Gosh- I wish these kind of headlines would go away! The General is livid, and so we should all be. It makes me want to buy one of those "I'm a Canadian" tee shirts!
Well, almost. I don't want to start up my old line about controlling the young troops, but it is tempting. I don't have the whole story, but will be watching the news. There is little doubt it will result in serious obsevation of all soldiers and more "Under the Oak Tree" counseling. I can't think of anything positive in the way of American-Korean relations coming out of this incident. Lets all make a special effort to nod, smile and say hi to every Korean we meet. Let your light show, and do something to help to prove we are not all barbarians!

I think it a lot of troops are forgetting that we are guests in Korea. Sure, the US Military is providing a service to the Korean Government and helping to protect them, but they are still guests. They should act like guests. I think it would do a world of good for more troops to take a trip away from the base and the "ville" and see just what Korea is like. Learn a little about the history and the culture. Then maybe they would have a little more respect for the country.

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wow..... Is it really ? Is it really your thinking ?
Is that right ?
[the US Military is providing a service to the Korean Government and helping to protect them]
It's a good word, i think.

The Korean Herald said that a 23 year old male Soldier was accused of rape of an older lady. He was moved from KNP custody to a Korean Prison. Maybe for safekeeping? The US Army said that alcohol and a curfew violation were involved. More later.

I saw him on our TV Main News show.
It's be a TOP NEWS on Korea public broadcasting such as KBS, MBC.

Yes, that's really my thinking. I'm a little confused as to what your point is though. Maybe you can clarify what you mean so I know whether to be offended or not.

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My thinking, the same with you. But It's never easy. Isn't it ?

As much as I hate to say it, having been here now for a few months,and seen first hand the behavior of some of our American military, I am -appalled- by it. Now, please note I said -some- of our American military, I am in no way stating, implying or hinting that every American service member here behaves in that way,however, unfortunately, sometimes all it takes is one incident to give someone in our host country a long lasting negative impression of what *all* Americans are like, and those few who do behave so really ruin it for those of us who do recognize that we are guests here, and try to be respectful to the culture. I really wonder sometimes if these guys think that their Mothers or wives back home would be proud of their actions... and if they would behave this poorly at home..and then I realize that they must not be thinking *at all*.

The U.S. Military in Korea does some *wonderful* things here to interact with , and help the local community. I've seen the good work done with the orphanage s here first hand, I've seen the genuine care and good will of many evidenced in simple acts of kindness... unfortunately, it's undeniably the one act of violence on our part that will get the major publicity,and will be what we as Americans are known as, and judged upon.

I think there's some truth to the adage "From the Mouths of Babes"..

My 8 year old son (who *loves* it here, btw) has been in my opinion, *very* respectful and polite in his encounters with locals (*G* I think, due to the fact that he loves the attention he's getting), makes special efforts to greet any local children he sees on our way into or out of the base, or while visiting out, with a cheery hello, spoken in Korean. He likes to get small bags of individual candies and give them to some of the children he encounters now and then..and when I asked him why it was so important to be nice to his "friends" here in Korea, he replied with a simple, but oh,so correct answer:

"Because, Mommy, I'm the only American kid they may ever meet, and I want them to know that Americans are nice, so that we can all be friends when we're grown ups,and there won't be any wars or fighting with people here."

So much for the wisdom of children.

Dee :)

Dee:
Entertainer Art Linkletter, himself adopted, had a radio & TV show based on the sayings of children. My dad always said, "If you don't want to hear the truth, don't ask a kid." Your son has it right! I know more than one person
who often carries a bag of individually wrapped candies to pass out to children. Probably it could get one arrested now in America, as a pervert, but it works wonders here!

I think most of Koreans are mature and intelligent enough to know that only a few individuals are dare to commit such a stupid and disgusting crime. What I mean to say is that generalization of any country for a few individuals' behavior isn't right and in fact, when we start generalizing people, it easily becomes racism.

But this guy must've been totally wasted as he tried to rape a 60 year old woman. According to the local news, the guy punched her in her face couple times and dragged her to the back alley where he tried to rape her. Fortunately a patrolling officer heard her scream and got to the scene in time.

Not many people in Korea would relate this story to generalize the whole american troops based in Korea, I hope.