Beware of arrogance in our society

 

We tend to take the advantages of the status quo for granted. We are blessed with a beautiful natural environment, convenient means of travel, efficient medical services and a generally decent standard of living. But everywhere we look, the global village is suffering catastrophes.

In North America, once-picturesque mountain forests are destroyed by fires, their residents forced to flee. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has dragged on for over two years: tens of thousands of casualties and refugees are the result. In the Middle East, the attacks on Gaza have caused 40,000 deaths — if we can believe Hamas. Certainly many children have been killed or wounded. There is famine in Africa. Closer to home, a majority of Japanese are terrified by the possibility of more earthquakes and tsunamis especially since the Fukushima disaster of 2011. And just across the border, the population of North Korea starves while slaving for the cruelest of dictators.

Compared to many countries, we are truly blessed. This accounts for the recent trend in reverse immigration as many Koreans who left for favored lands like Canada, America and New Zealand come back home. Why? They say Korea is safe. It is free of epidemic gun violence. Most systems and facilities are state of the art and convenient. K-pop is loved all over the world. Medical care is exemplary. I’m sure there are other reasons as yet unexpressed. So, we are really blessed compared to many others in the global village.

However, I fear that many of us are so arrogant in our words and attitudes that, unless we make serious efforts to improve ourselves, we risk falling into the condition of other, less fortunate countries. I worry that the signs of this decline are already evident.

On prime time news, I constantly see politicians shouting at each other engaged in verbal tugs of war. Their oppressive desire to win at all costs is disgusting. Just last night, I was horribly shaken when I saw and heard a female politician from the opposition party attack our current first lady as a “murderer.” I couldn’t believe my ears or eyes. How could such a disgraceful accusation be uttered? Once elected, politicians seem to believe they have the authority to wield absolute power and indulge in crass, crude language, throwing base allegations around with complete disregard for government servants. I was instantly plunged into deep sorrow and pondered: how have we gone wrong from the start?

Politicians are representatives of us, the citizens, so their behavior and words represent us. That means their words once spoken and their attitudes become commonplace in our society, so that the ripple effects must be overwhelming. Needless to say, their vulgar voices and attitudes will be internalized by ordinary citizens, who will commonly use the same words in their conversations and express polarized views without making any concessions.

Other news these days chronicles the collapse of teachers’ rights. One example of this particularly saddened me a great deal. A parent put a recorder in her child’s pocket in order to record the conversation of his homeroom teacher. One can guess her motives. There is a saying that goes “The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice.” It is as plain as day how such parents’ children will grow up and what attitudes they will have to other people.

There is a social crisis because of these vulgar voices and thoughtless, disdainful attitudes coming from the top. I think all of us need to reflect on our own words and attitudes before it’s too late.

Lee Eung-tae (eungtae@gmail.com) is a former high school teacher who taught English for 35 years.