Peace be upon Korea

A divided peace rules over Korea, one enforced by two States and preserved by force of arms.

Let us try to imagine this division, my brother and sister Filipinos. How it must hurt the soul of the Korean nation. 

For it is a division that runs deep into the soul of their nationhood...

This division is not so much a geographical division but a spiritual division, straddling the land of an ancient people; a ripping apart that must be quite painful to the soul of the one Korean nation.

Where once Korea was a single soul gathered together under one rule, there now arises from this one nation, a lineage of two States - with two totally different attitudes of rule.

If we, as a nation ourselves, should faithfully dwell in kinship with Korea, we should bear in mind that in the midst of their hopes, their struggles, and their successes - unification is and shall always remain a spiritual ambition of the Korean soul - North and South.

Politics deal with what is for now...

As we know however, there are truths more enduring than politics... that rests within nations.

Might there be a rapprochement between the two "Koreas" that shall not involve the further pain of more war and shed tears between the two who are actually one? I don't know. I hope so.

The important thing to consider at this time is the hurt. We know this hurt also. The pain of the tyranny of war. If Korea hurts, she pines... And if she pines, she must be a longing for nothing else but to be whole again. Pain is good in this light - illuminated by memory, borne by remembrance.

For while Korea hurts, she hopes.

It is my personal hope that Korea's hope bears her true and that her hurting leads not to more anger or frustration in her people, but to gentleness and a spirit of quiet perseverance...
---<--@

Goyangi

Love you, Korea!

Goyangi

A little reflection on pretty cats...

My argument is: If it were not for pretty cats, we'd be lost.

Girl-cats are called queens. One to rule the reaches of each heart. Can there be two queens to a heart? I can hardly think so. 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So we see contrasts, light and dark. But when love too is in the eye of the beholder. There is consonance in all things. Beauty is everywhere.

Just the same, when it comes to pretty cats - only one above all makes everything beautiful in all... To have too many is just plain greedy. Pretty cats save the world - one tomcat a time.

If it were not for pretty cats, we'd be lost.

Thank you Han Hyo-joo for being a cat.
---<--@

Love for Korea

Listen, starshine -

If you have to love something as big as Korea,
you have to love big... embracing both North and South
saying to thy heart, "peace be unto thee, O Korea".

So lets think Now of all that is lovable in Korea,
let's think of what great wonders ennoble her soul,
let's think of what beautiful dreams inspire her people,
let's think of what great hopes animate her citizenry,
and let's give it all a big, big hug.

"Peace be unto thee, O Korea."
---<--@

Let us pray for peace in Korea, in our Asia, and in our world so needful of peace!

View in Review 20120324

We have got to buck up and support a pro-human rights stance in Syria.

We have to confront North Korea at the strategic level in a way that is clearly defensive in stance. (That missile is aimed at the route of least resistance and speaks volumes to my ears about the state of our own readiness.)

The DPRK's language is often symbolic and belies its intentions in a manner which is seldom direct. It is an unspoken language, however, always consistent with the spirit of that Country.

Thus, its not the satellite in showcase here, its the launch modality.

This threatens us only indirectly at this time however. Whether we respond or not (more importantly how to respond or how not to respond), must always be calculated to mitigate the threat that this becomes direct.

We must bear in mind and heart we belong on opposite sides of the 38th parallel and historically always have.

We have to be able to state a clear, cohesive, long-term plan of non-aggression, dialogue and de-escalation in the Spratlys as an integral part of the ASEAN regional community, with our allies in principle, and with China as an integral part of a continental whole (Asia).

We have to be both clear and consistent on what is ours (which can be jointly developed as a sovereign part of our Republic) and what is not ours (which can be jointly developed as part of a common trust territory solution).

War, in our age, can no longer be confined to particular regions, with specific or area combatants.

In an age where we, as the (free nations of the) one human race, are becoming closely related as a global community, conflagrations of any size shall be the concern of all our nations.

As in a forest of tress, War is the peril of all. (For War presents to our civilizations a threat as existential as fire is to wood.)

We have to stand on our own principles, clearly stated in our Constitution.

We have to be able to expound on these and understand them in depth from first principles.

It is from these principles that we may obtain certainty in a time of uncertainty.

It is upon these principles, we must return in order to build for our own generations the beginnings of an enduring, better capable, forward thinking, one and faithful Republic.

It is from an abiding understanding of these principles that the re-discovery of the truth that fills our nationhood with substance is made possible and this will fuel the rejuvenation of our great and noble society.

- selah -

Where does it all begin, my nation? At the heart - that is why, my brothers and sisters of the Promise, I can say to each of you, "we already have everything we need".

Now, if we should criticize each other, let it be. BUT let it be done so always with a sense of civic affection and indivisible loyalty to the nation.

Let it be understood by each Filipino that in the end, when push comes to shove, we will all fall onto but one belonging - to the last!

And that ultimately, we love each other for being Filipino, just for being Filipino.

---<--@