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The Korea Times

Entertainment & Arts

SCMP
Asia

The Korea Times

Opinion

Columnists

bernard Rowan

Friends and enemies

In politics and human relations, today's friends may be friends for a long time, or not. They may be enemies in the future. This applies to current enemies and neutral parties. They may be the fastest of friends or bitterest of enemies in time. Sages have stated this maxim. I'm familiar with Plato's version in “The Republic.”

2023-01-24 16:50

Approaching 2023

As the peoples of the world move closer to a new year, there is time to reflect on opportunities, challenges and successes. The United States and South Korea are but two of many, many global partners and nations. There's no perfect place or perfection under the sun, moon and stars.

2022-12-27 17:00

It seems Kim Jong-un can't get enough of missile launches. He's launched short-range missiles, midrange missiles, missiles landing in the East Sea, and some that could reach the United States mainland.

2022-11-29 14:18

Looking back and ahead

I moved this summer to a new home. I packed up my life over several decades and “put it” in a new place. In turn, I have begun to sort through my effects. There are books I am going to give to my school library. There are clothes, toys, and carpets to present to Goodwill, a charitable non-for-profit in America. However, I found treasures, not with monetary value, but for my soul. Pictures, toys from my childhood, photographs and family objects, and artifacts of my life as a son, brother, husband, father, and professor.

2022-11-01 17:08

Standing on the shoulders

My retired colleague, Dr. Hannah Jones, one of the first United Nations representatives from Liberia, taught me the phrase, “standing on their shoulders.” Each of us forms a link in life's caravan. Life depends on elders, on those who come before us. We have juniors standing on our shoulders, to the end of time. If time moves forward, it also repeats the past.

2022-09-26 15:23

We all have a last bus

Recently, I watched the 2021 British film, “The Last Bus,” with my wife. The story is a realistic but moving appraisal of mortality and love, accented by the penetrating music of Nick Lloyd Webber. The movie reveals an ordinary heroism and humanity that goes unnoticed.

2022-09-06 16:15

Strategic gambits

The “era of autocracy” is a depressing name for the 21st century. One of its features is strategic gambits by global powers in pursuit of their interests, passions, and opinions. These gambits reflect the actions of autocratic nations and those committed to freedom. They also reflect those of anti-status quo powers and those in favor of the present international order, including its use of capitalism and free markets. Free markets need free navigation of airspace, waterways, space, cyber networks, and land routes. The sites for competition and conflict have increased. The United States, Chin...

2022-08-09 15:58

Autocratic age III

There's much foment in America these days. We're grappling with incidents of the autocratic age. Still dealing-and-not-dealing with COVID and emerging vaccine-busting variants, Americans have lost patience with precautions. Guns are everywhere, but we're treated to a further promotion of gun culture by a Supreme Court enthralled with its new variety of jurisprudence. There is now the reality of one mildly progressive but limited gun law.

2022-07-12 16:23

Facing alliance for autocracy

During the 21st century's latest war, histrionic statements abound. Russia's latest invasion of Ukraine doesn't amoun to a “do-or-die” moment for democracy. It's a real wakeup call, but still. Leaders of stable democracies shouldn't entertain this conflict as an end-all moment for the future of stability and peace in our world. The conflict should arrest the democratic tendency to idealism. We now begin a long march to renew the world era of freedom, democracy and civilization. We begin again to face autocracy.

2022-05-17 16:25

Forming bipolarity

Sadly, the evil and tyrannical foolishness of Putin and the Russian leadership has reached a new low with the war in Ukraine. War crimes occur on the backs of conscripts. Civilian targets suffer indiscriminately. Far from “Making Russia Great Again,” Putin has sealed his fate as the 21st century's worst international leader, with damning parallels to Hitler. Nevertheless, Ukraine will not lose this conflict.

2022-04-19 16:21

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