Minjok essay

 ‘Minjok’, this word is very controversial word in today’s Korean society. Some people relate this word

with ultranationalism and exclusiveness and others interpret this word as identity. However, looking at the history of ‘Minjok’, it is shorter than the history of telephone in Korea. In the era of Japanese occupation, Japan tried to assimilate Koreans into their empire as ‘imperial subject’ around 1920s. Therefore, to prevent complete assimilation to Japan, Korea needed ‘something’ which can serve a role of shield from Japanese cultural and mental invasion. In this situation, scholars like Shin chae-ho invented the concept of the notion of a unitary nation with Korean history and myths like Dangun joseon. This movement is called the theory of ethnic history (MinjokSaHak.) This movement made the concept of Minjok first and contributed to the preservation of Korean identity from Japanese imperial ambition. After independence, president Park Chung-hee took this concept, Minjok, as a motivation of economical development. Therefore, under the name of Minjok and in the closed and restrictive situation, Koreans worked very hard even sometimes practiced patience of human right violation. As a result of labor for the sake of ‘Minjok,’ Republic of Korea becomes one of the richest countries in the world. Looking at the results, ‘Minjok’ contributed to development of Korea.

 Above is about the history of the concept of ‘Minjok.’ However, I live in the present. The concept of ‘Minjok’ still has a lot of impact on my generation as the past did. For example, there is no evidence that I had my first-birthday party. First of all, I can’t remember that I had my first-birthday party. Second, there is no picture left because someone stole the camera which saved all my pictures of first-birthday party. Finally, there is no ring for the first-birthday party. In Korea, people give first-birthday ring to celebrate the baby. However, I don’t have any first-birthday rings. Actually, many cousins and parents’ friends gave me first-birthday rings. However, in 1998, when I was two years old, my parents donated all my first-birthday rings to the nation which had enormous debt. One day, I complained mom why she donated the rings and asked if she ever regretted it. She said she was always sorry for me but she has never regretted her donation. This is because she donated it for the nation and ‘Minjok.’ Like this, even my generation has been influenced by the concept of ‘Minjok’ and some influences are positive and others are not. (In fact, the donation of my first- birthday rings is negative for me.)    

 ‘Minjok’ has a lot of beneficial impacts on Korea. ‘Minjok’ could give economical benefits to Korea. The

example is ‘gold gathering campaign.’ On January 23^rd, 1997, Hanbo group bankrupted. Starting with the bankruptcy of Hanbo, a lot of Korean companies bankrupted. As a result, the Republic of Korea fell into debt from IMF. As the conditions of loan, IMF demanded some abandonment of economical sovereignty of government and the government followed. To regain the economical sovereignty, citizens conduct ‘gold gathering campaign.’ At that time, the debt of the Republic of Korea was around 30billion dollars. Then, citizens donated almost 227 tons of gold. At economical sight, participating in this campaign is very unreasonable behavior. Like my first-birthday rings, there isn’t any kind of rewards for the donation. However, because of the only reason that they are the members of ‘Minjok’, they donated voluntarily. This campaign shocked all around the world. Due to export of gold by Korea, the international price of Gold decreases 15%. The campaign like this is impossible for other countries such as Greece, Spain. Only Korea could do this because there is strong belief in ‘Minjok’ in Korea.

Also, Minjok can make the image of a country better. For example, in 2002 world cup, the world was surprised by Korea’s group cheer which can’t been seen in other countries. Koreans cheered like that because they are members of Minjok. This enthusiastic cheer was embedded in people’s heart around the world. To illustrate, when KMLA students visited one restaurant in Switzerland, the clerk shouted ‘Dae~ Han Min Guk!’ He thinks Korea as very enthusiastic countries. This is a kind of National brand which could have good impact on the nation.

Also, the concept of ‘Minjok’ can help unification of South and North Korea. One of the main reasons of unification is ‘Minjok.’ People of South Korea and North Korea are the same ‘Minjok,’ so Korean peninsula should be unified. This is the reason why many South Koreans support unification in Korean peninsula in spite of enormous economical burden by unification. In other words, the concept of ‘Minjok’ has key of unstable political and military situation in the East Asia.

 However, the concept of ‘minjok’ also has negative impact on the country. The main reason of problems is

the 100 thousandth immigrant 

unchanged meaning of ‘Minjok.’ As the world changes, the meaning of Minjok needs to be changed. The number of foreigners who live in Korea is already over 1million and the number of immigrants is over 100 thousands. The basic concept of ‘Minjok’ in Korea is based on lineage, ‘Danil Minjok.’ Therefore, the Korean who don’t look like native Korean such as immigrant is not fit for the past standard of ‘Minjok.’ Then, this confliction between the new social trend(globalization) and the old concept of ‘Minjok’ causes some side effects like human right violation.

 To look at more deeply, I classify the three responses by three different countries related with Minjok. First one is response to western countries and their cultures. In the report from Shin Gi-Wook who is the professor of Stanford, he points out that Korea’s nationalism is contradictory. Many companies like Samsung or LG consider good English test score as an important criterion of hiring new employees. Also, a lot of Korean students study abroad to study English and enjoy western culture like Pop. However, there are still some evidences Koreans still have nationalism such as cheer in World Cup. It seems they coexist in Korea. However, they just partly coexist. Koreans are only positive to globalization by Wealthy countries – usually western countries like USA, France or UK-. English is the language of UK and United States, and communication devices are usually made from western countries and users are also from western countries. In this case, it seems western cultures and people have higher position than Korean ‘Minjok.’ For example, some unqualified white people teach English in academies for the reason that they are from western countries. Furthermore, a lot of Korean treat them well and they get a lot of payment. It is similar with Chosun’s attitude to Myung dynasty. In this case, the national pride is defamed. We can interpret it as a phenomenon of cultural toadyism. It is right to respect foreigners but we don’t have to worship them.

 Second one is response to poor countries especially southeastern countries. Foreign laborers are usually from southeastern countries. In this case, we can find exclusiveness of ‘Minjok.’ It is true that Koreans also have little discrimination and exclusiveness to western people. However, it is also true that exclusiveness to southeastern countries is more severe than to western people. According to the research, 41% of immigrants-especially Asians- experience discrimination from native Koreans. In reality, many native Koreans including me feel repulsion when a Southeastern Asian says he is Korean. It is also similar with Chosun’s attitude to other countries. I think this is a huge problem because during 400~500 years, there’s no improvement of it. Just the object has changed.

the situation of descendants of fighters f
or the national independence

the situation of descendant of
pro-Japanese

 The last one is response to Japan. I’m sure that over 90% of Koreans hate Japan. It is natural because the concept of minjok was created to be against to imperialism of Japan and the concept descended. Also, many Japanese also have aggressive attitude to Korea. Severe antipathy would be a problem, but antipathy is quite natural. The problem that I want to point out from this response is an ironic patriotic spirit. A lot of Koreans become angry when they watch the cruel torture that Japanese police officer did to fighters for the national independence. However, a lot of Koreans don’t know well about those great fighters. Many of them confuse An joong-geun and Yoon bong-gil. Furthermore, the Korean government doesn’t treat the descendants of the fighters well. Except the descendants of Kim Gu, most of family and descendants emigrate to other countries or live poorly in Korea. Korean government gave badge for the contribution to independence and a little subsidy-but only sons of fighters could get subsidy, not after grandsons-. In contrast a lot of descendants of pro-Japanese group live well. In the era of Japanese occupation, they had earned a lot of benefits and after independence, Korean government didn’t punish them strictly. Therefore, a lot of politicians or business men are the descendants of pro-Japanese group. This is contradiction. At least, we should reward the descendants of the fighters for independence. It is irony that Koreans have pride for Minjok when Koreans soccer teams play well in the world cup but not interested in the real patriots and martyr for the country. 

The reality of Korean history education

 I wrote a lot of things about Minjok. I show the history, benefits, disadvantage of the concept of Minjok. It is obvious that the concept of Minjok have a positive impact on Korea. If we fix some side effects of Minjok, to keep the concept of Minjok will be beneficial for Korea’s future. I want to suggest some changes in Minjok for the better and brighter future of Korea. I think Minjok needs wider range of meaning. As I mentioned before, the concept of minjok based on lineage has limitation in the era of globalization. Minjok needs to embrace Koreans who don’t share blood. Also, if we really have pride of Minjok, we should know more about culture and history of Korea. Then, don’t forget about why we can stand on this land. If ‘Minjok’ changes that way, the future of Korea will be brighter.

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Short essay about "London 1802" by William wordsworth

Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour:

England hath need of thee: she is a fen

Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen,

Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower,

Have forfeited their ancient English dower

Of inward happiness. We are selfish men;

Oh! raise us up, return to us again;

And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.

Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart:

Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea:

Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free,

So didst thou travel on life's common way,

In cheerful godliness; and yet the heart

The lowliest duties on herself did lay.

 In London 1802 by william wordsworth, the speaker is missing Milton who seems to be the symbol of glorious day of England. According to this poem, the reality of English society is like stagnant water. 

 We can find some symbols, metaphor, especially about the relationship between humans, civilization and nature. It was published in 1807 and it was the age of industrial revolution. Civilization developed unbelievable speed. Productivity and technology drastically improved. However, human's mental, in other words, mental civilization didn't develop rapidly compare to development of material civilization. British people earned a lot of gold, but not all British people could get gold. England was like an adolescent boy  whose body had grown but thought is not. In this sense, I think stagnant water symbolizes former mental civilization which was not appropriate for that age. Then, altar, sword, and pen each symbolizes religion, chivalry, intelligence and they were inappropriate for new age.

 Then, the speaker thinks Milton could help humans. To review the writer's other poets, he often looks at the relationship between human and nature. In this poem, he compares Milton to nature like a star or the sea. It shows nature can heal humans like Milton. The image of pure nature, which is contrary to the age of industrial revolution. However, it is far from human like a star. Industries make nature like a star. Industrial revolution removes human's spiritual civilization and interrupts humans from healing. The writer emphasize English society by relationship between humans, civilization and nature.

 Even though this essay was written in 19th century. I think the writer's idea is still available in today's materialism society. Technology and science is still developing much fast than human's thought like philosophy, morality. 

[출처] London, 1802 - William Wrodsworth|작성

 In London 1802 by william wordsworth, the speaker is missing Milton because problematic England society needs him.

It was published in 1807 and it was the age of industrial revolution. I think stagnant water symbolizes wastewater of factories. Then, altar, sword, and pen each symbolizes religion, chivalry, intelligence and they are parts of civilization, especially spiritual civilization. Industries took human's civilization away because humans are selfish.

Then, the speaker thinks Milton could help humans. To review the writer's other poets, he often looks at the relationship between human and nature. In this poem, he compares Milton to nature like a star or the sea. It shows nature can heal humans like Milton. However, it is far from human like a star. Industries make nature like a star. Industrial revolution removes human's spiritual civilization and interrupts humans from healing. The writer emphasize English society by relationship between humans, civilization and nature.

I think the writer's idea is still available in today's materialism society.

자 상상

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Reading journal from new ideas from dead economists

 Maybe, humans' behaviors and mental states are one of the most unpredictable things in the world like Japan's earthquakes. Economics is the subject that predicts human's behaviors and choices and makes the theory useful in society. But, human's choice is so unpredictable that usual economists can't give sure answer. So, some people scorn economists always blow hot and cold. However, the great economists are different. They made sure their own answers and apply it in society. They contributed to the progress of society.

 There are many great economists such as Alfred Marshall who invented supply-demand curve, Marx who is the start of the biggest experiment in human's history, Milton Friedman who founded the currency principle and etc. However, two great economists are most impressive to me, Adam Smith and Kenyes.

 First, Adam smith, who is called the father of economics, is the most famous economists. Economics that we can call economics started from his book, “ the wealth of nations.” Adam Smith lived in the age of revolution that scientists tried to escape from Church’s rules. Rather than following Bible, they try to explain natural events with rational explanations. Adam Smith was influenced by it and he focused on people.

 Many people know him as the economist, but he was the philosopher. He considered “The theory of Moral Sentiments.” which contains Smith’s observation of the ethical behavior as the greatest book of his. He searched for the origin of moral approval and disapproval. He contrived the concept of the imaginary observer’s advice which can control human’s behavior. It is related with Freud’s concept of “super-ego.” Anyway, Adam Smith emphasize this feeling, sympathy in the entire book. Therefore he can be free from the critic’s critique that economists ignore human’s noble side.

 He was influenced by many people. Skepticism of David Hume, who Adam smith really admired, Francis Hutcheson’s declarations and Physiocrats’ ideas have an impact on Adam Smith. Adam Smith met physiocrats during the time of the tutor of the son of the Duke of Buccleuch. Physiocrats argued wealth comes from production not the amount of own gold and only agriculture can produce wealth. Adam Smith agree with the method of measuring nation’s wealth but disagree with the origin of wealth.

 Finally, in March 1776, econimics started, “the wealth of nations” was published. The purpose of this book is uncovering the method to achieve wealth. Adam Smith found a “ desire of bettering our condition” and wrote in the book. According to the book, because of this desire or the self- interest, people work and contribute to the progress of the society unintentionally. He argued that “the invisible hand” control the market harmoniously. The price decided by demand and it bring profits to both producers and consumers. Because of the free market is complete, government’s role is just national defense or public security. This theory is the main contents of “the wealth of nations” and the base of the classical economics.

 Not only he explained how the invisible hand control the market, but also he suggested the method to increase the wealth of nations. It is division of labor. Adam Smith proclaimed three advantages of division of labor. First, each worker could be more adroit. Second, workers could save their time. Third, specialized worker would invent machinery that makes work more convenient. He said it leads progress in productivity and augmenting nation’s wealth. He also warned division of labor differentiate the wage of workers. However, he justified it by giving some grounds like difference in work environment or training.

 Adam Smith asserted division of labor should be used in not only factories, but also towns and countries. Between countries, there would be a difference in price of the certain goods. If one country can produce the goods more cheaper, it has an absolute advantage. Adam Smith claimed countries should trade according to absolute advantages.

 Adam Smith criticized the theory of infant industry protection. According to him, this policy just make the industries dextrous at crying like babies to appetite themselves. It would lose competitiveness of the industry which lead the loss of the wealth of nation. And his critique and claim is still available today. Ronald Reagon’s government followed Adam Smith’s theory and succeed. This example show that how Adam Smith is a great economists.

 The second economist is Keynes, who is the most influential economist in 20th centuries. Keynesians who strongly follow Kenyes’ idea believe to basic proposition. One is the fact that the private economy can’t accomplish full employment, the other is the role of government to spur the economy actively.

 Kenyes was born in a Puritanical Victorian home. In Eton school, he got numerous mathematics award and entered into Cambridge. In Cambridge, he joined in the Apostles and enjoyed intellectual exchange. He was very smart, but he didn’t only floating in Academy. He also enjoyed many cultural activities like Opera or Musical. He first studied economics by reading Marshall’s Principles of Econimics. Later, he studied Economics by Marshall for 8 weeks. At the first time, Kenyes also followed classical or Marshall’s idea but after studying more and more, he change his economical sight.

 Kenyes is famous for the savior of the great depression. Great depression is one of the worst period in 20th centuries. The rate of unemployment augmented from 3% to 25% and national incomes became the half than before. Furthermore, all the people were psychological daunted. Many economists analyzed causes of the great depression. Most reasonable reason is the series of absurd actions. At the end of the 1920s, investment opportunities dried up and people started to deposit and repay loans. Then nations started protectionism, and FRB execute tighter policy absurdly. These factors lead the great depression.

 Kenyes criticized old men of treasury. They believe Say’s law which claims that production give enough incomes to buy all goods to consumers so there are no gluts. As a result, market would recover soon even though there’s some recessions. Because old officials of treasury believed Say’s law strongly, they didn’t do anything to resolve the depression. Kenyes criticized it and classical’s economist’s proposition. First classicists said that increasing saving means decreasing interest rate and it leads investment. Kenyes pointed out saving is directly related with investment because there are too many things affect investor’s decision. Second, according to classicists, recession causes decreasing wages of workers, so companies would reemploy them. However, Kenyes criticized it with difference between real wages and nominal wages.

 Not only he criticized previous economists and incapable officials, but also he suggested the solution of the great depression. Kenyes invented the concept of the marginal propensity to consume(MPC), marginal propensity to save(MPS), and multiplier. Multiplier is the key to boost economy. 100$ can value 300$ . Multiplier is the concept that once consumption lead more and more consumption. Then, Keynes said saving interrupt the multiplier. Therefore, someone should spur the consumption not saving and Kenyes pointed the government. He claimed government’s vital roles in market. It should spur consumption by many methods like huge public engineering works. He advised it to Roosevelt and Roosevelt started New deal policy and it succeeded.

 Kenyes’ theory had been useful until 1960s. However, Since 1970s, Keynes’ idea didn’t work well. Many people think Keynes’ theory is just old. But, still Keynes’ theory is reasonable because he also predicted future will be so complex that we can not predict it.

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ChalDduck pie

vivid description of ChalDduck pie

I store ChalDduck pie in my closet. This delicious pie is wrapped in plastic package which is decorated with picture of a purple flower and a butterfly. The wrapping makes a rustling sound. I can see brown material when I rip off the wrapping.

 This brown material is round. The front surface is uneven and the back surface is even but has irregular shape. To observe in detail, I can find slight cracks on the surface. ChalDduck pie also smells really good. I can smell sweet chocolate's smell. This smell makes me eat ChalDduck pie so I grab it. When I grab it, I feel the chocolate surface of pie is as smooth as a lens cloth. The taste of ChalDduck pie is sweet. I think the pie is sweeter than Winnie the Pooh's honey. However, the pie is not soft. When I bite it, I feel like I eat some jelly but the pie is harder than jelly. Moreover, inside the pie, there is another layer of chocolate and it is still sweet!

In conclusion, the most important fact would be ChalDduck pie is really delicious.

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Monthly TOEFL essay #2: The future of art

“I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones.” This is the famous quotes from John Cage. This quote reflects the spirit of contemporary art like Dadaism, Fluxus, abstract art, etc. They have been tried to destroy the paradigm of previous art. Therefore, they create new world of art and contemporary art becomes the representative art of 20th century. However, I assume this innovative paradigm would be changed in 21st century as John Cage's desire. The artists will make pieces which are very different from contemporary art.

The first reason why I strongly believe the change of art is related with characteristic of contemporary art. People who really enjoy the works of Dadaism or Fluxus are usually erudite people, especially in the field of art. They know the background of the art piece such as the movement which the artist belongs to or the external and internal context of the art piece. They may have ever read Gombrich's 'the story of art' at least one time. However, most of people have never studied about art. Therefore, they would just assess the work with only the work. Of course, the work is great itself but it's difficult to enjoy the contemporary art without the knowledge about it. It reflects social hierarchy. This hierarchy will spur the artists to be against with it.

In addition to educational status, economical status is reflected in the contemporary work. Jackson Pollock's 'No.5' was sold in 140million dollars. I don't try to condemn the work but this work was used as a method to show off the owner's wealth. This trend has been since the art was born. The contemporary artists who have tried to break a paradigm fail to break the trend. However, I think the artists of 21th century would change the trend. This irrationality of contemporary art and good environment like wider territory of democracy, equal society in the internet would inspire them. 21st century's artist will make the movement of art which is free from educational and economical hierarchy.

Another reason is related with Hegel's dialectic. To make a brief explanation of Hegel's dialectic, the basic principle is thesis-antithesis-synthesis. Thesis is an intellectual proposition, antithesis is the negation of thesis, and synthesis is solution of conflicts between thesis and antithesis by reconciling them. Comtemporary art is the thesis. Because art is from human's idea, the history of art has followed dialectic. Therefore, in 21st century, to follow the dialectic, antithesis and synthesis will appear and the paradigm will be changed.

In conclusion, the future is unknown before it becomes the present. However, the prediction of future reflects the present's reality and hope. After study about contemporary art, I predict the future of art with some evidences. If art changes to what I predict, many people will be able to enjoy various art. 

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Creative topic essay of university of Chicago

"Have you ever walked through the aisles of a warehouse store like Costco or Sam’s Club and wondered who would buy a jar of mustard a foot and a half tall? We’ve bought it, but it didn’t stop us from wondering about other things, like absurd eating contests, impulse buys, excess, unimagined uses for mustard, storage, preservatives, notions of bigness…and dozens of other ideas both silly and serious. Write an essay somehow inspired by super-huge mustard."

Yellow, full of yellow in a big plastic jar, this color is the only first impression of super-huge mustard jar. A plastic jar which is as big as a calf is full of one color, yellow. Suddenly, I had a question, why is mustard sauce yellow? I know mustard plant is yellow. However, it is not as yellow as the sauce made from it. So, what is the main cause of absolute yellow? Sugar? Vinegar? Or other things? And what color would it be when mustard sauce decays? Someone who buys super-huge mustard will know this color but I don't know. Then, what if mustard’s color were blue of black?

As soon as I think about black or blue mustard, I wonder if people would still eat mustard even if it is black or blue, assuming that the taste is the same. I don’t know how other people like but I would not eat black or blue mustard. Chicken nugget with blue mustard sauce is a little bit disgusting for me. I think I can't eat blue chicken nugget even though its taste is the same.

However, am I right? It could be natural response for blue mustard sauce, but there is no change in mustard sauce except the its color. . Actually, the taste of mustard sauce is not related with its color and the usage of mustard source is to eat, not to see. But, I thought blue mustard sauce would not be tasty although I have never tried it. I believe this thought is a prejudice against blue mustard.

There is a lot of 'blue mustard sauce' in society. The colored, the physically or mentally disabled people, the ugly. They are 'blue mustard sauce in society. Many people, who are yellow mustard sauce in society, have prejudices against blue mustard sauce and even discriminate them. We just think them as an aberration from the standard. For example, the colored are considered as potential criminals or and the disabled are considered as not being able to do anything at all.. And a lot of people accept these prejudice or discrimination without any criticism.

However, both yellow mustard sauce and blue mustard sauce are tasty. They do go with chicken nugget. We never try tasting blue mustard sauce event though its taste would be the same as yellow one. Aren't we doing the same thing to the colored or the disabled? Appearance is just a part of one person and we should know that it doesn't affect the authentic character of a person.

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How does the use of genre and writing style support the main ideas in George Orwell's 'Why I Write'

why I write

In ‘why I write’ by George Orwell, Orwell writes about the history of his writing and its motivation. He suggests four motivations, which are sheer egoism, aesthetic enthusiasm, historical impulse, political purpose. The writer wrote because of three motivations except political purpose when he was young. However, he had changed and started to write for political purpose which means he wrote because of desire to push the world in a certain direction. In this essay, the writer unfolds his thought by dealing with political purpose and other motivations. He claims that writers should write for political purpose but not abandon other motivations.

The genre of this essay and the writing style support the main idea of it. First, The essay includes two genres, personal narrative and poem. The writer writes about his writing history from his childhood to present. In the writing, the writer has grown up. Also, the writer's motivation of writing and thought about it changed. Usually, people consider growing up as a development. The main idea of this writing is a thought of the present writer who has grown up and developed. Then, the writer contrasts his past thought with present thought. Naturally, his present thought seems more sophisticated, persuasive and reasonable than his past thought. In other words, by contrasting present with past thought, the writer shows an excellence of the main idea. Personal narrative supports the main idea in another way. Personal narrative gives experiences which are related to motivations of writing and relevant thoughts. There are examples of the essay which are motivated by four motivations like 'nature poems' in the Georgian style, Paradise Lost, Animal Farm. It helps readers to understand characteristics and concepts of those motivations. In addition, this genre gives specific reason for change in the writer's motivation and background of the last motivation. The writer mentions a poverty-stricken experience and the job in Burma which made him understand imperialism. Moreover, readers can find that the time setting changes to Hitler, the Spanish Civil War from peaceful era. These experiences and time setting inspire the writer to think about fourth motivation. Then, those give an inevitability of the main idea.

Poem also supports the main idea. The writer quotes the poem and it is a part of genre in the writing. Even though the poem deals with dilemma of the writer, it seems the poem claims writers should write for political purpose because the era has changed. However, the genre of poem includes other motivations especially the aesthetic value and the writer quoted it to show his dilemma. It was effective. Therefore, the poem reveals necessity of political purpose and effectiveness of other motivations simultaneously.

The writing style also supports the main idea. For example, the writer's tone and attitude are confessional in the first part. In the beginning part of the essay, it seems he wrote badly because he wrote when he was young. In addition to them, intended boring description -'He pushed the door~ a dead leaf'- is also used to emphasize defects of the writing without political purpose. However, the writer doesn't only support the fourth motivation in the first part. He says if he escapes from this early influence (other three motivations), he will kill his impulse to write. The writer keeps neutrality and supports main idea.

Word choice in the poem also supports the main idea. It is related with time change, too. 'A happy vicar I might have been two hundred years ago ~ But born, alas, in an evil time.' Before the time changed, it was peaceful time. However, it becomes an evil time (it symbolizes Hitler and Spanish Civil War.) This also gives inevitability of the writing for political purpose.

And in the last part of the writing, the writer repeats the same structure. The structure of emphasizing the importance of political purpose and aesthetic values repeats continuously. It seems inconsistent, so readers could have question about which is more important. However, the writer writes it with consistency. He emphasizes the excellence and importance of both. Because they are important, they are repeated in the last part. However, the political purpose is written in the last line. Therefore, political purpose is little bit more important than aesthetic values in this writing.

To conclude, the main idea is the writer should write for political purpose but should not abandon aesthetic aspects and other motivations. George Orwell used many genres and writing styles to support main idea. As a result, George Orwell succeeded in sending a message that writers should not be naive in the world but also be a politician.

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Reflection on my in-class response to Body Ritual Among the Nacirema by Horace Miner.

The appearance of Nacirema that I assume

 The first impression when I got the paper about Nacirema was embarrassing. This is because Mr. Menard gives a surprise present, surprising essay day. Then, when I read it, I become more nervous because the sentence structure and lexicons in the writing were so hard that I couldn't understand them easily. For example, the difficult expressions like 'incarcerated' or 'thaumaturge' kept me from understanding the writing.

Anyway, because Mr. Menard made us write an essay about it and I thought it was important for my score, I tried my best to understand it. Then, I wrote an essay about it with incomplete understanding. I thought Nacirema's ritual activity was very cruel and barbaric. Unbelievable ritual torture such as baking women's heads in small ovens seems like the scene in 'Saw.' I assumed someone who suppose cultural relativism would claim that we should respect their cultures because each culture is different but not wrong. I thought this opinion has a problem. I thought even though we should respect variety of cultures, the cultures should follow universal natural rights of man. I had tried to write about it in the essay, but failed because of lack of time.

Then, two days after surprising essay day, I had Mr. Menard's class again. In the class, I realized the trick of the writing. 

Nacirema was a backword of American. The description of Nacirema's ritual activity is actually a description of American's routine. Making holes in tooth is a treating a cavity and baking women's head in a small oven is getting a perm. It was really fun but a little bit shocking. I was deceived by the difficult lexicon, sentence structure and the authority of the professor in the writing.

Other than difficult sentences and vocabularies, there are some elements which make me be deceived by the writing. First, The writing describes the writing Nacirema like describing the nature of animals or plants. In the writing, the observer observed Nacirema with the thought that they are different and far away from us. Therefore, I feel their culture is absolutely unrelated to us. It makes me unrealize the truth of Nacirema. Also, the writing style which seems objective and realistic causes me to be deceived. We can find it in the society . When we learn about other cultures, we don't feel that culture and usually just learn by the book. Therefore, we feel we observe other cultures and it interrupts real understanding of the culture.

Furthermore, it was written in 1950's. It is far away from the present so readers can feel sense of difference. Therefore, it makes Nacirema's story plausible because it was past. If it were written in 2000's and Nacirema were still alive, it would be more unbelievable.

In addition to the clever tricks in the writing, I can't deny that my previous thought and education affect my thought in my first essay. I thought Nacirema is barbaric and cruel. I accepted the fake observation about Nacirema in the writing. I think I thought like that because I have read the observation of cultures which is based on the thought of the main current cultures. It means I ha accepted the observation which the observer interpret with the standard of the main current culture. This observation can lead misunderstanding of the culture. For example, to exaggerate, future's people could interpret silicone in present woman's breast as a symbol of deep piety. It sounds absurd and other tribes in Africa also can think that our interpretation is absurd.

After I had read and thought about Nacirema, there were a lot of change in my idea of other cultures and other things. First of all, I started to try to assess other cultures with consideration 'who am I.' To be more detailed, 'who am I in the various society.' Because I had been born in the society, my sense of value and morality are fit for the society's value. Therefore, when I see other cultures, my decision is affected by the society's value. Actually, each society pursues different values and anyone doesn't know which is better or right. So, I decided to not to assess other cultures recklessly without consideration of variety of cultures.

However, although I consider them carefully, still there is a possibility that people from other cultures don't care about us. Therefore, I thought I should consider how people form different cultures think about me. My culture is unfamiliar culture to them. They would try to understand us with their own culture and it also can lead misunderstanding. Therefore, we should consider it when we interact with people from other countries and have different cultures.

In conclusion, Nacirema is very meaningful stuff for me. It teaches me that I should study harder to prevent being deceived by difficult words. Also, my idea and attitude to different cultures changed to positive ways. I become more careful to them and it will lead positive communication between . So, Nacirema was so meaningful.

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My idea about girl's dormitory

All KMLA students have been curious about the purpose of the building which had stopped being constructed for many years. It should have been finished many years ago but it hasn’t because of lack of fund. However, recently, KMLA decided to build the building again for girls’ dormitory which led to much controversy. Many students have skeptical thought about girls’ dormitory. I also agree with such thought that girls’ dormitory is not beneficial for KMLA students.

 The first reason for my argument is disadvantage which would be given for female students. If the girls have to move to new dormitory, they have to travel a considerable distance to reach cafeteria. Therefore, female students would lose their time to rest in their room after having meal. They would have to walk 7 more minutes to go their room. Other than that, students should bring textbooks for afternoon classes in lunch time. The separated building would make it hard for them to bring their books. Furthermore, the way to teachers’ offices from girls’ dormitory is much tougher than the way from current dormitory. The slope is steeper and some part of the road is muddy. All these things would give disadvantage for female students.

 Handicap to team projects is also a problem. KMLA students usually have a lot of team projects and team members usually include both male and female students. However, if girls’ dormitory is completed, male and female students couldn’t meet together for team projects and it would interrupt student’s work. KMLA students don’t have time to meet together for team project except for self-study time. So, if girls’ dormitory is built, male students of female students would go across a hill for team project. It is so ineffective. Moreover, it would be difficult for teachers to change their teaching and assignment style because of the new building.

 Furthermore, the quality of education would be decreased. The small student-faculty ratio is one of the biggest ratios of KMLA. However, if girls’ dormitory is built, the number of students would increase. But it is hard to increase proper teachers for KMLA students. Therefore the ratio between students and teachers might increase. It would worsen the quality of education at KMLA.

 In conclusion, girls’ dormitory should not be built. The principal claimed the school should build girl’s dormitory because other prestigious schools did so. However, it would be absurd to follow other prestigious schools in spite of all disadvantages I mentioned above. 

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Academical film review : "the age of stupids" by Jeremy

Doomsday clock

 In 2055, the old archivist of a big archive which stores all of books, work of art, documents reviewed the situation of 2008 to find the reason of the end. The environment of 2055 is totally destroyed as a result of Global warming. Then, through the video, we can watch 'stupids' who don't care about environments and various people. By watching the videos, the old man asks a question 'Why didn't we stop climate change when we had the chance?'

example of animal related
environmental campaign

The movie is quite excellent. At least, the movie succeed to deliver its message well. It does so efficiently that New York Times assess it 'a much sterner and more alarming polemic than An Inconvenient Truth,' Then, there are a few devices which make the movie more persuasive and interesting. The most important persuasive factor of the movie is a human. Negative interaction between humans and environments is an obvious fact and it is very crucial. But a lot of campaigns just deals with animals and plants. 

example of human related
environmental campaign

 They just show a picture of a polar bear or a dying panda. This method is effective only for two minutes and people forget it because those animals are pitiful but not related to them. However, this movie is different. This movie is absolutely about humans. It directly shows how climate change and environmental pollution affect humans and how humans affect them. Detailed description of relationship between humans and nature makes people realize pollution and global warming is directly related with them. In addition, this movie shows human's activity which has a negative impact on not only environments but also humans. The movie described blind eagerness of resources totally destroyed the life of other people, well. It leads sympathy, anger, sense of alert from people. It uses pathos successfully.

 Also, Mark Lynas, the British environmental activist, warns of a tipping point around 2015 if the world doesn’t immediately reduce carbon emissions. Once global temperatures warm more than two degrees, he says, all will be lost. Because he is a famous environmental activist and gives organized grounds, his argument seems persuasive. By showing Mark's authority, the movie uses a method of Ethos. Moreover, Mark gives the specific time, 2015. If someone says global warming will cause catastrophe after around 100years, people would not take it seriously. However, 2015 is much more closer time and specific. It's like an imminent deadline of assignment. It has awakened viewers.

 Furthermore, double time structure makes the movie more effective. In the movie, setting of time comprises 2008 and 2055 and main one is 2055. The old archivist reviews the humanity in 2008 and it makes viewers feel like living in the world of 2055. Therefore, viewers do self-reflection and regret their acts in the world of 2008 from the point of view of people who live in 2055. Then, they can observe their present act with an objective perspective. In contrast, viewers do live in around 2008. They can see the future from 2008's situation. It means they can see the result of their current act. So, viewers feel sense of alert. The important thing is the viewers feel these feeling simultaneously and the movie can send its message to viewers much more effectively.

 To put together, the movie succeeded to sending their message to people effectively. However, some people think 'we don't have solution, we can't avoid catastrophical future' This is because they think the movie doesn't give a solution for the environment problem. Actually, the movie doesn't give a clear answer directly. However, we can see hope and answer from the movie. The movie doesn't show just stupids, they also show people who are not stupids. Even though their claims are usually not accepted by stupids, the Earth still has hope just by the fact they exist. The more important thing is the fact that someone escapes from the state of stupid like Piers Guy who is a windfarm developer. Even though many people are against with his activity, but it is still meaningful that someone tries to protect environment. Fortunately, to see the recent environment friendly trend, the number of people like Piers Guy is increasing. Also, by this movie's message, some people would change their mind. To see this change and hope, hopeless prophecy need to be modified.

http://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2007/01/19/2007011900050.html
www.caminodesantiago.me
http://blog.naver.com/cekyoung486?Redirect=Log&logNo=158479778

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personal narrative speech scirpt

 How do you deal with people who you abhor? Punching? Kick? or giving 매운 양념 chicken to them? Dealing with them is quite tough stuff. I also have had this difficulty even until today. However, I have a fine solution which I obtained from my experience.

My experience started with the big man. The big man's name is Lee BoHoon and he has a mental disability. Before I met him, I had thought all disabled people were kind. Bohoon broke my prejudice. Anyway he was shocking and really big. He weighed 108kg even though he had the same height with me. And his appearance was really similar with Kim Jeongnam. Bohoon was so impressive that all the students in classroom were surprised on the first day. Bohoon moved to my school in the third grade. At the first day, my homeroom teacher had Bohoon introduce himself and he had a 5 minute speech about Democracy of Korea and the USA. It's quite extraordinary. However, his abnormality didn't end up with this speech.

His episodes are unlimited but my speech time is limited so I will just talk about a few episodes and his characteristic. First, he is hyperactive especially in class time. To be active in the classroom is very positive but to be hyperactive is not. When teacher deals with a topic, he says " Oh! teacher! teacher ! I know it! I know it! I will explain it!" Even he doesn't know about topic, " Oh! teacher! teacher ! I know it! I know it! I will explain it!" Because of his hyperactiveness, some students complained Bohun interrupts their studying and other students complained they couldn't sleep in class hour .

In addition, he is arrogant. He thought he was the smartest person in the world. So he ignored everyone including teachers. For example, one day Bohoon asked 'Neoliberalism' to social study teacher.(Usually, when he asked something, it means he wanted to show off his knowledge) Because the teacher should go on the lesson, he said he didn't know about it. Well, Bohun said " You don't know Neoliberalism? Are you a social study teacher? Ha~~ Ha!"

This is not end! Bohoon was also dirty. For example, he didn't wipe the excrement after he shits. Furthermore, he sometimes took his pants off and scratched his 'precious' part during a class hour.

My class had tried to change his behavior by conversation but we failed totally. Therefore, we thought violence is the only solution. Violence is a justice for us at that time. And some students express their belief by their punches! However, at that time, I didn't do anything even though I was the president of the class. I also really abhorred him at that time.( It doesn't mean I like him now)

In the morning of the field trip day, I stood at the station to wait my friends. When I stood at the station, I saw Bohoon and Bohoon's mother. Bohoon's mother went with Bohoon to 어린이 대공원. And I saw the scene that Bohoon's mother wiped bohoon's mouth which is dirty because of Dunkin donuts. Even though it is an ordinary scene between mother and son, I realized something. There are some people who really love and care Bohoon. Those people would be heartbroken when they heard Bohoon was beat by other students. I felt guilty a lot. So after the field trip day, I tried to protect him from harassment of other students and violence to him decreased a lot.

As I mentioned before, I don't like him now even today. (This is because he didn't change his behavior.) However, I treated him well and I prevented violence. Anyway, try to treat well other people, even some people are crazy. If you can’t bear him just think like this, ‘if I am rude to someone or harass , the people who loves him would be heartbroken.’ 

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My favorite book

 3 months ago, Israel declared war against Lebanon because of the missile of Hezbola. Conflicts between Israel and its neighboring Middle Eastern countries are quite frequent. Since I didn't know well about the reason and process of such conflicts before, I used to consider Middle Eastern society as the society of terrorism. However, after I read Inside the Lebanon, Journey to a Shattered Land with Noam and Carol Chomsky, it all changed; because of my previous ignorance I was deeply impressed by this book, and it is still my favorite book.

 Written in 2006, this book features four-week long journey of Noam and Carol Chomsky across Lebanon and what they thought as the hidden reason of Middle Eastern conflicts. In this book, Noam Chomsky describes the reality of Lebanon, focusing on the Kiam camp for Palestine refugees and Beirut, the capital city. Compared to the Kiam camp, Dante's Inferno seemed like a paradise. It was so terrible and cruel. It's unbelievable that people could live in that world. Because of the missile bombardment of Israel, life at Kiam became living hell. Israel acted like that because a lot of Palestine refugees live in there. It was as shocking as Auschwitz Concentration Camp.

 Noam Chomsky also suggested the reason of the conflicts. It was due to U.S.A and Israel. Israel's unjustified invasion based on the belief of Zionism totally destroyed the Palestine and other Middle Eastern countries. Furthermore, USA has actively supported Israel and thus contributed to conceal the truth behind the conflicts. Also, he explained the intentions and method of the Western powers which leads world hegemony.

 Even though this book was written 4 years before I read it, and therefore the situation describe has changed over years, this book is impressive enough to shock and inspire me. I was angry about the deeds of Israel and the USA and my previous ignorance about Middle Eastern. Therefore, I become interested in the actual truth of Middle Eastern countries a lot about it.

Along the way, I participated in Youth Nuclear Security Summit(YNSS). In the committee, delegates discussed conflicts between Middle Eastern countries, and most of them supported the side of Israel and the USA. I thought I should let them know about the reality of Lebanon so I had speech about it. Many of the delegates got shocked, and some of them might have changed their stances after hearing that. Therefore, my committee approached the problem from the perspective of various Middle Eastern countries as well as that of Israel. It was a very meaningful experience for me in that I changed someone else's ignorance.

 However, many people still don't know about it. For example, Naver encyclopedia, the one most frequently accessed by Korean public, provides a thorough article on Auschwitz Concentration Camp, but does not even mention about the Kiam camp. In this situation, letting people know about the reality of countries in the side of the weak would be my obligation because I read this book. This book gave me quite tough but meaningful things to do so Inside the Lebanon, Journey to a Shattered Land with Noam and Carol Chomsky is my favorite book.

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