Many Americans these days find it easy to see the bad things in our country. We discuss the frailties of our political process, the seedy nature of our corporate world, the lack of respect in our relationships and the general breakdown of what we see as the more ethical days of our yesteryear. I completely admit to being one of those people. I am often very critical of our culture, justifiably at times, and perhaps too harshly at others. Before traveling abroad I would often tell people that I wanted to expand my horizons, or try and understand the world through the different lenses of a new country. There is no doubt that is happening. But I am finding a second change occuring, one I did not expect. I bet some of you will think I'm crazy.
The change is this, as I become more acclimated to the Korean way, I find myself loving America even more. Weird right?
Here's an example.
A few weeks ago my school took 2nd years (8th graders) to Independence Hall, which is the national park/memorial to Korean freedom from Japanese colonization. I was invited to go as one of the chaperones, and I'm so glad I did. This park was very moving, even for a foreigner, maybe especially for a foreigner, or maybe just especially for me, I don't know. I will put a few pictures on here so you can see what I mean (all of them will be on Facebook).
Entrance to the Memorial Park.
Some of my students!
Main building, houses the "Statue of the Indomitable Koreans".
Ahhh, Korea.
This is the only picture I will show of the tortures the Korean people went through. The rest can be found on facebook.
"Statue of the Indomitable Koreans"...powerful name huh? And so big!
My silly girls, they always cover their faces! For some reason Korean girls think this is cute.
The boys that hung out with me that day, my unofficial tour guides. They were impressed cause I beat them all up the stairs.
Then I stop to take a picture and I get, "Teacher! Come on!"It was more moving for me possibly because I was ignorant. I never knew about the atrocities that happened to these people, this culture, that I have come to respect. The Korean people are often quite meak and reserved, which could be misinterpreted as a lack of confidence or boldness. And it is true, they are not as bold as us, but it would be wrong to think it due to a want of courage or pride. Koreans are very proud of their culture, which is one of the reasons it has lasted so long and is still so intact. Obviously there are bad side effects from this national pride too, but my purpose here isn't to discuss those. Simply put, Korean patriotism is inspiring.
It has caused me to wonder, "Why don't I love my country the same way?" As I stood before the main statue at the park, for some reason all I could think of was the Lincoln Memorial. Maybe because the architecture of the buildings was rather similar, but I don't think the connection was that base. Below the statue was a plaque, that spoke of the Korean commitment to freedom and the preservation of their spirit as a people. This made me think of the American "Spirit", or more accurately, question whether there is one. Over 5000 years the Koreans have forged a people, a way of life, and spirit that they treasure. They have been almost constantly attacked by outside forces, normally much larger than they (Japan and China). More than once other coutries have literally tried to destroy their language, their traditions, their families and their identity as a people. Through all this they have persevered. One can then understand why they are so proud and passionate about being Korean.
So what about us? What is the American Spirit? Do we even have one? I mentioned that my mind seemed to wander to the Lincoln Memorial, and I think maybe I have figured out why. The Korean monument was a symbol of Freedom, just as the Lincoln Memorial is a symbol of Freedom. Sure the freedom won in each case is of a slightly different sort, but no matter how it is served, to finally taste Freedom is always a sweet experience. So I would posit that Freedom is the core of the American Spirit. It has long been the driving idea behind much of what we have accomplished as a nation. We longed for Freedom from tyranny, and Washington campaigned. We desired Freedom from conquest, and Hitler was brought down. Stubbornly but surely we learned Freedom from our own bigotry, and pride, and Dr. King led the way. We hoped to share Freedom, and so our sons and daughters bled on fields in Vietnam, Korea, Kuwait, Afganistan, and Iraq.
As I sat before the great statue, and walked the grounds of the memorial thinking on these things, one last question came to me. "How do I, a young man who has never been without Freedom, dare to speak of understanding it...let alone the feeling of gaining it for the first time?" It felt foolish or arrogant for me to even entertain such a thought, compared to the struggle shown in the statues and displays set around me. In my self-loathing I went to praying, almost asking to be forgiven for my assumption and pride. But the Lord, in His gentle way, reminded me that in my life I have been a slave. I was born one. No, I have never been physically oppressed by another human, and I have never been forced against MY WILL to do or believe anything. MY WILL however, in accord with the sin that permeates it, was the cruelest of masters. It has led me to do and say things that I will always regret. I had been a slave to the worser me all my life. Jesus reminded me how I had been saved out of that slavery, and how Freedom had been bought for me, at the highest of costs.
The cost of my Freedom, the cross, is one of the most motivating things in my life. It helps me to see more clearly the need people all over the world have for Freedom, both in this life and beyond. It helps me to be thankful for the Freedom I enjoy today, purchased by the generations before me, and it is the very reason for my eternal Freedom.
So I set out to Korea, trying to find new perspectives and different ways of living. I have found these in abundance. The things that really seem to stand out however are the similarities between peoples, not the differences, and in this case the need for Freedom seems to be highly cherished by all.
Galatians 5:1 "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
Galatians 5:13 "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love."
