David Tizzard is a professor at Seoul Women’s University, holds a PhD in Korean Studies, and hosts the Korea Deconstructed podcast. He has lived and worked in Seoul for more than two decades. Reach him at datizzard@swu.ac.kr.
I'm a racist cult member
By David Tizzard
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By David A. Tizzard
Well for the record, I’m not really. But there’s a point to the title if you’ll bear with me for three minutes.
Essentially, it boils down to the fact that the outbreak of the Coronavirus has seemingly highlighted and exacerbated many people’s existing prejudices and negative thoughts. It’s magnifying the pessimism and ill-feeling our minds already harbor.
Rather than encouraging people to stand together, to stand in support of those that they would not normally recognize, the disease is seemingly doing the opposite.
It’s widening the social cleavages and tearing people apart. At least online where a lot of people are being forced to spend their time.
It’s a bit like the moment in one of the Avengers movies where all the good guys in tights are on the Helicarrier examining the tesseract but then start turning on each other. They start arguing, blaming, criticizing, shouting, pointing fingers and swearing.
Well actually there’s no swearing because it’s a kids’ film, but you get the point. They start attacking each other despite being on the same team.
And there’s some kinda virus or element that causes them to do this.
To my mind, we are seeing that again now in South Korea.
The conservative opposition are blaming the ruling party for the whole thing – declaring that masks were given to China and the entire fallout is the result of the administration’s continued kowtowing to Emperor Xi. The memes online about this are hilariously bad.
Meanwhile, some supporters of the ruling party believe that the conservatives are in bed with various cults and have willingly – or at least through incompetence – spread this disease throughout the country. There are similar memes, photos, and theories that will show you connections all the way from cult leader and public enemy Lee Man-hee with his Park Geun-hye watch down to Choi Soon-sil.
The atheists are proclaiming their moral superiority (of course they are) by decrying any “religious” organization or members that are finding solace in their community during this time. I highlight the word religious there because there is obviously a degree of difference between a religion and a cult, but it’s not really my job to normatively decide which of them are permissible in a society and which are not.
“None of them,” you cry! Yes, well done.
Shincheonji preach a ridiculous doctrine and they prey on the weak. I completely accept that. But it’s not the most outlandish thing I’ve ever heard (I’m looking at you Hanuman) and they are not, as far as I know to date, breaking the law. So where do we draw arbitrary lines in the acceptance of religions?
Elsewhere the nationalists are attacking Japan for having the temerity to close their borders to people coming from South Korea without any special visas. Approximately 100 countries have restricted Korean visitors but, of course, Japan is only doing this because of that football game, colonization, an assassination, 1965, and Lee Myoung-bak being born in Osaka.
The whole thing has plotted people against each other more than ever. And in a time of crisis: literally, of a national crisis.
There are people dying, thousands (if not millions) out of work, countless worrying about their family’s health and safety. It’s a time when skin colour, political allegiance, religious affiliation, and nationality are all meant to take a back seat to contributing towards the better good. But what are we doing?
Pointing fingers. Blaming others.
To be clear, I’m not affiliated to any of the nationalist, political, or religious organizations in the country. But providing they have not committed any criminal acts, they have every right to act and do as they please. Even if I find their views reprehensible or incomprehensible.
That’s where tolerance, forgiveness, and understanding start after all.
It’s easy to get along with your mates, with whom you share the same social outlook, or if you stan the same K-Pop idol. That’s why they’re your mates.
Now, do I like racism? No. Do I like cults? No. Do I like certain (any) political parties? Nope.
Do I want to go around telling people how great I am? Perhaps yes if you read this piece the wrong way… which you would be more than entitled to do, tbf. But really, no.
I’m far from perfect. I’m sure many of my views are illogical. I have biases, prejudices, likes, and desires. I have things that I don’t like and that I’m adverse to (you can probably insert that Marilyn Monroe “if you can’t handle me at my worst” meme here if you like).
But I’m not going to start blaming political parties, religious organizations, or social and ethnic groups for what’s taking place at the moment.
I’m going to try and forgive them for any mistakes they have made. Yes, Derrida might say I do that selfishly in the knowledge that I have made mistakes in the past and will make mistakes in the future so if they can forgive me in return I’d be grateful. But can’t we all put aside those differences and focus on a common goal?
Reversing the snap and throwing that silly bloody ring in the volcano are metaphors. We all want to live healthily and safely with our loved ones – whatever kind of tights they may or may not wear when reading the evening news. It really doesn’t matter.
So, yeah, sorry for the rant. I’m not a racist cult member. But I’m gonna keep trying to forgive and understand people despite their mistakes and see if we can’t start working together piece by piece.
Because who knows what we might be able to achieve if we did?
Seriously.
David Tizzard (datizzard@swu.ac.kr) is an assistant professor at Seoul Women's University and lectures in politics and history and Hanyang University. He presents economic and cultural issues on "Business Now" on TBS eFM (101.3FM) live every Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.