Submitted by Don Carlson, Jun 19, 2007 00:33

Many South Koreans suffer from a condition common in countries without industry or newly industrialized, peoples making minor or little contribution to the world---they wish to be immediately significant. Because of this, rather than be ashamed of their brethren to the north, they wish to share in their defiance of the overwhelming power of the West, and of America in particular. They imagine that in joining froces with the "nuclear" North they might gain great stature among nations---perhaps even become a threat---and therefore be taken seriously. These symptoms of puerile resentment show that Korea may be far from being a great nation, for to be great Koreans must first be great-hearted. They need to not be swaggering wannabes, but people free to see the truth about themselves, their kin to the north, and the world at large---and their place in it. Their resentment of the West is a great poison in their culture, and may lead a new generation of Koreans to disaster. Look around the world and see the many who are now travelling that road.

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