Chris Hyun-moo Kim, TNKR volunteer testimonial!

TNKR volunteer tutor Chris Hyun-moo Kim

Most of the focus in TNKR naturally is on the refugees, that's why we have come together. It is easy to forget the impact that joining TNKR can have on volunteers! Here's a statement from TNKR volunteer Chris Hyun-moo Kim, an incredibly enthusiastic young man:

"Ah, so where do I start? After one month of volunteering for TNKR I am truly impressed with the way the organization is run.

"They truly care about helping North Korean Refugees learn English, which makes it easy for me to strive to do my best in return.

"Being a newbie... I know I don't have anything to compare with but so far my experience with my NKR (North Korean Refugee) has been nothing but amazing. From the start, I could tell she truly wanted to learn. The first day bringing a handful of books, I could see the enthusiasm on her face as we went through word after word, sentence after sentence, striving to perfect the meaning and the pronunciation of each.

"She has already bought over 10 books to test out with her tutors and she told me last class that she finally found the right one. We focused on that book throughout our whole lesson last time we met.

"But anyway, just like anything else in life, when you like something you want to promote it. That is how I feel about TNKR. I saw an IG post of Casey wearing a sweatshirt and I immediately asked him where he got it and if it was possible for me to purchase one.

"After a few conversations with TNKR co-founder Eunkoo Lee, we managed to figure out a way for me to buy one as well! I wasn’t asked to do this, pressured at all. It was something that I wanted to do to show my support for TNKR. By doing so, I hope people see me wearing this and either ask me about it or search for it later in their free time.

"Great organizations like TNKR need to be recognized/heard so they can continue to do great things. I am happy I discovered TNKR and will continue to do my best while volunteering through them. Thank you."

Matching donation challenge: https://give.lovetnkr.com/en/awesome

Get rid of that watermelon!

Part 1: When I was a youngster I used to collect Confederate money, posters and photographs with caricatures of blacks, and "No blacks allowed signs." I loved the money because it was a reminder of how far the sorry Confederacy had fallen. I had one poster of a dark-skinned black boy munching on a watermelon. I would look at that small poster and wonder, "What in the world is wrong with anyone wanting to eat watermelon?" Yes, white people, I'm talking to you. Your parents, grandparents, and other ancestors who thought making fun of blacks for eating watermelon were crazy ! Even people who say that nothing has changed in race relations must acknowledge that the many stereotypes of blacks are no longer prevalent. But then, there are also some ready to remind us of days-gone-by by debunking stuff that doesn't need to be debunked today. According to the Washington Post: The sound you just heard was yet another racial stereotype going kersplat ! Some ...

Rich talking back

The rich are talked about very often in negative terms, but how often do the rich respond in kind? Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart, who inherited most of her money but apparently has also done very well with it, recently railed against class warfare and had some advice for the non-rich : "There is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire," she writes. "If you're jealous of those with more money, don't just sit there and complain. Do something to make more money yourself - spend less time drinking, or smoking and socializing and more time working." She complained about politicians raising taxes, regulations that slow investment, and other anti-business policies that harm the poor. "If you want to help the poor and our next generation, make investment, reinvenstment and businesses welcome."

Common Sense on North Korea (Korea Times, April 2, 2012)

By Casey Lartigue, Jr. As interesting as Kookmin University professor Andrei Lankov’s writings are, there is nothing quite like attending one of his lectures. He can barely restrain himself behind the podium, often pointing and waving his arms. I also enjoy his unscripted speeches, but his answers in Q&A sessions are like the difference between watching Michael Jordan shoot baskets in warm-ups and an actual game. I have finally discovered the secret behind Lankov’s consistently solid analysis about North Korea: Use common sense. At an Asan Institute conference last summer, he argued that North Korea watchers should try to understand North Korea from its perspective. Don’t most people know that you must understand the mindset of others you are dealing with? Yet, common sense in theory gets ignored politically. From the North Korean perspective, nuclear weapons are the best thing they’ve got going. They will NOT give them up easily, even if President Obama ...

Random photos from today

I went walking around today. Whereas some people like to go walking in the mountains, I enjoy walking around in the city. Well, not D.C. or other cities with many homeless, crazy and/or armed people walking around... * * * Here's where I had lunch today. About $1.90 for a hamburger hamberger. * * * Ha-ha! Bet you never would have guessed that Batman is a drinking place in Korea! * * * Man Clinic? The Koreans walking by seemed to be very curious about why I was taking a photo of a "Man Clinic." They may know something I don't know...Actually, I wasn't curious enough to go in and find out what it was... * * * Right down the street from the Man Clinic...there's a Love Shop! I love the euphemism. "Love Shop" sounds much better than Sex Shop. I'm guessing that if you don't go to the "Love Shop" to buy condoms that you may need to visit the Man Clinic a short time later? * * * Nobo...

Park Jin welcoming remarks to FSI (and Casey Lartigue)

National Assembly member Park Jin makes the welcoming remarks at FSI's conference featuring North Korean diplomats. Park Jin | Greeting message to FSI and Casey Lartigue mention - YouTube

The Casey Lartigue Show!

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