget it was also he who said 'In war, there is no substitute for victory.' "

INDEED!!

Posted by: Captain America 2005-01-18 1:26:24 PM

#11 A statue is an artifact that represents something deeper than itself. In this case, MacArthur's likeness symbolizes the dead and wounded Americans who fought for freedom, faced incredibly bad conditions, in what was one of the most bloody wars in recent history.

In this sense, the yu's are pissing on their very freedom itself, on their very pant legs.

Posted by: Captain America 2005-01-18 1:24:53 PM

#10 nada: The young ones (40ish and younger) would shoot us looks that could kill. I distinctly remember one "gentleman" who glared at me from the time he got on the train till the time he got off. Never once moved his glance from me.

The young 'uns are on this yellow/racial solidarity/supremacy kick. Doesn't seem to have occurred to them that the Chinese showed up just in time to prevent the unification of the Korean peninsula.

Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-01-18 10:21:25 AM

#9 Man, I don't miss that place at all. What a dump.

.com is right: when the old ones go, the young 'uns are gonna run amok. Sure was something taking a train ride down to Seoul. The old folks would smile wide and pat our arms and shoulders. The young ones (40ish and younger) would shoot us looks that could kill. I distinctly remember one "gentleman" who glared at me from the time he got on the train till the time he got off. Never once moved his glance from me.

Yeah, pull the security from the statue. Pull us out completely. Let 'em fend for themselves and see how they like it.

Posted by: nada 2005-01-18 10:13:31 AM

#8 Note source in Wash Times. Wash Times, while sometimes a valuable source, has particular obsessions with Korea, not surprising given its publisher. They may be making a big deal cause of some obscure nuanced thing they have against the folks who pulled the police.

Posted by: Liberalhawk 2005-01-18 9:24:34 AM

#7 Yeah - all Yankees.

Lol - just funnin. Good point, Lh, although I stand by #1.

Posted by: .com 2005-01-18 9:24:16 AM

#6 Lotsa statues in DeeCee of Grant, Sherman, etc that dont have 24 hour protection. In fact I dont think ANY of them do. Mountain out of molehill dept here, folks.

Posted by: Liberalhawk 2005-01-18 9:22:35 AM

#5 Lol, it lives! Too bad.

Posted by: .com 2005-01-18 8:50:41 AM

#4 I love it when you justify your rabid sweeping cultural slurs .com, its so much easier than just slinging insults at me... o no, no wait a second....

Posted by: Winged Avenger 2005-01-18 8:40:07 AM

#3 SH(it) - Are you always this deep? Do you have like a warning label or maybe a Life Guard with you at all times?

Just wondering. The wank trail is becoming noticeable. You have the faint odor of the Winged Avenger about you...

Posted by: .com 2005-01-18 8:37:19 AM

#2 Police have guarded the statue 24 hours a day since it was targeted THREE YEARS AGO by protest groups angry with American policies.

A bunch of protestors attack it three years ago, it gets guarded 24 hours a day (its a statue! paint comes off!) and now people (after three years) think the police might be better employed say.... fighting crime? well, what fools eh?

Posted by: Shaiter Hupuns3681 2005-01-18 8:27:24 AM

#1 Yep, they're just a decade or so from self-immolation. When the ones who remember pass on, the cycle begins anew.

Thus it has ever been with stupid people. I've just never included Koreans in that category before.

Posted by: .com 2005-01-18 8:09:20 AM

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