2020-06-21 Do Black Lives Matter in Korea?

I am now known more for my work with North Korean refugees, but once upon a time, I was also a commentator and analyst about a variety of issues. Sunday felt like a trip down memory lane as I was one of the featured speakers at a discussion, "Do Black Lives Matter in Korea?"

Mel Watkins, Vimbiso Kombora and I talked about our own experiences here in South Korea.

The titles of our speeches:
"How black is he?" (Casey Lartigue)
"Sameness." (Vimbiso Kombora)
"What does it mean to matter?'" (Mel Watkins)

In leading up to the event, I didn't give the other speakers any guidance about their talks. I was sure they were familiar with the topic and would have plenty to say, without being guided!

After our speeches, we engaged in lively Q&A with the audience.

We didn't agree about everything, which is good. It would have been a boring discussion if we already all agreed and didn't present anything to cause other speakers (and attendees) to think. It was more discussion than debate.

It may have helped that we are all connected with TNKR. Mel was a TNKR volunteer with us in our early days, during 2014-15. Vimbiso was a volunteer during 2017, then during 2018 she was coordinator of our Track 2 public speaking program.

These days I rarely talk about race, and even when I was a commentator in the past I rarely addressed it directly. I was more into policy, advocacy and reform. Still, it was a nice time.

Many people wanted us to live-stream or post it on the Internet, but I don't trust The People of the Internet with a crazy Cancel Culture to listen to a forum without rancor, misunderstandings, conspiracy theories, or efforts to destroy TNKR. I know the people in the room were there to talk and listen.

So I enjoyed a fun and relaxing Sunday afternoon talking and listening.

Support TNKR: www.lovetnkr.org/donate

Michael Breen discussion at 10 Magazine

Yesterday I attended a discussion with writer Michael Breen, hosted by Barry Welsh. Very often, when I attend a speech or discussion about a topic I know a lot about, I often think about ways the speaker/facilitator/discussant could have done better. But I didn't feel that way about Breen, it was one of those times that I really felt like I had a lot to learn and should listen more than talk. He's been in Korea for three decades, working as a reporter, commentator, communications specialist. He reminds me of Andrei Lankov in that his analysis seems to be based on observation of how things work rather than trying to get the world to fit his biases. I don't know him, so his friends may say he is a raging ideologue, but that's not the impression I had yesterday and based on his writings. Michael Breen (L) and Casey Lartigue I first read his book The Koreans about a decade ago. It was a delightful read, that was both warm to Koreans but also critical at times. Yes...

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

"Yoegi Anjuseyo!"

* I have a short reflection in today's Korea Times about an encounter with an unfriendly looking Korean man on the subway. It was a reminder not to be too quick in judging people in Korea. 09-13-2011 16:47 'Yeogi Anjeuseyo!' By Casey Lartigue Jr. The recent incident in which an American English teacher bullied an elderly Korean man and other passengers on the bus reminded me of a more pleasing incident from years ago. I was on the subway, taking the train outside of Seoul for a work assignment. I have the habit of standing on the subway to strategically position myself near the doors in case my stop magically appears. On that particular day, there was a Korean man STARING at me. Not just looking at me, but intensely staring at me. He had an incredible frown on his face. Not just for one stop, but for several stops the guy just kept staring at me. If I had known more Korean then I would have been able to curse him ...

2020-11-26 My basketball story

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From nothing to something super special (2023-02-10)

FSI has moved into a better institutional neighborhood where we are the poorest in the area. In August 2022, I was elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Freedom Speakers International (FSI) and in January 2023 FSI achieved incorporation status in South Korea. This has meant that FSI must upgrade operations and structure and I am the one, as chairman and co-president, who will be blamed if it doesn’t happen. I really should not be the chairman, for a variety of reasons, but anyway I am. Eunkoo and I are not the typical executives of a growing organization. In addition to being mainly responsible for building and fundraising for the organization, we are the hands-on leaders who are constantly in contact with North Korean refugee speakers. We look forward to the day we can afford staff to handle many tasks. Until then we can expect to continue having more days like yesterday, even on Eunkoo’s birthday. 2023-02-10 Meeting #1: planning We started Eunkoo’s birthday with a planning...

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