I keep thinking about the "comfort women" and how awful it must have been for the poor peasant girls to think they are giving themselves to work for a better life for their families only to return in shame carrying these awful secrets and burdens-if they were lucky enough to return at all. Sometimes I think about the things that we are privileged enough to "complain" about...co-workers, economy, etc...and yet, these people that we learned about tonight were stripped of basic rights, their own country and ethnic pride, and when the country was returned to them, because the pawns of two larger superpowers, they were torn apart and families and the nation were divided yet again. It made me feel grateful that my burdens are not as great as those I learned about on Monday night...but it also made me feel a sense of responsibility to be more informed of the lives of those in other countries and to be aware of the blessings of living in peacetime.

I was deeply moved by the story of so many women that were victims of the conflicts between Korea and Japan. It is sad, though not surprising, that so many documents that might have helped to tell the story were destroyed. I am admiring of the resiliance of the Korean people.

It took the United States many decades to apologize to the Japanese Americans that were sent to internment camps during World War II. Over 100,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans were sent to these camps and the United States waited until 1988 to formally apologize and issue $20,000 in reparations to each survivor. These "Comfort Women" deserve the same. Unfortunately, we are coming up on sixty years since World War II. If Japan comes around and ever issues an apology and reparations it may be too little and too late. Most of these women have passed away and it is sad to think that they never were given a formal apology. I hope Japan comes around before they are all gone.

A few years ago I had a Korean student in my class with a Japanese last name and it puzzled me. It was interesting to learn that the Japanese made the Koreans add a Japanese name after their original Korean last name. Now I understand better why my former student had a Japanese name. However, I now wonder why would the Korean families keep the Japanese last name all these years, once this disrespectful practice was over. I would have thought they would have dropped the Japanese last name at some point in time. I also know understand why there is still a lot of distrust and dislike between these two cultures.

Monday night's lecture provided me with new insight into the age of colonialism. Countries such as Japan, Russia, China, and the United States took hold of parts of Korea for the last 100 years. In this day and age of mostly free trade, technology and information, do we need to hang on to the idea of having a hold of physical property in foreign soil. In particular, do we still need to be a part of the divisiveness that plagues the Korean peninsula? If Russia and the United States left the peninsula, wouldn't if benefit the entirety of the area. It is naive and simplistic of me to suggest such an idea, but what good can come from foreigners living among people who do not necessary want them there.

One thing I've known for awhile now (due to my Korean friends and my vacation in Seoul) is that Koreans are still extremely bitter toward the Japanese for their 35 year invasion. I find it interesting that even Koreans who do not currently live in Korea or were not even alive while the Japanese controlled the country are extremely bitter. The hatred has been passed down from generations. And after really learning why during this session, I don't blame them for feeling this way.

I found myself reflecting upon what we learned about Korean history for awhile after this session. They don't have an uplifting history. From what we've learned, they've spent most of it either being controlled by another country or unsuccessfully trying to make something of themselves. Professor Jung-Kim was always referring to Korean leaders that were inspired by revolutions around the world, but they couldn't quite do the same to get what they wanted. That makes me wonder what happened to their strong leaders. Where was their George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Ghandi, Margaret Thatcher, or even Stalin, Lenin, Hitler, or Napoleon? Where was their leader that would step up and lead them out of their funk?

I had a hard time following this lecture at the beginning because it was assumed that we knew a great deal about Korea and its history. However, once we got through some of the years and information about its complex government, I found it intriguing to learn about the attire, the arts, the women and the radio broadcasting. How fascinating that radio could be used as an undercover way to convey sarcasm as well as boast Korean culture. I did find it sad to hear that that the Berlin Gold Medalist was actually Korean, but had been representing the Japanese. It does make more sense to me now as to why some Korean's do have Japanese last names.

Noelle, I agree. It seems of out of all the Asian countries we are studying, the Koreans had it the worst. All of the other countries had some time period of development or peace. Korea, however was in constant turmoil and is still suffering to this day. I find it interesting that no great leader has stepped forward to end their nightmare and give them a moment of peace.