As I was responding on a different thread, this idea came to me.

People who read Stars and Stripes and watch AFKN know that groups of GIs do things in Korea like go to orphanages and old folks homes. We know these groups, on their own initiative, raise money for these institutions and other things.

We also hear from time to time how bases officially do things like invite Koreans onto the base for tours or other positive things out in the community.

Personally, I think it is a kick in the balls that we have to moan for better coverage of these events in the Korean media to help Koreans appreciate USFK and GIs....

.......because training your asses off to prepare to fight and die if NK attacks again should trump these small community service events......but that's just me....

Anyway, we hear about these community things - or things like GIs seeing a car crash helping the injured -----

but Koreans don't see it. We know this. The Korean press hardly reports it.

So ---------- why don't we get proactive?

I saw where AFKN has started putting shorts up on You Tube.

It dawned on me this is a great outlet to touch many more Koreans.

We know Korean society is crazy about the internet.

Why don't some of you guys in the military put some stuff up?

If you hear about some community service thing going on --- take a short video --- 1 to 5 minutes would be gold.

And upload it to You Tube.

You don't really need a Korean translation.

Images of smiling GIs being friendly with local Koreans would speak volumes.

If you can get film of the orphanage and old folks homes visits it would be even better.

If you get film of a donation drive to help such a place it would be good.

Or, when groups voluteer to help local farmers.

All of this stuff will have some influence on Korean people. I taught Korean adults for years. I know the anti-US / USFK culture runs deep --- but even small gestures have influence in Korean society ----- just as small bad things USFK or a GI does gets amplified.

I have another idea.....but I'm going to isolate it by putting it as a reply to this message.

I think we should try to use You Tube. I think it could have significance.

And if videos start coming up, some of us can work on editing the videos for better presentation or working on adding Korean subtitles or text.

I wish I were in Korea....

I get one of these brain storms about every 4 to 6 months, and usually nothing comes of my suggestions to those still in Korea....

But, I want to point to one small item that might help promote this You Tube idea......

How many of you (still in Korea) have ever noticed that Koreans will often go ga-ga over a foreigner simply trying to use a few words in Korean?

It is one of the most common things in Korean society expats notice.

Next ------ how many of you (still in Korea) go out to see the sites in Korea beyond the nightclubs?

How hard would it be for you guys who go to Korean tourist sites or to learn Korean or meet Koreans or so on........

how hard would it be for you to capture just 30 seconds or so of this on a video?

You Tube has it set up so you can upload videos from your cellphone - I believe. I don't know how this works, but I seem to remember seeing that option you can set up.

Guys (and girls) -------------- a 30 second shot of GIs visiting a Korean temple, palace, art gallery, anything remotely like that ------

and uploaded to You Tube with English and Korean key words in the tag....

will be watched by Koreans.

And the influence could be much more than we would normally think if we did not already know how much Koreans are impressed if you just try to say a few basic sentences in Korean......

It seems to me it would not be much of a burder for GIs who get out to see Korea to capture short videos and get it on You Tube.

And the benefits should make that little effort worth it....

As related to the overall view of USFK (and GIs) the problem with AFN is that few Koreans watch it - especially the news. It would be good if USFK would use some KATUSAs or others to translate and add subtitles to short news items like that and send them to the three big Korean networks - or at least work out something with the Korean government where KBS would air them at least once on a prime time evening news cast. Korea's networks are government sponsored...how much effort would it take to put in one of those 2 to 3 minute slots?

But, the internet in Korean society is used as much or more than people who watch the evening news.

Little shorts on You Tube with Korean script tags added so a search engine would hit on them would have some level of impact in Korean society.