Home By Marquel South Korea Is Not Charlie

South Korea Is Not Charlie

Marquel, TPVs NYTimes Kimchee Sauce Section correspondent was using the new delivery service Caviar, when he read South Korea Deports American Over Warm Words for Trips to NorthShin Eun-mi, a South Korean-born American, faced an outcry from conservatives who accused her of sympathizing with the government in Pyongyang.

Marquel read that the woman, Amy Chung her English name, had committed some horrible acts.

She had visited North Korea several times and said it was pleasant and the people friendly. Then she gave speeches in the South where she shared the lectern with a woman who had actually given birth in the North.

The South Koreans, understandably, decided to kick her out of her country, a country still at war with the North. They hustled her off to the airport and sent her to the US, which similarly doesn’t have such a good record on free speech, unless you’re a corporation.

Marquel was bothered by the confluence of events in France and Korea. People don’t like listening to what they don’t like.

Marquel got in touch with miss Chung. They had a nice talk.

“Of course I understand that North Korea is repressive,” she said. “I’ve never said otherwise. But compared to what? Look at what South Korea has done to me. Is that not repressive?”

“Well,” I commented,” they sent you to LA. Pretty nice Koreatown there. That’s not too repressive is it?”

“If you like Koreatown food. I prefer a small meal in Seoul, with just a bit of green tea. I don’t need LA. How would you feel if they kicked you out of the US? “She asked.

“You see that’s my point. First it depends on why they sent me. Then it depends on where they sent me. Like if they sent me away because I kept saying Obama is a Republican and Cuomo is a crook, I’d be kind of proud.  And if they sent me to France I’d feel like Bre’er Rabbit, hopping happily in the briar patch. But no matter what I write nobody has threatened to deport me. But you….” I said.

 “I am sent away for telling the truth and for talking with a woman who had a baby in Pyongyang. Is that right?” She asked.
“That’s not the question. The question is are you a martyr? That’s what everyone expects these days.  You’re still alive, so I’d say you’re a quasi martyr. But that’s better than being a non martyr, isn’t it?” I asked.
“I think you and I see life differently. I want to talk in my country. You want to be a martyr in a French bistrot.” She said.
“But you’re like Charlie now. That’s a big honor and, I might say, a heavy burden. Soon everybody might be holding signs saying, ‘Je suis Amy.’ ” Wouldn’t that be great?”
“She seemed suddenly perturbed. “Why ‘Je suis Amy?’ Why the French? I have nothing to do with France.”
“It’s so much cooler. Look this weekend everybody felt so continental saying, ‘Je suis Charlie,’ or ‘nous sommes tous Charlie,’ or even, ‘je suis Ahmed,’ ” I explained.
“Who’s Ahmed?” She asked.
“A Muslim cop who was killed. You were probably on the plane when that came out.” I said.
“Probably not. I am too devoted to Korea to read much about the fine details of French massacres. I just want to go home.” She complained.
“Well I don’t know about you. I’m proud of you and for what it’s worth, Je suis Amy.” I said.
“But you’re not. I’m Amy. You’re Marquel. My job is to help Korea. Your job is to get deported and feel some momentary solidarity with a world wide but transitory movement.” She argued, her voice serious and firm.
“Well how about if you share the glory, it could be, ‘je suis Charlie and Amy.’ ” I commented.
She sighed. “Marquel I don’t want to be a slogan. I don’t want to be a martyr. I don’t want to be dead. I want to end a stupid war that is now seventy years old. You can’t do that with slogans.”
“You don’t think?” I asked.
“I don’t think.”
“Okay, but tomorrow don’t be surprised if we’re all in the street saying, ‘je suis Amy.‘ “
“Good bye, Marquel.”
“Good bye, Amy…et Charlie….”
By MARQUEL: South Korea Is Not Charlie

8 COMMENTS

  1. nice touch that the US is not fan of freedom of speech unless you’re a corporation

  2. nice stuff. i almost said fluff but it is better than that, it is a flute of champagne.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.